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14 Common Misconceptions About Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords
It is important to remember that only landlords are accountable for the gas safety check. This applies to landlords of residential dwellings as well as those who lease rooms or holiday accommodation.
Before they can put their homes for sale, landlords must be able demonstrate that the plumbing 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 tenant or homeowner, you must to follow the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good working order. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. What is a gas certificate? And who is the person who requires one?
A Gas Safe Certificate, also known as a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document that is issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an exhaustive examination of all gas appliances and flues within your rental home. The engineer will also ensure that all ventilation pathways are free of obstructions in your rental properties to avoid dangerous carbon dioxide build-up.
The Gas Safe Certificate will provide you with the results of your annual inspection. The Gas Safe Certificate will outline the results of your yearly inspection. It will list all the gas appliances and installations that were examined as well as their model, make, model and Www.mkgassafety.co.uk location within your home. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliance to be safe to use or not, and will provide details of the work that needs to be done to ensure the safety of your tenants.
You will have to give your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days after the service. It is also required to provide it to new tenants once they start their tenure. If you don’t comply you could face charges or fines.
While homeowners don’t require a Gas Safety Certificate, it’s an excellent idea to get one every year. This will not only put your mind at ease about the state of your gas and heating appliances, but can also help you detect any issues early. This can help you save money and stress in the long run.
Gas Safety Certificates are extremely useful for potential buyers when selling your home. They will show that you have taken care of all your gas appliances and installations. Additionally, it can accelerate the process of selling as it will not require any additional checks.
Who requires an attestation of gas safety?
As an owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe for your tenants. This means that you’ll need to schedule regular inspections by a Gas Safe registered engineer to ensure that everything is in good working order.
You’ll need 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 start of a new tenancy. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself and any documentation of the maintenance that was carried out on your property’s gas appliances.
The landlords’ properties must be checked for gas safety at minimum every 12 months. This includes both the landlord’s personal gas appliances and any appliances provided to tenants.
If you are a landlord without a valid certificate of gas safety, you may face massive penalties (upto PS6,000) and legal action from your tenants or even criminal charges. The biggest risk is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed due to faulty appliances in your rental property.
The only ones who can conduct an Gas Safety Check are Gas Safe engineers. Only Gas Safe engineers are trained to examine and service appliances and installations safely. Landlords can verify an engineer’s Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card which has an exclusive hologram.
While it’s uncommon for tenants to deny access to their rental property to permit an Gas Safety Check, it could happen. In these situations it is essential that the landlord explain to the tenant why it is a requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide could be if not detected in time.
If a tenant is still refusing to let an engineer into their home the landlord should think about serving them with a Section 21 notice to end their lease. This should be accompanied by an explanation of why they’re being evicted. For example, non-payment of rent or severe damage to the property.
How do I get an gas safety certification?
A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to show that their properties that they rent meet the requirements of the government. Some tenants are reluctant to allow a gas engineer in their residence for this reason and this can be a source of frustration for landlords. Landlords must try to get the word out to their tenants that gas engineers aren’t spies and only need access to complete an essential, legally required piece of documentation. This will help to reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections.
Once the gas engineer has conducted the necessary checks and is sure that the appliances are safe for use, they will issue an Landlord Gas Safety Record document. This is also commonly known as a CP12 that stands for 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 must provide copies to their current tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the inspection is completed. A new tenant will be provided with an original copy of the check when they sign the tenancy contract. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector is installed in each room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are fitted to each floor of the property. Landlords can get more information about 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 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 evict tenants. A notice of section 21 is only valid if the landlord has made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property for the gas safety test and kept a record of the unsuccessful attempts. If the landlord fails to follow the correct procedure and then tries to expel tenants without a valid reason they could be accused of harassment and face heavy fines.
Why do I require a gas safety certificate?
Landlords need to have an approved certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they lease is safe for tenants. Gas engineers must conduct regular checks to ensure all appliances are safe to use. Also, they must make sure the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order.
This helps prevent fires or accidents that could result from faulty appliances, as well as aiding in reducing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning that can happen when appliances aren’t properly maintained or installed. It is essential that landlords stay current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined for failing to do so.
Landlords must be able to show proof that they carried out their annual gas safety inspections in time. They can prove this by reviewing their Gas Safe register online, or by getting the most recent certificate from the engineer who inspected the property. If any of the appliances show as being dangerous or faulty the landlord has to get them repaired immediately to ensure the health and safety of the tenants.
Some landlords may have difficulty persuading tenants to allow them access to the house for gas safety inspections. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including the fact that they feel it’s an invasion of privacy or they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. It is a good idea to have the landlord write a letter which he explains the reason why the gas safety check is necessary and what it’s going to involve. This letter can be delivered by recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to reply.
If the tenant refuses to give access to the landlord, they must take additional steps. This could include drafting a Section 21 notice or applying to the court for an injunction that will force the tenant to allow access. This is a serious step that should only be taken only as a last option.