Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of gas. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes for sale landlords must show that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist you to achieve this.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to follow the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good working order. That's why every property owner must be issued a gas safety certificate at least once per year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? Who really needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full inspection of all gas appliances and flues in your rental property. The engineer will also ensure that the ventilation passages of your property are free of obstruction to prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances and installations, along with their model, make, and location in your property. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliances to be safe to use or not, and will give details of any work that needs to be completed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You will have to give your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. You should also provide it to new tenants once they begin their tenancy. If you don't comply with the requirements, you could be subject to fines or criminal prosecution.
While homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to have one on an annual basis. This will not just put your mind at ease about the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but will help you spot any issues in advance. This can help you save money and time in the long-term.
Gas Safety Certificates are useful for potential buyers when you're selling your home. They can prove that you've taken good care of all your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it will expedite the process of conveyancing as it will not require any additional checks.
Who is in need of an official certificate of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means you'll have to arrange regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is in good working order.
After the inspection is completed, you'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done before your tenants move in or at the beginning of any new tenancy. You should keep a copy of the document for yourself, as well as the records of any maintenance that was performed on the gas appliances in your property.
Milton Keynes Gas Safety are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes all properties with gas appliances owned by the landlord as well as any appliances that are available for use by tenants.
If you're a landlord and don't possess a valid gas safety certification you could be facing huge fines (up to a total of PS6,000) or court action from your tenants or the possibility of a criminal charge. The biggest risk is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by faulty appliances in your rental property.
The only people who are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because they have been properly trained to examine gas appliances and installations. Landlords are able to check if an engineer is registered with the Gas Safe Register by checking their ID card. It has a unique Hologram.
Although it's not common for tenants to deny access to their rental property in order to permit the Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these instances, it is important that the landlord explain to the tenant the reason why this is a mandatory requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide can be if not detected on time.
If the tenant is refusing 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 lease. This should be followed by an explanation of the reason they're being evicted. 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 are in compliance with the regulations of the government. However, some tenants might refuse to let gas engineers into their residences for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords should try to convey to their tenants that gas technicians are not spies and only need access to complete an important legally required document. This will decrease the number of tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is satisfied that all appliances are safe to use they will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It 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 time the check is completed. They must also give the new tenant an original copy when they sign the lease. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in every room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to every storey of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, including free brochures along with 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 to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they can make use of the section 21 notice to expel tenants. A notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept records of those attempts. If a landlord fails to adhere to the proper procedure and tries evicting their tenants illegally, they may be accused of harassment and may be fined a significant amount.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they rent is safe for tenants. This means that they must have regular checks performed by an accredited gas engineer to make sure that the appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good in good working order.
This will help to avoid any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning that could result from faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to be current. They could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords must be able to prove that they have completed their annual gas safety checks on time. This can be done by checking their Gas Safe register online, or by getting the most recent certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as unsafe or inoperable the landlord has to get them fixed immediately to protect the health and safety of the tenants.
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 believe that it violates their privacy, or are fighting with their landlord. It is recommended that the landlord write a letter in which he explains why the gas safety check is necessary and what it will involve. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to allow the landlord access the landlord should think about taking further action. This could be a Section 21 Notice or applying to the court for an Injunction. This is a serious action which should only be used in the last resort.