14 Common Misconceptions About Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords It is important to remember that it is only landlords who are responsible for gas safety inspections. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who rent rooms or holiday accommodations. Before they can put their property for sale landlords must prove that the plumbing and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be done with the gas safety certificate. What is a gas safety certificate? If you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to follow the law when it comes to maintaining your gas appliances and installation in good working order. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once in a calendar year. What is a gas certificate? Who really needs one? Gas Safe Certificates, also known by the name Landlord Gas Safety Record are official documents issued by an official Gas Safe engineer who has completed a full inspection of your rental property's gas appliances and flues. The engineer will also test that the vents in your properties are clear to prevent dangerous carbon monoxide 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 examined as well as their model, make and model as well as their location within your home. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliance to be safe to use or not, and provide details of the work that needs to be done to ensure the security of your tenants. You will need to provide your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days following the service. You should also provide it to new tenants when they begin their lease. Failure to do so could result in fines, or even criminal prosecution, so it's vital to consider your responsibilities seriously. Even though homeowners don't need a Gas Safety Certificate to live safely, it is still recommended to obtain one each year. This will not just put your mind at rest about the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but can help you spot any issues in advance. This can save you lots of money and stress in the long run. If you're considering selling your home and are thinking of selling it, a Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers because it will show that you've taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of selling as it does not require any additional inspections. Who needs a gas safety certificate? As a landlord, it's your duty to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working properly. After the inspection is completed You'll need the 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 in, or at the beginning of a new tenancy. Keep an original copy of the document for yourself, as well as records of any maintenance carried out on gas appliances in your home. Landlords are legally required to have their homes inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances, as well as any appliances that are provided to tenants. If you are a landlord who does not have an official certificate of gas safety, you could be subject to massive fines (upto PS6,000) and legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The biggest danger, however, is that one of your tenants might be injured or killed due to faulty appliances in your rental property. The only people who can carry out the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to examine and service appliances and installations in a safe manner. 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. Although it's not uncommon for a tenant to deny access to their rental property to permit the Gas Safety Check, it is possible to do so. In these cases, it's important for the landlord to explain the legal requirement and also that carbon monoxide could be extremely hazardous if not discovered promptly. If the tenant is refusing to let an engineer in, then the landlord may be tempted to issue a Section 21 notice that ends their tenure. This must be accompanied by a written explanation of the reason they're being removed, such as non-payment of rent or serious damage to the property. How do I obtain a gas safety certificate? A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to prove their properties are in compliance with government regulations. Some tenants will not allow a gas engineer in their home for this purpose and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords should try to convey to their tenants that gas technicians are not spying and are only required to complete a vital, legally required document. This will reduce the number tenants who refuse access to gas inspections. The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once they have completed the necessary checks. It is also known as a CP12, which stands for CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was once the Council for Registered Gas Installers, but was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register. The landlord has to give an original copy to current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check is completed. A new tenant will be provided with one when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord should ensure that a carbon dioxide detector has been installed in each room with fixed combustion appliances, excluding gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on each floor of the property. Landlords can get more information about these requirements, including free leaflets 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 not able to gain access to the property in order to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can make use of the section 21 notice to evict tenants. It is important to remember, however, that a notice under section 21 can only be served if the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access for the gas safety check and has maintained records of the attempts. If the landlord does not follow the proper procedure and tries evicting their tenants illegally, they may be accused of harassment and may be fined a significant amount. Why do I require a gas safety certificate? Landlords must have an official 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 make sure that any appliances are safe to use. Also, they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are all in good working order. This will help to prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning which could result from faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be penalized if they don't. Landlords have to demonstrate that they completed their annual gas safety checks in a timely manner. You can check your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer that visited the property. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable, the landlord must get them repaired immediately to ensure the health and safety of the tenants. Some landlords have trouble convincing their tenants to allow them access to the property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. This can be due to a number of reasons, including the fact that they believe it's an invasion of privacy or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It is an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter which he explains the reason why the gas safety inspection is required and what it's going to involve. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and will give the tenant 14 days to reply. If the tenant still refuses to let the landlord access the landlord should think about taking further action. This could include the issue of a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. This is a very serious option that should only be considered as an option last resort.