Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords<br /><br />It is important to remember that only landlords are responsible for the gas safety inspection. This applies to landlords who own residential properties and those who lease rooms or holiday homes.<br /><br />Before they can put their properties on the market, landlords must be able prove that the pipes and appliances they have installed in their homes are safe. This can be accomplished by obtaining an official gas safety certificate.<br /><br />What is a Gas Safety Certificate?<br /><br />You must comply with the law, regardless of whether you're a landlord, or a homeowner in maintaining your gas appliances and installations in a good in good working order. Every property owner should obtain their gas safety certificates at least once per calendar year. What is a gas safety certificate? Who needs one?<br /><br />A Gas Safe Certificate, also called 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 in your rental home. The engineer will also ensure that all ventilation passages are clear within your rental property to prevent the risk of carbon dioxide build-up.<br /><br />The Gas Safe Certificate will detail the results of your annual inspection. It will list each of the gas appliances and installations, including their model, make and the location of your home. The engineer will state if the appliances are safe to use, and provide details on any work required to ensure your tenants' safety.<br /><br />You will have to give your Landlord Gas Safety Certificate to your tenants within 28 days of the service. You must also give it to tenants who are new when they begin their tenure. If you don't follow the rules you could face penalties or fines.<br /><br />While homeowners don't require a Gas Safety Certificate, it's nevertheless a good idea to have one on an annual basis. This will not only make you feel more comfortable regarding the condition of your gas and heating appliances, but it can also help you catch any issues early. This can save you lots of money and stress in the long in the long.<br /><br />Gas Safety Certificates can be extremely useful for potential buyers when you're selling your house. They will show that you have taken care of all of your gas appliances and installations. It will also speed up the conveyancing as it doesn't require any additional inspections.<br /><br />Who needs a gas safety certificate?<br /><br />As a landlord, it's your obligation to ensure that all gas appliances and flues in your rental property are safe. You'll need to schedule regular inspections from an Gas Safe registered technician to ensure that everything is working properly.<br /><br />After the inspection has been completed, you'll need a copy of your Gas Safety Certificate to give to your tenants. This should be done prior to the time your tenants move in, or at the beginning of any new lease. It is also recommended to keep a copy of the certificate for yourself, along with any records of maintenance carried out on your property's gas appliances.<br /><br />Landlords are legally obliged to have their properties inspected for gas safety at least once every 12 months. This applies to all properties that have gas appliances owned by the landlord, as well as any appliances that are available for use by tenants.<br /><br />If you are a landlord with a valid certificate of gas safety, you may face heavy fines (upto PS6,000) or legal action from your tenants, or even criminal charges. The biggest risk, however, is that one of your tenants could be injured or killed due to faulty appliances in your rental property.<br /><br />Only Gas Safe engineers are qualified to perform the Gas Safety check. They are the only ones who have been properly trained to examine gas appliances and installations. Landlords can check an engineer's Gas Safe Register registration by looking for their ID card with an exclusive hologram.<br /><br />It is not common for a tenant not to allow access to the rental property in order to perform a Gas Safety Check. However it happens. In these instances it is essential that the landlord explain to the tenant why this is a legal requirement and how hazardous carbon monoxide could be if not detected on time.<br /><br />If a tenant is still refusing to allow an engineer to enter their home the landlord should think about serving them with the Section 21 notice to end their lease. This must be accompanied by a description of the reason they're being evicted in the first place, such as not paying rent or significant damage to the property.<br /><br />How can I obtain a gas safety certification?<br /><br />A gas safety certificate is essential for landlords to prove their properties that they rent meet the regulations of the government. However, some tenants may not allow a gas engineer into their homes for this purpose which is a source of frustration and unfair for landlords. Landlords should ensure tenants know that gas engineers aren't spies and that they are only required to enter their homes in order to fill out a legally required document. This will help reduce the number of tenants who deny access to gas inspections.<br /><br />Once the gas engineer has completed the necessary checks and is satisfied that the appliances are safe for use, they will issue an Landlord Gas Safety Record document. It is also referred to as a CP12 which is a reference to CORGI Proforma 12. CORGI was the Council for Registered Gas Installers until it was replaced by the Gas Safe Register in April 2009.<br /><br /><br /><br />The landlord must provide their current tenants with a copy of this document within 28 days (about four weeks) of the check being completed. They must also give the new tenant a copy on signing the Tenancy agreement. The landlord must also ensure that a carbon monoxide detector has been installed in each room used as living space that has fixed combustion appliances (excluding gas cookers) and that smoke alarms are connected to every storey of the property. Landlords can find 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.<br /><br />If a landlord cannot gain access to their property in order to carry out the necessary gas security checks, they can use a section 21 notice to evict tenants, if necessary. It is important to remember that a notice under section 21 can only be served when the landlord has had at least three attempts to gain access for the gas safety inspection and has kept a record of these attempts. If a landlord fails follow the correct procedure for entry and attempts to evict tenants through illegal means, they could be found guilty of harassment and could face substantial fines from regulatory bodies.<br /><br />What is the reason I need a gas safety certificate?<br /><br />Landlords require a gas safety certification to ensure the property they rent out is safe for tenants to live in. This means that they must get regular checks done by an approved gas engineer to ensure that the appliances are safe to use. This means that they must to make sure that the gas pipework and appliances are in good in good working order.<br /><br />This can help prevent accidents or fires that may be caused by faulty appliances, while also helping to reduce the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur if an appliance isn't properly maintained or installed. It is important that landlords stay up to date with their Gas Safety certificates, as they could be fined if they don't.<br /><br />Landlords need to show that their annual gas safety test has been carried out in a timely manner. They can do this by looking up their Gas Safe register online, or by getting the most recent certificate from the engineer who visited the property. The landlord has to fix any appliances that are dangerous or malfunctioning immediately to ensure the safety of the tenant.<br /><br />Some landlords have difficulty convincing their tenants to grant them access to their property in order to conduct gas safety inspections. <a href="https://www.mkgassafety.co.uk/">gas safety certificate check Milton Keynes Gas Safety</a> can be due to a number of reasons, such as the fact that they feel it's a violation of privacy, or they are currently in dispute with their landlord. It's a good idea to have the landlord write a letter in which he explains the reason why the gas safety check is needed and what it will entail. The letter can be sent via recorded delivery and should give the tenant 14 days to respond.<br /><br />If the tenant continues to refuse to allow the landlord access the landlord should think about taking another step. This could include the use of a Section 21 Notice or applying to court for an Injunction. This is a serious measure that should only be taken only as a last resort.<br /><br />