Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety check. This is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who rent rooms or holiday homes.
Landlords need to demonstrate that the pipework and flues, as well as appliances, within their properties are safe prior to putting them up for sale. Gas safety certificates can help you to achieve this.
What is a gas safety certification?
If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to comply with the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good functioning order. Every property owner should get their gas safety certificates at least once a calendar year. What is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?
Gas Safe Certificates, also called Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by an official Gas Safe engineer who has completed a thorough inspection of your rental's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also check that all ventilation passages are free of obstructions in your rental properties to prevent the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your annual inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were examined, along with their make and model as well as their location within your property. The engineer will inform you whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide information about any work required to ensure your tenants' safety.
gas safety certificate cp12 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 when they begin their lease. If you don't comply you could face charges or fines.
While homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to obtain one every year. Not only will this put your mind at ease regarding the health of your heating and gas appliances, but it could also help you spot any problems early on. This can help you save money and stress in the long run.
If you're planning to sell your house, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove very beneficial to potential buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. In addition, it can accelerate the process of selling as it will not require additional inspections.
Who needs an attestation of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll need to arrange for regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered technician to make sure that everything is operating correctly.
You'll need to provide your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. It is best to have this completed before your current tenants move in or at the start of any new tenancies. You should also keep the certificate for yourself as well as any records of any maintenance work that you have done on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least every 12 months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances that are owned by the landlord, and any appliances that are available for use by tenants.
If you're a landlord that doesn't have an official gas safety certificate and you're not licensed, you could be subject to huge penalties (up to PS6,000), court action from your tenants, or even the possibility of a criminal charge. The most significant 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 perform a Gas Safety check. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to check, service and test appliances and installations safely. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card which has an exclusive hologram.
It is rare for a tenant not to let access to the rental property to conduct an Gas Safety Check. However, it does happen. In these instances it is crucial that the landlord informs the tenant why it is a requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide may be if it is not detected on time.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow an engineer into the property the property, then the landlord could consider giving them the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their lease. This is to be accompanied by an explanation of the reason why they're being removed, such as non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
Landlords must have an official gas safety certificate to prove their rental properties meet the regulations of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to allow a gas engineer to enter their residence for this reason and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies, and they only need access to their homes in order in order to fill out a legally required document. This will reduce the number tenants who are unable to access gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has completed the necessary checks and is confident that all appliances are safe to use They will issue an Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also referred to as a CP12 that stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was previously the Council for Registered Gas Installers However, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord is required to 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 an original copy when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in every room that has fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor of the property. Landlords can find more information on these requirements, including free leaflets and an Approved Code of Practice for the management of gas Installations and Appliances in the Rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord cannot gain access to their property in order to perform the necessary gas security checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if necessary. It is important to note, however, that a section 21 notice can only be served when the landlord has attempted at least three times to gain entry for the gas safety inspection and has kept a record of the attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the proper procedure and attempts to evict tenants without a valid reason they could be found guilty of harassing and face heavy fines.
Why do I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords must be issued a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they rent is safe for tenants. Gas engineers must perform regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe for use. Also, they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are all in good working order.
This helps to prevent any fires or accidents that may result from faulty appliances, as well as reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning which can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to ensure they are up-to-date. They could be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords must demonstrate that their annual gas safety inspection was completed on time. They can do this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting an original copy of the most recent certificate from the engineer who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as being dangerous or faulty the landlord has to get them fixed immediately to protect the safety and health of the tenant.
Some landlords may have difficulty convincing their tenants to allow them access the property for gas safety inspections. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as 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 for the landlord to write a strongly worded letter explaining the reason why the gas safety inspections are required and what they'll entail. The letter can be delivered via recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to respond.
If the tenant is unwilling to allow access to the landlord, they should take further action. This could include the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. This is a serious action that should only be considered only as a last option.