7 Things About Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords You’ll Kick Yourself For Not Knowing

Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords

It is important to keep in mind that it is only landlords who have responsibility for gas safety inspections. This is the case for landlords of residential dwellings and those who lease rooms or holiday accommodations.

Landlords need to prove that the pipework, appliances and flues in their properties are safe before they put them on the market. Gas safety certificates can help you to achieve this.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

You must comply with the law, whether you’re a landlord or a homeowner, when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good condition. This is why every property owner needs to be issued a gas safety certificate at least once a year. But what exactly is a gas safety certification? 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 ensure that all ventilation channels are clear within your rental property to prevent dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.

The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all of the gas appliances that were inspected and installations, as well as their model, brand and the location of your property. The engineer will state if the appliances are safe to use and provide details on any work required to ensure your tenants’ safety.

When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you’ll need to present it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of receiving the service and provide it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenure. Failure to do this could result in fines or criminal prosecution, so it’s important to be aware of your obligations.

While homeowners don’t require an Gas Safety Certificate, it’s an excellent idea to obtain one on an annual basis. This will not just put your mind at ease regarding the state of your heating and gas appliances, but will also help you detect any issues early. This could save you money and time in the long-term.

If you’re planning to sell your house, the Gas Safety Certificate will prove an invaluable asset to prospective buyers since it can prove that you’ve taken care of your gas appliances and installations. It can also speed the process of conveyancing since it doesn’t require additional inspections.

Who needs an official certificate of gas safety?

As a landlord it is your obligation to ensure that all flues and gas appliances in your rental property are safe. This means you’ll have to schedule regular inspections with an Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure everything is working properly.

You’ll need to provide your tenants a copy the Gas Safety Certificate once the inspection is completed. This should be done ideally prior to the time your tenants move in or at the beginning of a new tenancy. Keep the certificate for yourself and any documentation of any maintenance work that you have performed on your home’s gas appliances.

Landlords are required to have their properties checked for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes the landlord’s gas appliances as well as any appliances provided to tenants.

If you are a landlord with a valid certificate of gas safety, you could face massive fines (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The greatest chance is that a tenant might be injured or even killed by defective appliances in your rental property.

The only ones who can carry out the Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are certified to inspect, service and test appliances and installations in a safe way. Landlords can verify an engineer’s Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card with an exclusive hologram.

It is rare for a tenant to allow access to the rental property to conduct a Gas Safety Check. However it can happen. In these situations it is essential that the landlord informs the tenant the reason why this is a legal obligation and how harmful carbon monoxide could be if not detected in time.

If the tenant is refusing to allow an engineer in and the landlord is not willing to let an engineer in, then the landlord might decide to issue an Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This must be accompanied by a description of the reason they’re being evicted in the first place, such as not paying rent or causing serious damage to the property.

How can I obtain an gas safety certification?

A gas safety certificate is necessary for landlords to prove that their properties are in compliance with government regulations. Some tenants will refuse to allow a gas engineer in their residence for this reason which can be frustrating for landlords. Landlords must try to convey to their tenants that gas technicians are not agents of the state and require access only to complete an essential, legally required document. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who refuse to allow access for gas inspections.

The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer once the required checks. This document is also known as a CP12 which is a reference to CORGI Proforma 12 CORGI was once 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 date that the check is completed. They must also give the new tenant a copy on signing the lease. The landlord must ensure that a carbon dioxide detector is installed in each room that has fixed combustion appliances, except for gas cookers. Smoke alarms must be installed on each 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 the rental Property (Appendix 3), on the HSE website.

If a landlord is not able to gain access to their property in order to conduct the required gas safety checks, they can apply for a section 21 notice to expel tenants, if necessary. A notice under 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 a record of those attempts. If the landlord does not follow the correct procedure and then tries to expel tenants without a valid reason, they may be accused of harassment and face heavy fines.

Why do I require a gas safety certificate?

Landlords must have a certificate of gas safety to ensure that the property they rent is safe for tenants. Gas engineers should conduct regular checks to ensure that all appliances are safe for use. It also means that they must make sure the gas pipes, appliances and flues are in good working order.

This will help to stop any fires, accidents or carbon monoxide poisoning that could result from faulty equipment. Gas Safety Certificates are important for landlords to keep current. They could be penalized for not doing so.

Landlords must be able to prove that they have carried out their annual gas safety inspections on time. You can verify your Gas Safe Register online or get a copy from the engineer that visited the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty the landlord should have them fixed immediately to protect the tenant’s health and safety.

Some landlords may be having difficulty convincing their tenants to let them access the property for gas safety checks. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that they feel it’s an invasion of privacy, or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. If this is the case, it is recommended for the landlord to write an extremely clear letter explaining why the gas safety checks are required and what they’ll mean. The letter can be delivered via recorded delivery and www.Mkgassafety.co.uk the tenant should have 14 days to reply.

If the tenant does not give access to the landlord, they must take additional steps. This could involve writing a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction to compel them to allow access. But, this is a serious step that should only be taken as an option last resort.