Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of gas. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their properties on the market landlords must demonstrate that the plumbing and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished by obtaining a gas safety certificate.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to adhere to the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good functioning order. how much for landlords gas safety certificate 's why every property owner must be issued a gas safety certificate at least once per year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? Who 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 thorough inspection of the rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also check that all ventilation passages are clear 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 each of the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, including their model, brand, and location in your property. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use, and will provide information on the work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
You must provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days of the service. You must also give it to new tenants when they begin their lease. In the event of a delay, it could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it's important to take your responsibilities seriously.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still an excellent idea to obtain one every year. This will not just put your mind at ease about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but can help you spot any problems early. This can save you a lot of money and stress in the long term.
If you're thinking of selling your house and are thinking of selling it, 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 will also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require additional inspections.
Who needs a gas safety certificate?
As a landlord it is your duty to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. This means that you'll need to schedule regular inspections with an Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is working properly.
After the inspection has been completed and you're ready to get the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is best to have this completed prior to when your new tenants move in, or at the start of any new leases. You should keep a copy for yourself and keep the records of any maintenance that was done to the gas appliances in your property.
Landlords must have their properties checked for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's own gas appliances and any appliances that are provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord with a valid certificate of gas safety, you could face heavy fines (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The biggest danger, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed as a result of faulty appliances in your rental property.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform a Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to examine, service and test appliances and installations safely. 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.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property to allow a Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these instances it is crucial that the landlord explain to the tenant the reason why it is a obligation and how harmful carbon monoxide could be if it is not detected on time.
If the tenant refuses to allow an engineer into the property the property, then the landlord could be tempted to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be followed by an explanation as to why they are being forced out. For instance, non-payment of rent or severe damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to prove their rental properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. Some tenants will not let a gas engineer into their house for this purpose which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords need to make sure tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies, and they only need to enter their homes in order to fill out a legally required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to allow access for gas inspections.
The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer after he has completed the necessary checks. 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 is required to provide their existing tenants with a copy the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed. They must also give the new tenant one upon signing the tenancy agreement. The landlord should ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in each room that has fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on each floor of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, such as free leaflets and 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 in order to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can use the section 21 notice if necessary to expel tenants. It is important to keep in mind that a notice under section 21 is only served when the landlord has attempted at least three times to gain access for the gas safety inspection and has kept a record of these attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the correct procedure and tries evicting tenants without a valid reason they could be accused of harassment and could face heavy fines.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to ensure that the property they rent out is safe for tenants to live in. This means that they must get regular checks done by an approved gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. Also, they should ensure that the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents that may be caused by faulty appliances, while also reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. It is important that landlords keep up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords must prove that their annual gas safety inspection has been carried out on time. This can be done by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting the most recent certificate from the engineer who inspected the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are unsafe or malfunctioning immediately to ensure tenant's safety.
Some landlords may be having difficulty persuading their tenants to allow them access the property for gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it violates their privacy, or are having a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is recommended to ask the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are necessary and what they will entail. This letter can be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant will have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is unwilling to give access to the landlord, they must take further action. This could include the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. However, this is a serious step that should only be taken as an option last resort.