Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of gas. This is true for www.mkgassafety.co.Uk landlords of residential dwellings and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their property on the market, landlords must be able prove that the pipework and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be done by obtaining an official gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
You must adhere to the law, whether you are a landlord or homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in good working condition. That's why every property owner should get their gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas safety certificate? Who really 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 the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also check that all ventilation channels are free of obstructions in your rental properties to avoid the risk of carbon dioxide 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, along with their make and model as well as their location within your property. The engineer will inform you if the appliances are safe to use and provide information about any work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll have to provide it to your current tenants within 28 days of receiving the service and give it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. Failure to do so could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's important to be aware of your obligations.
Although homeowners don't need to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to have one annually. This will not just put your mind at ease about the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but help you identify any problems early. This can help you save money and time in the long run.
If you're considering selling your home, the 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 up the conveyancing as it doesn't require additional checks.
Who needs an official certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your responsibility to make sure that any gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means that you'll need to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is working properly.
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 into the property or at the start of any new tenancy. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself, as well as any records of any maintenance work that you have performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords are required to have their properties inspected for gas safety at a minimum once every 12months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't have a valid gas safety certificate and you're not licensed, you could be subject to massive penalties (up to PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants, or even the possibility of a criminal charge. The most significant chance is that a tenant could be injured or even killed by defective appliances at your rental property.
The only people who can carry out a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. This is because only they have been properly trained to examine and service gas appliances and installations. Landlords are able to check whether 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 a tenant to refuse access to their rental property in order to allow the Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these instances it is crucial that the landlord explain to the tenant why this is a mandatory requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide could be if not detected in time.
If a tenant still won't allow an engineer to enter their home the landlord should think about giving them a Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This is to be accompanied by an explanation of the reason for being forced out for non-payment of rent or significant damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to show that their properties that they rent meet the regulations of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to let a gas engineer into their house for this purpose which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies and that they are only required access to their homes in order to sign a legally-required document. This will help reduce the number of tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once the required checks. This is also commonly known as a CP12 that stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was once the Council for Registered Gas Installers however, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must provide their existing tenants with a copy the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed and give a new tenant a copy on signing the lease. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in each room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to each storey of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, including free brochures along with an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances in a Rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to the property to perform the necessary gas safety inspections, they may make use of the section 21 notice to evict tenants. It is important to remember, however, that a section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain entry for the gas safety inspection and has kept records of the attempts. If a landlord fails follow the proper procedure for entry and tries to evict tenants through illegal means, they may be found guilty of harassment and face hefty fines from regulators.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must have a gas safety certification to ensure that the home they lease out is safe for tenants to live in. This means they must get regular checks done by an accredited gas engineer to ensure that any appliances are safe to use. Also, they must ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This will help prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning that could be caused by faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They can be penalized if they don't.
Landlords have to show proof that they carried out their annual gas safety checks in time. They can do this by looking up 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 defective immediately to ensure the safety of tenants.
Some landlords may have trouble convincing their tenants to allow them access the property for the gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it would violate their privacy or are fighting with their landlord. It's an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter which he explains why a gas safety check is necessary and what it's going to involve. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant continues to refuse to let the landlord access the landlord should think about taking further action. This could be the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. But, this is a serious step that should only be taken as an option last resort.