It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety inspection. This applies to landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or holiday homes.
Landlords must prove that the pipes, appliances and flues within their properties are safe before they put them on the market. This can be done with a gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
You must abide by the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or homeowner, when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in a good condition. That's why every property owner should be issued a gas safety certificate at least once a year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a thorough inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also check that all ventilation pathways are in good working order in your rental properties to prevent dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The gas safety certificate how often Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations, along with their make, model and the location of your property. The engineer will inform you if the appliances are safe to use, and provide details on the work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll have to provide it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenure. Failure to do homeowners need a gas safety certificate this could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to consider your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners do not need to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to obtain one annually. This will not only put your mind at ease regarding the health of your gas and heating appliances, but it could aid in identifying any problems early on. This can help you save time and money in the long in the long.
If you're thinking of selling your home, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of selling as it doesn't require any additional checks.
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances or flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working correctly.
You'll need to provide your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. This should be done prior to the time your tenants move into the property or at the start of any new tenancy. You should also keep a copy of the certificate for yourself, and any documentation of any maintenance work that you have carried out on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This applies to all homes with gas appliances owned by the landlord as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't have a valid gas safety certificate, you could face huge penalties (up to PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or a criminal charge. The biggest risk, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed due to malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
The only person who can carry out the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because they have been properly trained to examine gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
It is very rare for a tenant to not permit access to the rental property to perform the Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these instances, it's important for the landlord to explain to them the legal requirement and how carbon monoxide could be extremely dangerous if it is not detected at the right time.
If a tenant still won't allow an engineer to enter their home The landlord should consider serving them with a Section 21 notice to end their tenure. This should be followed by an explanation of why they're being removed. For example, non-payment of rent or severe damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove their rented properties meet government regulations. However, some tenants might refuse to allow a gas engineer into their residences for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair for landlords. Landlords should make sure to communicate to their tenants that gas engineers are not spying and are only required to complete a vital, legally required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use They will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also known as a CP12 that stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was the Council for Registered Gas Installers until it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in April 2009.
The landlord must give copies to their current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the inspection is completed. A new tenant will be provided with an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to every storey of the property. The HSE website has more information for landlords, including free brochures and an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances within a Rental Property.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to the property in order to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they can use the section 21 notice to expel tenants. A notice of section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the gas safety test and kept a record of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord fails follow the correct procedure for entry and tries to expel tenants using unlawful means, they could be found guilty of harassment and face hefty fines from regulators.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have a gas safety certificate to ensure the property they rent out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. Also, they must make sure the gas pipes, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This helps prevent accidents or fires which could be caused by defective appliances, in addition to helping to reduce the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. It is crucial that landlords stay current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords have to demonstrate that they carried out their annual gas safety checks in a timely manner. They can do this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting an original copy of the most recent certificate from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are unsafe or malfunctioning immediately to ensure the safety of tenants.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading tenants to allow them access to the house for gas safety inspections. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that they feel it's an invasion of privacy, or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's an ideal idea to ask the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reasons why gas safety checks are necessary and what they will entail. This letter can be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant will have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant still refuses to allow the landlord access the landlord should think about taking another step. This could be the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. This is a serious action that should only be considered only in the case of a last option.
Landlords must prove that the pipes, appliances and flues within their properties are safe before they put them on the market. This can be done with a gas safety certificate.
