9 Signs That You're An Expert Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords Expert
Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety check. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.
Landlords must be able to prove that the pipes, appliances and flues in their properties are safe before they put them up for sale. This can be done by having a gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you need to adhere to the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good working order. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? 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 within your rental property to prevent dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, along with their model, brand, and location in your property. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliance to be safe for use or not, and give details of any work that must be done to ensure the security of your tenants.
When how long does a gas safety certificate last receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give it to your current tenants within 28 days of receiving the service and also give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. If you don't follow the rules, you could face fines or criminal prosecution.
Although homeowners do not need to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to have one annually. This will not only put your mind at ease about the state of your heating and gas appliances, but it will aid in identifying any issues early. This can save you money and time in the long-term.
If you're planning to sell your house If you're thinking of selling your home, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove very beneficial to potential buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It also speeds the process of conveyancing since it doesn't require any additional checks.
Who requires an attestation of gas safety?
As a landlord it is your duty to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. This means you'll have to arrange regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is working properly.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. It is recommended that this be completed before your new tenants move in, or at the start of any new leases. You should keep a copy for yourself, as well as documentation of any maintenance you have carried out on gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid certificate of gas safety, you could face massive fines (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The biggest risk, however, is that one of your tenants could 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. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card, with an exclusive hologram.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to deny access to their rental property in order to allow an Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these situations, it's important for the landlord to explain to them why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide could be extremely hazardous if not discovered at the right time.
If the tenant is refusing to allow an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might be tempted to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This must be accompanied by a description of the reason they're being evicted for non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
Landlords need gas safety certificates to ensure that their rental properties are in compliance with the laws of the government. Some tenants will refuse to allow a gas engineer to enter their house for this purpose and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spying, and they only need to access their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will decrease the number of tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is satisfied that all appliances are safe to use They will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This is also known as a CP12 which stands for CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI used to be the Council for Registered Gas Installers However, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord has to give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the inspection is completed. A new tenant will receive one when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord must ensure that carbon dioxide detectors are installed in each room with fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on each floor of the property. Landlords can get more information on these requirements, including free brochures and an Approved Code of Practice for the management of gas Installations and Appliances in a rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord is not able to gain access to their property to carry out the necessary gas safety checks, they may use a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if necessary. A section 21 notice 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 fails to follow the proper procedure and tries evicting tenants without a valid reason, they may be found guilty of harassing and may be fined a significant amount.
Why do I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have a gas safety certification to ensure that the property they lease out is safe for tenants to reside in. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe to use. Also, they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This will stop any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from faulty equipment. It is crucial that landlords keep up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for not doing so.
Landlords need to be able demonstrate that they completed their annual gas safety checks in time. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances show as unsafe or inoperable, the landlord must get them repaired immediately to ensure the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords are unable to convince their tenants to allow them access to their property in order to conduct gas safety checks. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that they believe it's a violation of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is recommended to ask the landlord to write an explicit letter stating why the gas safety checks are required and what they'll entail. This letter can be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant continues to refuse to let the landlord access the landlord should think about taking additional steps. This might include writing an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force them to grant access. However, this is a serious step which should be used only as an option last option.