It is crucial to keep in mind that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety checks. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that the pipes and flues, as well as appliances, in their homes are safe prior to putting them up for sale. This can be accomplished with the gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
Whether you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to comply with the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good functioning order. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. But what exactly is a gas safety certificate? Who really needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive inspection of all gas appliances and flues in your rental property. The engineer will also verify that the vents in your properties are clear to prevent dangerous carbon monoxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will provide the results of your annual inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were inspected and their manufacturer and model, as well as the location of your home. The engineer will determine if the appliances are safe to use and provide information about any work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. It is also required to provide it to new tenants when they start their lease. Failure to do so could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's vital to be aware of your obligations.
Although homeowners do not require a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's a good thing to get one each year. This will not only put your mind at rest about the condition of your heating and gas appliances, but will also help you detect any problems early. This can save you lots of time and money in the long in the long.
If you're considering selling your home, the Gas Safety Certificate will prove very beneficial to potential buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can speed up the conveyancing process because it won't require additional inspections.
Who requires a certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord it is your duty to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections with an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is working properly.
You'll need to provide your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection has been completed. It is recommended that this be done before your new tenants move in, or at the start of any new tenancies. It is also recommended to keep the certificate for yourself, as well as any records of the maintenance that was done on your property's gas appliances.
The landlords' properties must be examined for gas safety at minimum once every 12months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord and don't possess an official gas safety certificate you could be facing huge fines (up to a maximum of PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or a criminal charge. The most significant risk is that a tenant may be injured or even killed by faulty appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform a Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card that has a unique hologram on it.
Although it's not common for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property to permit the Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these situations it is essential that the landlord explains to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide can be if it is not detected on time.
If a tenant still won't let an engineer into their home the landlord should think about giving them an Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be followed by an explanation as to why they are being forced out. For instance, non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have gas safety certificates to prove their rental properties meet the laws of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to allow gas engineers enter their residences for this purpose - which is frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords should try to convey to their tenants that gas engineers aren't agents of the state and require access only to complete an important legally-required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once they have completed the necessary checks. This is also commonly known as a CP12, which 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 has to 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 ensure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in every room that has fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on each floor of the property. Landlords can find more information about these requirements, including free leaflets and an Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Gas Installations and Appliances in the rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to the property in order to conduct the required gas safety certificate cost safety inspections, they may make use of the section 21 notice if necessary to evict 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 records of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord does not follow the correct procedure for entry and then tries to expel tenants using illegal means, they may be found guilty of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
Landlords require a gas safety certificate to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to live in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe to use. This means they have to make sure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good working condition.
This will help prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning that could be caused by defective equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be fined when they don't.
Landlords must be able to prove that their annual gas safety inspection was carried out in a timely manner. They can prove this by looking up their gas safety certificate how often Safe register online, or by getting an original copy of the most recent certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as being dangerous or faulty the landlord should have them repaired as soon as possible to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords may have trouble persuading their tenants to let them access the property for gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it is an invasion of their privacy, or they are fighting with their landlord. If this is the case, it's a good idea for the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining why the gas safety checks are necessary and what they will entail. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant does not allow access to the landlord, they must take additional steps. This could be the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. This is a very serious option that should only be considered as a last option.
This will help prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning that could be caused by defective equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be fined when they don't.
