15 Reasons Not To Ignore Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety inspection. This applies to both landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes on the market, landlords must be able show that the plumbing and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be done by having an official gas safety certificate.
What is how to get gas safety certificate ?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to comply with the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good functioning order. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What exactly is a gas safety certificate? 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 full inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also check that all ventilation passages are free of obstructions in your rental property to prevent dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances and installations, including their model, make and the location of your home. The engineer will also state whether they believe the appliances to be safe to use or not, and give details of the work that needs to be completed to ensure the security of your tenants.
When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of receiving the service and give it to any new tenants at the start of their tenancy. In the event of a delay, it could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's important to take your responsibilities seriously.
Although homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still an excellent idea to obtain one each year. Not only will this give you peace of mind regarding the health of your heating and gas appliances, but it will also help you catch any problems early on. This could save you time and money in the long-term.
If you're thinking of selling your home, the Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can expedite the process of conveyancing as it will not require additional inspections.
Who needs a certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord, it's your obligation to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning correctly.
You'll need your tenants a copy 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. It is also recommended to keep the certificate for yourself, along with any records of maintenance performed on your home's gas appliances.
Landlords are required to have their properties examined for gas safety at least once every 12months. This includes all properties with gas appliances that are owned by the landlord as well as any appliances that are available for use by tenants.
If you're a landlord and don't possess an official gas safety certificate you could be facing massive penalties (up to PS6,000) and court actions from your tenants or an indictment. The biggest danger is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental home.
Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform an Gas Safety check. They are the only ones who have been properly trained to inspect, service and test gas appliances and installations. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card which has unique holograms on it.
While it's uncommon for a tenant to refuse access to their rental property to permit an Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these cases it is crucial for the landlord to explain to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and that carbon monoxide could be extremely hazardous if not discovered in time.
If the tenant refuses to let an engineer in, then the landlord may decide to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This should be accompanied by 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 certification?
Landlords require an official gas safety certificate to ensure that their rental properties comply with government regulations. Some tenants will not let a gas engineer into their residence for this reason, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords should try to convey to their tenants that gas engineers are not spies and only need access to complete an essential legally required piece of documentation. This will decrease the number of tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
Once 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. This is also known as a CP12 which stands for 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 current tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the date that the check is completed and give an applicant one upon signing the lease. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in each room used for living accommodation that is equipped with fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to every storey of the property. The HSE website provides more information for landlords, including free leaflets and 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 in order to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they may use the section 21 notice if necessary to evict tenants. A notice of section 21 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 a record of the attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the proper procedure for entry and attempts to evict their tenants by unlawful means, they could be accused of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulators.
Why do I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords must be issued an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they lease is safe for tenants. This means that they must have regular checks performed by a registered gas engineer to make sure that all appliances are safe to use. This also means that they must ensure that the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order.
landlord gas safety certificate and boiler service will help avoid any fires, accidents, or carbon monoxide poisoning that can be caused by defective equipment. It is crucial that landlords are up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined if they don't.
Landlords need to prove that their annual gas safety inspection has been carried out in a timely manner. 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 fixed immediately to protect the tenant's health and safety.
Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to grant access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety checks. This can be due to a number of reasons, including the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy or they are currently in 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 reasons why gas safety checks are necessary and what they'll mean. This letter could be delivered by recorded delivery, and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant still refuses to give access to the landlord then they should consider taking another step. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force them to allow access. This is a serious step which should be used only as an option last option.