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Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for ensuring the safety of gas. This is true for landlords who own residential properties as well as those who rent rooms or holiday homes. 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 by obtaining a gas safety certificate. What is a gas safety certificate? If you're a tenant or homeowner, you have to follow the law when it comes to keeping your gas appliances and installations in good operating condition. That's why every property owner must obtain their gas safety certificate at least once per year. What exactly is a gas safety certification? Who is the one who needs one? A Gas Safe Certificate, also called a Landlord Gas Safety Record, is an official document issued by a licensed Gas Safe engineer after carrying an extensive inspection of all gas appliances and flues that are in your rental property. The engineer will also test that the ventilation passages of your home are clean to prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide, which is a danger. 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, along with their make and model, as well as the location of your property. The engineer will also state whether they found the appliances to be safe to use or not, and will give details of any work that must be done to ensure the security of your tenants. When you receive your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate, you'll need to give it to your tenants who are currently residing in your home within 28 days of the service and provide it to any new tenants at the beginning of their tenancy. If you fail to comply you could face fines or criminal prosecution. Although homeowners don't need an Gas Safety Certificate, it's still a good idea to have one annually. This will not only give you peace of mind regarding the health of your gas and heating appliances, but it could also help you spot any problems early on. This could save you lots of money and stress in the long in the long. If you're planning to sell your house, the 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 will also speed the process of selling as it doesn't require any additional inspections. Who is in need of a gas safety certificate? As a landlord, it's your duty to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. You'll have to arrange for regular inspections by an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is functioning correctly. Once the inspection is complete You'll need an 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 start of a new lease. Keep a copy of the certificate for yourself along with any records of maintenance done on your property's gas appliances. Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties checked for gas safety at a minimum every 12 months. This includes both the landlord's own gas appliances, as well as any appliances provided to tenants. If you're a landlord who doesn't have an official gas safety certificate and you're not licensed, you could be subject to huge penalties (up to a total of PS6,000) or court action from your tenants or even the possibility of a criminal charge. The biggest danger is that a tenant may be injured or even killed due to defective appliances in your rental property. Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to conduct an Gas Safety check. They are the only ones who have been properly trained to inspect and service gas appliances and installations. Landlords can verify 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 refuse access to their rental property to allow a Gas Safety Check, it can happen. In these instances it is essential that the landlord informs the tenant why this is a mandatory requirement and how dangerous carbon monoxide could be if not detected in time. If the tenant is unwilling to allow an engineer into the property, then the landlord may consider giving them an Section 21 notice that ends their tenancy. This should be accompanied with an explanation as to why they are being forced out. For instance the non-payment of rent, or severe damage to the property. How do I get a gas safety certificate? A gas safety certificate is required for landlords to prove that their properties are in compliance with the regulations of the government. Some tenants will refuse to allow a gas engineer in their residence for this reason, which is frustrating for landlords. Landlords must ensure that tenants are aware that gas engineers aren't spying, and they only need access to their homes in order in order to fill out a legally required document. This will reduce the number of tenants who refuse to give access to gas inspections. The Landlord Gas Safety Record is issued by the gas engineer when the required checks. It is also known as a CP12, which stands for 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 has to give a copy to their existing tenants within 28 days (about 4 weeks) after the check has been completed. A new tenant will be provided with one when they sign the tenancy agreement. The landlord must also make sure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in every room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are installed to each floor of the property. Landlords can find more information on 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 cannot gain access to their property in order to perform the necessary gas safety checks, they can use a section 21 notice to remove the tenants, if appropriate. A section 21 notice is only valid if the landlord has made at least three unsuccessful attempts to gain access to the property to conduct the gas safety test and kept a record of the unsuccessful attempts. If a landlord fails follow the proper procedure for entry and tries to evict tenants through illegal means, they may be found guilty of harassment and face hefty fines from regulators. Why do I need a gas safety certificate? Landlords must be issued an official certificate of gas safety to ensure that the home they rent is safe for tenants. This means they have to have regular checks performed by an accredited gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. Also, they should ensure that the gas pipework, appliances, and flues are in good working order. This will help to prevent any accidents, fires or carbon monoxide poisoning that can result from faulty equipment. It is crucial that landlords keep current with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be penalized if they don't. Landlords must be able to demonstrate that their annual gas safety test 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. If any of the appliances are identified as unsafe or inoperable, the landlord must get them repaired as soon as possible to protect the health and safety of the tenants. Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to grant them access to their property in order to conduct gas safety checks. This could be due to a variety of reasons, such as the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy, or they are currently in a dispute with their landlord. It's an ideal idea to request the landlord write a letter in which he explains why a gas safety inspection is required and what it will involve. This letter can be sent via recorded delivery and the tenant should have 14 days to reply. If the tenant continues to refuse to let the landlord access then they should consider taking another step. 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 very serious option that should only be taken as a last resort.