It is important to keep in mind that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety inspection. This is true for landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or other holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their properties on the market, landlords must be able demonstrate that the pipes and appliances in their homes are safe. Gas safety certificates can help you achieve this.
What is a Gas Safety Certification?
If you're a landlord or homeowner, you need to follow the law in regards to maintaining your gas appliances and installations in good working order. That's why every property owner should get their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? Who needs one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document that is issued by a certified Gas Safe engineer after carrying out a full inspection of all gas appliances and flues within your rental home. The engineer will also ensure that the vents in your properties are clear to avoid the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. It will list each of the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, including their model, make, and location in your home. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliances to be safe for use or not, and give details of any work that must be completed to ensure the security of your tenants.
You must 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 fail to comply with the requirements, you could be subject to fines or criminal prosecution.
Although homeowners do not need a Gas Safety Certificate, it's an excellent idea to have one annually. This will not just put your mind at ease regarding the state of your heating and gas appliances, but will help you spot any issues early. This could save you a lot of money and hassle in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are beneficial to potential buyers when you're selling your home. They can show that you have taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can expedite the process of conveyancing as it will not require additional checks.
Who requires a certificate of gas safety?
As a landlord it is your responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances and flues within your rental property are safe. This means that you'll need to arrange regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is working properly.
Once the inspection is complete You'll need the original copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. Ideally, this will be done before your new tenants move in, or at the start of any new tenancies. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself as well as any records of the maintenance that was carried out on your property's gas appliances.
Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties checked for gas safety at least every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's personal gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you're a landlord who doesn't have a valid gas safety certificate and you're not licensed, you could be subject to massive penalties (up to a total of PS6,000), court action from your tenants or even an indictment. The biggest danger is that a tenant may be injured or even killed by faulty appliances in your rental home.
The only people who are qualified to conduct a Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe professionals are trained to inspect, service and test appliances and installations in a safe manner. Landlords can verify an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card which has a unique hologram on it.
Although it's not common for a tenant to deny access to their rental property to permit the Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these instances it is crucial for the landlord to explain the legal requirement and that carbon monoxide can be very dangerous if it is not detected promptly.
If a tenant still won't allow an engineer to enter their home the landlord should think about giving them a Section 21 notice to end their tenure. This is to be accompanied by a description of the reason why they're being removed for non-payment of rent or causing serious damage to the property.
How do I obtain a gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove their rented properties meet government regulations. However, some tenants might refuse to let gas engineers into their residences for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair for landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying and only need access to their homes in order to complete a legally required document. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who refuse to allow access for gas inspections.
After the gas engineer has carried out the necessary checks and is satisfied that the appliances are safe for use They will issue a Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This is also known as a CP12 which stands for CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI used to be the Council for Registered Gas Installers, but was replaced in April 2009 by the Gas Safe Register.
The landlord must give an original copy to current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the inspection is completed. A new tenant will be provided with one when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in every room used as living accommodation which has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each floor of the property. The HSE website has more details for landlords, such as free leaflets and an Approved Code of Practice to Manage Gas Installations and Appliances within a rental Property.
If a landlord is unable to gain access to their property to conduct the required gas safety inspections, they can use the section 21 notice if necessary to expel tenants. A section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the MK Gas Safety safety test and kept a record of those attempts. If a landlord fails follow the proper procedure for entry and attempts to evict tenants through illegal means, they could be accused of harassment and face heavy fines from regulatory bodies.
What is the reason I need a gas safety certification?
Landlords require a gas safety certification to ensure that the property they lease out is safe for tenants to live in. This means that they must get regular checks done by a registered gas engineer to make sure that the appliances are safe to use. This means they have to make sure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good working condition.This helps prevent fires or accidents which could be caused by defective appliances, as well as helping to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur when appliances aren't properly maintained or installed. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They can be penalized for not doing so.
Landlords must show that their annual gas safety test was carried out in a timely manner. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or obtain a copy from an engineer that visited the property. If any of the appliances show 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 let them access the property for gas safety checks. It could be because they feel that it would violate their privacy, or they are in a dispute with their landlord. It is a good idea to have the landlord write a letter in which he explains the reason why the gas safety inspection is required and what it's going to involve. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to reply.
If the tenant still refuses to allow the landlord access then they should consider taking further action. This could include a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. This is a serious step which should only be used in the last resort.
