Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is crucial to keep in mind that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety checks. This applies to landlords who own residential properties as well as those who rent rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes for www.mkgassafety.co.uk sale landlords must show that the plumbing and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished with an official gas safety certificate.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
You must adhere to the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or a homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in a good in good working order. That's why every property owner needs to be issued a gas safety certificate at least once a year. What is a gas safety certificate? Who really needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive inspection of all gas appliances and flues in your rental home. The engineer will also test that the ventilation passages in your home are clean to avoid the risk of carbon monoxide accumulating in your home.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all of the inspected gas appliances and installations, as well as their model, brand and the location of your property. The engineer will inform you if the appliances are safe to use, and provide details on the work required to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days of the service. You must also give it to new tenants once they begin their lease. Failure to do so could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's vital to take your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners do not need to have a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to have one annually. Not only will this make you feel more comfortable about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but it could aid in identifying any issues before they become serious. This can save you lots of money and stress in the long run.
If you're considering selling your home If you're thinking of selling your home, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove very beneficial to potential buyers since it can prove that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require any 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 in your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered technician to make sure that everything is operating correctly.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. It is recommended that this be done before your tenants move in or at the start of any new tenancies. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself along with any records of any maintenance work that you have done on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords must have their properties inspected for gas safety at minimum every 12 months. This includes the landlord's gas appliances, as well as any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with an official certificate of gas safety, you could face massive fines (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The greatest chance is that a tenant may be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental home.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform an Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to check, service and test appliances and installations safely. Landlords can check the engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card which has a unique hologram on it.
Although it's not common for a tenant to deny access to their rental property in order to permit a Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these cases it's crucial for the landlord to explain the legal requirement and that carbon monoxide is extremely hazardous if not discovered promptly.
If the tenant refuses to allow an engineer into the property and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might decide to issue a Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This should be accompanied with an explanation of why they are being forced out. For example the non-payment of rent, or severe damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
Landlords require gas safety certificates to ensure that their rental properties are in compliance with the laws of the government. However, some tenants might not allow a gas engineer into their homes for this purpose - which is frustrating and unfair to landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies and only need access to their homes in order to sign a legally-required document. This will help reduce the number of tenants who refuse access to gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is confident that all appliances are safe to use they will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also referred to 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 a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will receive an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord must 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. The HSE website has more details for landlords, such as free leaflets as well as an Approved Code of Practice to manage gas Installations and Appliances within a rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to the property to perform the necessary gas safety inspections, they may use the section 21 notice if necessary to expel tenants. It is important to note that a section 21 notice can only be served when the landlord has made at least three attempts to gain entry to conduct the gas safety inspection and has kept records of these attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the proper procedure and then tries to expel their tenants unlawfully, they may be found guilty of harassment and may be fined a significant amount.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they rent out is safe for tenants to reside in. This means they must regularly check with a registered gas engineer to ensure that all appliances are safe to use. This means that they must to make sure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good in good working order.
This will help avoid any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that can be caused by faulty equipment. It is essential that landlords stay up-to-date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords must demonstrate that their annual gas safety check has been carried out in a timely manner. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord is required to repair any appliances that are unsafe or faulty immediately to protect tenant's safety.
Some landlords may have difficulty persuading tenants to let them access the house for 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 a good idea for the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are necessary and what they will entail. The letter can be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant will have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to give access to the landlord, they should take additional steps. This could be the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. However, this is a serious decision that should only be considered as a last resort.