Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of gas. This is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their properties for sale landlords must demonstrate that the plumbing and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you to achieve this.
What is a gas safety certificate?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you need to comply with the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. What is a gas certificate? Who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also known by the name Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by a Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also verify that the vents in your properties are clear to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will provide the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were inspected as well as their model, make and model, as well as the location of your property. The engineer will inform you whether the appliances are safe to use, and will provide information on any work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to present it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of receiving the service and give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. If you don't comply you could face penalties or fines.
While homeowners don't require an Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to get one annually. This will not only put your mind at rest about the state of your heating and gas appliances, but will help you spot any problems early. This can save you money and time in the long-term.
If you're considering selling your house, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it will expedite the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require additional inspections.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental home are safe for your tenants. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working correctly.
After the inspection is completed and you're ready to get a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is best to have this completed before your new tenants move in, or at the start of any new tenancies. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself as well as any records of any maintenance work that you have done on your property's gas appliances.
The landlords' properties must be checked for gas safety at minimum once every 12months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances, as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid gas certificate safety, you could face heavy fines (upto PS6,000) and legal action from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The most significant danger, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed as a result of malfunctioning appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety check. This is because they are trained to safely inspect, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can determine whether an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It is unique. Hologram.
It is not common for a tenant to not permit access to the rental property to perform a Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these instances it's crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant the legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide could be extremely hazardous if not discovered at the right time.
If MK Gas Safety refuses to allow an engineer into the property, then the landlord may be tempted to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason they're being evicted for non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need an official gas safety certificate to ensure their rental properties are in compliance with the laws of the government. Some tenants will not allow a gas engineer to enter their house for this purpose, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords must try to convey to their tenants that gas engineers are not agents of the state and require access only to complete an important, legally required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to allow access for gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has completed the necessary checks and is satisfied that all appliances are safe to use they will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This document is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to 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 provide their current tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. The landlord must also provide an applicant one upon signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in each room with fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on every floor of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, such as free leaflets along with an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances within a rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to expel tenants. It is important to note that a section 21 notice is only served if the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access to conduct the gas safety inspection and has kept a record of the attempts. If the landlord does not follow the proper procedure and tries evicting their tenants unlawfully, they may be accused of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they rent is safe for tenants. This means that they must get regular checks done by an approved gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. It also means that they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This helps prevent fires or accidents which could result from faulty appliances, as well as helping to reduce the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen when an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. It is essential that landlords are current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized for failing to do so.
Landlords have to prove that they have completed their annual gas safety inspections in a timely manner. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer that visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are unsafe or defective immediately to ensure the safety of the tenant.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to grant access to the property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. It could be because they feel that it is an invasion of their privacy or are having a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's recommended to ask the landlord to write an explicit letter stating the reason why the gas safety inspections are necessary and what they will entail. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant continues to refuse to allow the landlord access then they should consider taking another step. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to allow access. This is a very serious option that should only be considered as a last resort.