What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certification is a document that includes all the tests and inspections an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections lower the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning at your home.
Landlords are legally required to arrange these inspections on a regular basis. Gas Safe registered engineers must also conduct the inspections.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate is a legal document that shows that all the appliances and installations within your property have been checked by a qualified engineer to ensure they are safe to use. It is a legal requirement for landlords to have their flues and gas appliances regularly inspected to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or other serious accidents. Landlords who don't comply with these regulations are subject to fines or even criminal prosecution.
Before issuing the document a gas engineer will conduct an exhaustive inspection to assess the state of all appliances and installations. The document will indicate whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, as well as any suggestions for further actions. The certificate will also include the landlord's name, address, and the date the test was conducted.
Gas safety certificates are available in two types that are domestic and non-domestic. The first is intended for residential properties like studios, homes and flats. The second one is for commercial properties such as warehouses and offices. Both certificates need to be renewed annually and the engineer must provide a copy for each appliance that has been checked.
Who needs to have an inspection for gas safety? Anyone who owns, rents or owns an apartment or property that is equipped with any type of gas appliance. This includes private homeowners, housing associations, local authorities, hotels and other hospitality places, and even schools. Landlords must check their properties and provide the most current Gas Safety Record to their tenants. They are legally accountable for ensuring that their tenants are safe in their homes whether they lease or own them.
If you own a home and hire an agent managing the care of your property, then it is important to ensure that they are the ones to arrange the annual service and gas safety inspection. A managing agent can't disqualify you from the legal obligation to have the property tested and to give your tenants the 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 it comes to selling the property as prospective buyers will want evidence that the appliances are maintained and are safe. The TA6 form that is a part of the conveyancing procedure, also asks for an evidence of gas safety, so it's recommended to keep one before selling.
Who needs an Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to examine any gas appliances or pipework that is in the domestic or commercial property. This will include landlords, building owners, and even tenants who reside in a house that is managed by a managing agent.
Gas Safe engineers must check and verify that all appliances, flues, and fittings in rental properties are safe every 12 months. This is referred to as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is a crucial element of any rental property. It is unlawful for the landlord to let out any property that is not accompanied by this document.
For homeowners, although they do not have the same legal obligations as landlords, it is still a good idea to take advantage of a gas Safety Check done once a year. This will ensure that the boiler is in good working order and highlight any problems that require fixing.
The head of the gas safety certificate will typically include the name and registration numbers of the engineer who carried out the inspection, as well as any other relevant identifiers. The certificate will also list the appliances that were examined and indicate whether they passed or failed. If any appliance was found to be dangerous, they will be marked as Not Compliant (NCS), immediately dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR).
This document will be given to homeowners at the end of the service. It should be stored safely to be used in the future. It is an excellent idea for homeowners to keep this with them when selling their property, as it will reassure prospective buyers that the home is gas safe.
What is included in the contents of a Gas Safety Certificate?
The gas safety certificate contains an inventory of all gas appliances and other infrastructures that an engineer has examined. The certificate also contains details about the engineer, including their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document is usually arranged with a header listing the date and location of the inspection. The document then shows the appliances that were checked, their status and any actions taken or safety concerns that were discovered.
The gas safety certificate includes details of the property where the inspection took place and the name of the landlord or managing agent. 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 schedule regular gas safety checks in their properties that they let. It is essential to ensure that the gas appliances and pipework can be used safely and that there aren't any leaks or other dangers that could pose a threat to the occupants. If any appliances are found to be unsafe the engineer will mark them as in the certificate. Three codes are used to indicate the safety level of an appliance: immediately Dangerous, At Risk, or Not Current Standards.
Gas safety certificates are a legal requirement for landlords who are selling their home. As part of their due diligence, prospective buyers may request the records and utilize them to pinpoint any issues they have to address prior to purchasing the property.
Landlords can schedule a gas safety inspection with a Gas Safe registered engineer, or they can do it themselves via our user-friendly platform. We recommend that the Gas Safety Check is performed every year at a minimum to ensure that all appliances are in working in good condition and do not pose any safety risks to the occupants.
It is not the duty of tenants to get the issue of a gas safety certificate, or have their appliances inspected. It is the landlord's responsibility, who is required to arrange an annual inspection and issue a gas safety certificate to their tenants.
How Much Does a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?
A gas safety certificate is an obligation for landlords to ensure their rental properties are safe for tenants to use. how long does gas safety certificate last of a safety inspection for gas appliances can vary depending on your property's size, location and number of appliances.
It is essential to inform your tenants of when the inspection will take place, so that they can prepare. It's important to explain to them why they should allow the engineer to conduct the check. It's not unusual for some tenants to be hesitant to grant access as they may feel that it is a violation of their privacy or they may be in danger in the event that the engineer does not have access to check the boiler, fireplace or other appliances. It is important to remind them that this is an obligation under the law. They could also be subject to penalties or fines If an engineer is not able to access the fireplace, boiler, or any other appliances.
The gas engineer will send you the certificate after the inspection is completed. The certificate will contain the date and the contact information of the engineer along with your address at the property and an inventory of all the appliances and installations that were inspected. It will also mention if any of the appliances or installations failed the tests. It will outline any work that has to be completed.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be a standard black and white document. Your engineer will give you the certificate for every appliance or installation they have been examining. The documentation should be saved for future reference. You will also need to give copies to each tenant.
Your gas engineer will also give you a copy of the Gas Safety Record, which is valid for 12 months from the date of inspection. You must renew your Gas Safety Certificate prior to its expiration. You should also provide a copy of it to any new tenants who move in.