What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate includes all the inspections and tests an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections lower the risk of poisoning with carbon monoxide at home.
Landlords are required by law to conduct these inspections on an annual basis. They must also be carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate is an official document which confirms that the appliances and installations of your home have been examined by a qualified engineer. This ensures that they are safe to use. It's a legal requirement that landlords to have their flues and gas appliances regularly inspected to reduce the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, or other serious accidents. Landlords who do not comply with these regulations could be prosecuted or fined.
A gas engineer will carry out an exhaustive inspection of the home prior to issuing the certificate which will include details of all the appliances and installations they tested. It will also show whether they passed or failed the test. It will also include recommendations for further action if necessary. The certificate will contain the landlord's name, address, and the date that the test was conducted.
There are two kinds of gas safety certificates: domestic and non-domestic. The first is for residential properties such as studios, homes and flats. The other is for commercial properties, such as offices and warehouses. Both certificates need to be renewed annually, and the engineer will provide a copy for each appliance that they have inspected.
Who needs to have an inspection for gas safety? Anyone who owns, rents or uses an apartment or property that is equipped with any type of gas appliance. This includes private homeowners, housing associations, local authorities, hotels and hospitality places, and even schools. Landlords are required to inspect their properties and give the latest Gas Safety Record to their tenants. They are legally responsible for ensuring that their tenants are safe in their residences whether they lease or own them.
If you own a home and hire an managing agent to take care of your property, it is important to ensure that they are the ones who organize the annual gas safety inspection. A managing agent's appointment does not relieve you of the legal obligation to have your property tested and provide your tenants with the most up-to-date Gas Safety Record.
Although it's not a legal requirement for homeowner-occupiers to keep their own gas safety records but they can be useful when selling the property as prospective buyers will be looking for proof that the appliances are maintained and are safe. Furthermore gas safety certificate and boiler service form that's part of the conveyancing process asks for a gas safety record, so it's best to have one prior to selling.
Who is in need of an Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to inspect any gas appliances or pipework that is in the domestic or commercial property. This includes landlords, building owner and some tenants living in a building that is managed by an agency managing the building.
Gas Safe engineers must check and confirm that all appliances, flues and fittings in rental properties are safe each year for 12 months. Gas Safety Certificates or CP12 are a vital part of every rental property. It is against the law for landlords to let out a property without this document.
For homeowners, while they don't have the same legal obligations as landlords, it is still a good idea get a gas Safety Check done once a year. This will ensure that the boiler is in good working order and will highlight any issues that might require fixing.
The gas safety certificate will typically contain a header which displays the name and registration number of the engineer who carried out the inspection, as well as the property address, postcode, and other pertinent identifiers. It will also contain an inventory of all the appliances that were examined, as well as a note of whether they passed or failed. If any appliance was found to be unsafe they will be labeled as not compliant (NCS) or Immediately Dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR).
The document is then given to the homeowner following the service and is best kept safe to be able to refer to it in the future. It is often an excellent idea for homeowners to carry this document with them when they sell their property, as it can assure potential buyers that the property is safe to use gas.
What is included in the Gas Safety Certificate
The gas safety certificate contains a list of all gas appliances and other infrastructures that an engineer has been examining. The certificate also contains information on the engineer including their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document usually begins with a header that lists the date and place of the inspection. The document lists the appliances checked along with their condition, as well as any safety issues or actions taken.
The gas safety certificate includes details about the property in which the inspection was conducted along with the information of the managing agent or landlord. The certificate must include the address, postcode, and any other relevant identifiers to differentiate the properties. The certificate should also contain the engineer's ID number and name and signature.
Landlords are required to conduct regular gas safety checks in their rented properties. It is important to check that the gas appliances and pipework can be used safely and that there aren't any leaks or other dangers that could pose a danger to the occupants. If any appliances are found be unsafe the engineer will mark them as such on the certificate. Three codes are used to determine the level of safety of the appliance: Immediately Dangerous, At Risk or Not Current Standards.
Gas safety certificates can be a legal requirement for landlords selling their home. As part of their due diligence, potential buyers may request the records and use them to determine any issues they must fix before purchasing the property.
Landlords may arrange a Gas Safety Check through a Gas Safe registered Engineer, or they can conduct it themselves by using our user-friendly platform. We recommend arranging the Gas Safety Check at least every 12 months, to make sure that all the appliances are in good working order and are not posing any safety risks to occupants.
It is not the obligation of tenants to get the issue of a gas safety certificate, or have their appliances inspected. This is the landlord's responsibility, who must arrange an annual inspection and issue an official gas safety certificate to their tenants.
What is the cost of a Gas Safety Certificate cost?
A gas safety certificate is legally required for landlords in order to ensure that their rental properties are safe for tenants to use. The cost of a gas safety inspection will differ based on the size and the location of your property, as well as the number of gas appliances that require being checked.
It is important to inform your tenants and inform them when the inspection will take place to ensure that they are prepared for it. It's important to explain to them why they should allow the engineer to do the inspection. Some tenants are hesitant to grant access because they feel it's an invasion of privacy or they could be in danger should they not allow the engineer to examine the fireplace, boiler or other appliances. You must remind them that it is legally required. It is also possible to face fines or even criminal charges when an engineer is unable to access the boiler, fireplace or other appliances.
Once the gas engineer has completed the inspection and has completed the inspection, they will give you a the gas safety certificate. It will include the date of the inspection as well as the details of the engineer and your address for your home and a complete list of all installations or appliances that were checked. The report will also include the appliances or installations that failed the test, as well as any work required.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be a standard black and yellow document. Your engineer will provide you with the certificate for every appliance or system they have inspected. Keep this document for future reference and also to give a copy to your tenants.
Your gas engineer will send you a copy the Gas Safety Record. This record is valid for one months from the date of inspection. You must renew your Gas Safety Certificate prior to its expiration. It is also recommended to give an original copy to any new tenants that move into the property.