Obtaining a Gas Safety Certificate For Your Property
Obtaining a Gas Safety Certificate is a great way to ensure the safety of your property. The certificate, which is issued by qualified engineers, includes detailed information about the appliances that were checked and the dates they were performed. It also contains a description of any safety concerns found. A valid certificate can make potential buyers feel at ease and be an advantage in the sale of your home.
As a landlord you must take care of your tenants. This means you must maintain your property and appliances to a high standard, and keep your tenants safe. It is illegal for a landlord to let a rented property without arranging a gas safety check. The Health and Safety Executive could prosecute you if your gas appliance proves to be dangerous.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 govern the installation and use of gas appliances in the UK. This law states that all gas appliances must be checked by a qualified gas engineer, and a Gas Safety Certificate must be provided. An expired gas safety certificate is a serious violation of the law and can result in fines of up to PS6,000. You can also be held liable if you cause injury to a tenant by using a gas appliance.
All landlords who own HMOs are required to conduct a gas safety inspection every year. A Gas Safety Certificate enables you to show potential buyers that the appliances in your home are safe. You could put your tenants at high risk for carbon monoxide poisoning if you do not conduct a gas safety inspection.
In order to obtain a Gas Certificate, you should make sure you work with a company that is a member of the Gas Safe Register. This is a government-regulated body that regulates engineers and prevents unqualified individuals from carrying out checks. If you use a non-Gas Safe registered engineer, your certificates will be invalidated and your property will be at risk.
The certificate will be issued by a qualified Gas Safe engineer and will contain a number of useful recommendations. It will also include details of the date the inspection was carried out, where the inspection took place, and the name of the qualified Gas Safe engineer. You may have the right to receive a gas safety inspection free of charge in certain cases.
The gas safety inspection should take no more than 30 minutes. The length of the check will depend on the complexity of your gas installation. It is advisable to arrange a check as soon as possible, but you can delay it if there is a tenant who is vulnerable.
Tenant who fails to have a gas safety inspection done on their property could face up to six months imprisonment. A expired certificate can also be a violation of law and could lead to a criminal conviction. Getting a gas safety certificate is a worthwhile investment.