20 Things You Need To Be Educated About Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords It is important to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for ensuring the safety of gas. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations. Before they can put their properties for sale, landlords must be able show that the pipework and appliances in their homes are safe. This can be done by having an official gas safety certificate. What is a gas safety certification? You must comply with the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or a homeowner in keeping your gas appliances and installations in good condition. This is why every property owner must get their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What is a gas safety certificate? And who is the person who requires one? Gas Safe Certificates, also called 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 ensure that all ventilation pathways are free of obstructions in your rental property to prevent the risk of carbon dioxide build-up. The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were inspected as well as their model, make, model and location within your home. The engineer will determine whether the appliances are safe to use, and provide details on any work needed to ensure your tenants' safety. You will have to give your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. You should also provide it to new tenants when they begin their tenancy. In the event of a delay, it could result in fines or even criminal prosecution, so it's crucial to be aware of your obligations. Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live in peace, it's an excellent idea to obtain one each year. This will not just put your mind at ease about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but can help you identify any issues in advance. This could save you money and time in the long-term. If you're thinking of selling your home If you're thinking of selling your home, 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 will also speed the process of selling as it doesn't require any additional checks. Who requires a gas safety certificate? As a landlord, it's your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances or flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means you'll have to schedule regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to make sure everything is working properly. After the inspection is completed You'll need an original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. It is recommended to do this prior to the time your tenants move into the property or at the start of any new tenancy. It is also recommended to keep the certificate for yourself, and any documentation of maintenance done on your property's gas appliances. Landlords are required to have their properties 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 are a landlord who does not have a valid certificate of gas safety, you may face massive penalties (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 defective appliances in your rental property. Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct the 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, that has unique holograms on it. It is not common for a tenant not to allow access to the rental property to perform an Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In landlord safety certificate is crucial for the landlord to explain why this is a legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if it is not detected at the right time. If a tenant continues to refuse to allow an engineer to enter their home the landlord should think about serving them with the Section 21 notice to end their tenancy. This should be accompanied with an explanation of why they're being removed. For example rent arrears, non-payment or severe damage to the property. How can I obtain a gas safety certification? Landlords must have gas safety certificates to ensure that their rental properties meet government regulations. Some tenants will not allow a gas engineer to enter their house for this purpose, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords should make sure to communicate to their tenants that gas engineers are not spies and only need access to complete an important legally required piece of documentation. This will reduce the number tenants who refuse access to gas inspections. Once the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is satisfied that the appliances are safe for 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 used to be the Council for Registered Gas Installers However, it was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The landlord has to give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will receive one when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord should also ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in every room with fixed combustion appliances, but not gas cookers. Smoke alarms should be installed on every floor of the property. The HSE website has more information for landlords, including free leaflets as well as 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 their property to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they may apply for a section 21 notice if necessary to expel tenants. A notice under section 21 is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept a record of those attempts. If a landlord fails to follow the proper procedure for entry and attempts to evict tenants through illegal means, they could be found guilty of harassment and face heavy fines from regulatory bodies. What is the reason I need a gas safety certificate? Landlords need to have a gas safety certificate to ensure the property they rent out is safe for tenants to live in. This means they have to have regular checks performed by an approved gas engineer to make sure that any appliances are safe to use. This means they have to ensure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good working condition. This will help prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from faulty equipment. It is crucial that landlords stay up-to-date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they can be fined for not doing so. Landlords need to be able demonstrate that they carried out their annual gas safety checks in time. They can do this by checking their Gas Safe register online, or by getting a copy of the latest certificate from the person who visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable the landlord should have them repaired immediately to ensure the safety and health of the tenant. Some landlords may have trouble persuading tenants to allow them access the property for gas safety inspections. It could be because they feel that it is an invasion of their privacy or are in a dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it's a good idea for the landlord to send an extremely clear letter explaining the reasons why gas safety checks are required 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 does not give access to the landlord, they should take further action. This could include drafting an Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force them to allow access. This is a serious measure that should only be considered only in the case of a last option.