What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certification is a document that includes all the tests and inspections that an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections help reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning within your home.
Landlords are required by law to conduct these inspections on an annual basis. Gas Safe registered engineers must also conduct the inspections.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate is an official document that proves that all the appliances and installations in your property have been checked by a certified engineer to ensure that they are safe to use. It is a legal requirement for landlords to have their flues and gas appliances regularly inspected to reduce the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning and other serious accidents. Landlords who do not adhere to these rules could be penalized or fined.
Before issuing the document the gas engineer will conduct an exhaustive inspection to assess the condition of all appliances and installations. The document will state whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, as well as any suggestions for further actions. The landlord's name and address will be recorded on the certificate along with the date on which the test was conducted.
There are two types of gas safety certificates that are domestic and non-domestic. The former is intended for homes, flats and studios, while the latter is for commercial properties such as warehouses or office buildings. Both certificates must be renewed annually and the engineer will give the details of each appliance they have inspected.
Who needs gas safety checks? Anyone who owns, rents or has the property with any gas appliance of any kind. gas safety certificate homeowner includes private homeowners housing associations, housing associations and local authorities, hotels and other hospitality venues, and even schools. Landlords must check their properties and provide the latest Gas Safety Record to their tenants. They are legally accountable to ensure that their tenants are safe in their residences, whether they rent or own them.
If you own a home and employ a managing agent to take care of your property, then it's important to make sure that they're the ones who organize the annual service and gas safety checks. A managing agent's appointment does not relieve you of the legal obligation to get the property tested and to 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 records on gas safety, they can be helpful when selling the property, as potential buyers will be looking for proof that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. Furthermore the TA6 form that's part of the conveyancing process asks for a record of gas safety and it's recommended to have one in place prior to selling.
Who is in need of a Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to inspect any gas appliances or pipework within the domestic or commercial property. This includes landlords as well as building owners and even tenants who reside in a property that is managed by a managing agent.
Landlords are bound by a variety of legal obligations. One of them is to make sure that all flues, appliances and fittings are checked and deemed safe by a Gas Safe engineer every 12 months. This is known as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is a vital element of any rental property. It is illegal for the landlord to let out any property without this document.
Although homeowner gas safety certificate don't have to adhere to the same legal obligations as landlords must, it's an excellent idea for them to undergo an annual Gas Safety Check once a year. This will keep their boiler in good working order and will highlight any issues that might require fixing.
The head of the gas safety certificate will usually include the name and registration number of the engineer who performed the inspection, along with any other identifiers that are relevant. It will also contain an inventory of all the appliances that were tested and the information on whether they passed or failed. If any appliances were deemed to be unsafe the appliance will be labelled as Not Compliant (NCS) or immediately dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR).
The document will be handed to the homeowner at the end of the service. It should be kept securely to be used in the future. It is an excellent idea for homeowners to keep this with them when selling their property, as it can assure prospective buyers that the home is safe for gas.
What is included in the Gas Safety Certificate
The gas safety certificate includes the list of all gas appliances and infrastructures that an engineer has been examining. The certificate also includes details about the engineer, including their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document is usually arranged with a header displaying the date and place of the inspection. The document lists the appliances that were inspected as well as their condition and any safety issues or actions taken.
The gas safety certificate contains details about the property in which the inspection was conducted, as well as details of the landlord or managing agents. The certificate should include an address, a postcode and any identifiers which distinguish different properties. The certificate must also contain the engineer's ID number and name, as well as signature.
Landlords are legally required to conduct regular gas safety inspections in their properties that they let. This is to ensure that all the gas appliances and pipework are safe to use and there aren't any leaks or other dangers that could pose a danger for the occupants. The engineer will stamp the certificate if an appliance is unsafe. Three codes are used to indicate the safety level of an appliance: immediately Dangerous, At Risk or Not Current Standards.
Gas safety certificates can be a legal requirement for landlords when selling a property. As part of their due diligence, prospective buyers may request the records and utilize them to pinpoint any issues they must be able to fix prior to buying the property.
Landlords can arrange a Gas Safety Check through a Gas Safe registered Engineer, or they may do it themselves using our user-friendly platform. We recommend arranging the Gas Safety Check at least once every 12 months, to make sure that all appliances are in good condition and do not pose any safety risks to people living in the premises.
It is not the duty of tenants to obtain an annual gas safety certificate or have their appliances checked. It is the responsibility of the landlord who is required to arrange an annual inspection and issue gas safety certificates to their tenants.
How much will a Gas Safety Certificate cost?
Gas safety certificates are an obligation that landlords must get to ensure the safety of their rental properties. The cost of a gas safety test will differ based on the size and the location of your property, as well as the number of gas appliances that require inspection.
It is essential to communicate with your tenants and let them know when the inspection is scheduled to take place to ensure that they are prepared for it. It's also a good idea to explain to them why they should allow an engineer to conduct the check. It's not unusual for tenants to be reluctant to allow access to their property because they believe it's an invasion of privacy or they may be at risk when the engineer doesn't have access to check the fireplace, boiler or other appliances. It's worth reminding them that it's a legal requirement, and could lead to being fined or even criminal charges if they fail to permit access if an issue with your appliance is found, such as carbon monoxide poisoning.
After the gas engineer has completed the inspection, they will provide you with the gas safety certificate. It will include the date of the service, the engineer's details and your address for your home as well as a complete list of all appliances or installations that were tested. The report will also list any appliances or installations that failed the test and any work required.
Gas Safe certificates are usually in black and yellow and your engineer will send you a copy for each appliance or installation they have examined. Keep this document to refer to in the future and you'll also have to give a copy to your tenants.
Your gas engineer will give you a copy the Gas Safety Record. This record is valid for a period of 12 month from the date of inspection. You must renew your Gas Safety Certificate prior to the expiration date. You should also provide a copy of it to any new tenants that move into your property.
