9 Signs That You're The Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords Expert
Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety inspection. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings and those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their property for sale landlords must show that the pipework and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be done with an official gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to adhere to the law in regards to keeping your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. Every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What is a gas safety certificate? And who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a qualified 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 vents in your home are clean to prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, as well as their make, model, and location in your home. The engineer will then indicate whether they found the appliance to be safe to use or not, and provide details of any work that needs to be completed to ensure the security of your tenants.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. It is also required to provide it to new tenants once they begin their lease. Failure to do this could result in fines, or even criminal prosecution, so it's vital to be aware of your obligations.
Although homeowners do not need to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to have one every year. Not only will this put your mind at ease about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but it could also help you spot any issues before they become serious. This can save you lots of money and stress in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely useful to prospective buyers when you're selling your home. They can prove that you've taken care of all gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can speed up the conveyancing process since it doesn't require any additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord, it's your duty to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. gas safety certificate cost mkgassafety means that you'll need to schedule regular inspections with a Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is working properly.
You'll need your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. It is best to have this completed prior to when your new tenants move in, or at the beginning of any new leases. It is also recommended to keep a copy of the certificate for yourself, along with any records of the maintenance that was carried out on your property's gas appliances.
The landlords' properties must be checked 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 and don't have an official gas safety certificate, you could face huge penalties (up to a total of PS6,000), court action from your tenants, or even an indictment. The biggest risk, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed due to defective appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform a Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to check, service and test appliances and installations safely. 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 in order to allow an Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these instances, it is important that the landlord informs the tenant the reason why this is a legal obligation and how harmful carbon monoxide can be if not detected on time.
If a tenant is still refusing to allow an engineer to enter their home, the landlord should consider giving them an Section 21 notice to end their lease. This should be accompanied with an explanation of the reason they are being forced out. For instance, non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to prove their properties that they rent meet the requirements of the government. However, some tenants might not allow a gas engineer into their residences for this purpose which can be frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies, and they only need to access their homes to sign a legally-required document. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who are unable to give access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is confident 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 existing tenants with a copy of the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the time the check is completed and give an applicant a copy on signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is equipped in each room used for living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each storey of the property. Landlords can obtain 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 unable to gain access to their property to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they may use a section 21 notice to evict the tenants, if appropriate. It is important to remember, however, that a notice under section 21 can only be served if the landlord has attempted at least three times to gain access for the gas safety check and has kept a record of these attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the correct procedure and then tries to expel their tenants illegally they could be accused of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they lease is safe for tenants. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe for use. This means they have to make sure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good working condition.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents which could be caused by faulty appliances, while also helping to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. It is essential that landlords stay current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords must be able to demonstrate that they completed their annual gas safety inspections on time. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer that visited the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty, the landlord must get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to grant them access to the property in order to conduct gas safety checks. It could be because they believe that it would violate their privacy, or they are fighting with their landlord. If this is the case, it's recommended to ask the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are necessary and what they'll mean. This can be sent by recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant continues to refuse to give access to the landlord, they should consider taking further action. This could be the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. But, this is a very serious option which should be used only as a last resort.