Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is essential to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety check. This is true for landlords of residential dwellings and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.
Before they can put their property on the market, landlords must be able demonstrate that the plumbing and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can assist in achieving this.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
You must abide by the law, whether you're a landlord, or homeowner, when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in a good condition. Every property owner should get their MK Gas Safety safety certificates at least once per calendar year. What is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full inspection of all the gas appliances and flues within your rental property. The engineer will also make sure that all ventilation pathways are clear in your rental properties to prevent dangerous 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 yearly inspection. It will list all gas appliances and installations that were inspected as well as their model, make and model as well as their location within your property. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliances to be safe for use or not, and will give details of any work that needs to be completed to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. You should also provide it to new tenants once they begin their tenancy. If you don't follow the rules you could face charges or fines.
Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live in safety, it's a good thing to get one every year. Not only will this put your mind at ease regarding the health of your gas and heating appliances, but it can also help you catch any issues before they become serious. This can save you lots of time and money in the long run.
If you're thinking of selling your house If you're thinking of selling your home, you should get a Gas Safety Certificate will prove extremely useful to potential buyers as it will demonstrate that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It also speeds up the conveyancing as it doesn't require any additional checks.
Who requires a gas safety certificate?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that any gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning properly.
You'll need to give your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. Ideally, this will be completed before your tenants move in or at the start of any new tenancies. Keep a copy of the document for yourself and keep records of any maintenance done to the gas appliances that are in your property.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This applies to all homes with gas appliances owned by the landlord, and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord who does not have a valid gas certificate safety, you may face heavy fines (upto PS6,000), legal actions from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The most significant risk 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 examine and service appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card, which has a unique hologram on it.
It is very rare for a tenant to not allow access to the rental property to conduct a Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these situations it is crucial that the landlord explains to the tenant why it is a requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide may be if not detected in time.
If the tenant refuses to let an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might decide to issue the option of a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This should be accompanied by an explanation of why they're being removed. For example the non-payment of rent, or serious damage to the property.
How do I get a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to prove their properties are in compliance with government regulations. However, some tenants may refuse to let a gas engineer into their residences for this purpose - which is frustrating and unfair for landlords. Landlords should make sure to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers aren't spies and only need access to complete an essential legally required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who are unable to give access to gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use They will issue the Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This 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 must provide their current tenants with a copy the document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. The landlord must also provide the new tenant a copy on signing the Tenancy agreement. The landlord should also make sure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in each room with 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 brochures and an Approved Code of Practice for the management of gas Installations and Appliances in a rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.
If a landlord is unable 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. 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 records of the attempts. If a landlord fails to adhere to the proper procedure and attempts to evict their tenants illegally and is accused of harassment and may be fined a significant amount.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the house they rent is safe for tenants. This means that they must regularly check with an approved gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. Also, they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances and flues are all in good working order.
This can help prevent accidents or fires which could be caused by defective appliances, while also aiding in reducing the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen if an appliance isn't properly installed or maintained. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They could be penalized if they don't.
Landlords must prove that their annual gas safety inspection was completed in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or request a copy from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord is required to repair any appliances that are dangerous or malfunctioning immediately to ensure the safety of tenants.
Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to grant access to their properties in order to conduct gas safety checks. It may be because they feel that it violates their privacy, or they are having a dispute with their landlord. It is a good idea to have the landlord write a letter in which he explains why a gas safety check is necessary and what it will involve. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to respond.
If the tenant refuses to allow access to the landlord, they must take additional steps. This could include a Section 21 Notice or applying an Injunction in court. This is a serious step which should only be used only as a last option.