What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate is a document which contains all the tests and inspections an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections help to reduce the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning at your home.
The law stipulates that landlords must conduct these inspections annually. They must also be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate is a legal document that confirms that the installations and appliances of your home have been examined by a qualified engineer. This ensures that they are safe to use. Gas appliances and flues should be inspected by a certified engineer each year. This is a legal requirement in order to stop carbon monoxide poisoning and other serious accidents. Landlords who do not adhere to these rules could be fined or prosecuted.
Before issuance of the document, a gas engineer will conduct an extensive inspection to determine the state of all appliances and installations. It will also show whether they passed or failed the test and include recommendations for further action if needed. The certificate will include the name of the landlord, address and the date the test was conducted.
There are two types of gas safety certificates: domestic and non-domestic. The first one is intended for homes, flats and studios while the latter is for commercial properties such as warehouses and office buildings. Both certificates must be renewed each year. The engineer will give an exact copy of every appliance they have examined.
Who should undergo a gas safety inspection? The answer is anyone who rents out a property with any type of gas appliance or installation. This includes homeowners who are private as also housing associations, local authorities and hotels and other hospitality venues. Landlords are required to have their homes examined and issue their tenants with the latest Gas Safety Record, as they are legally accountable to ensure that their tenants are secure in the properties they lease or own.
If you own a house and have an agent managing the care of your property, then it is important to ensure that they are the ones who organize the annual service and gas safety checks. The fact that you have a managing agent does not absolve you of your legal obligation to have your property tested and to supply your tenants with the most current Gas Safety Record.
Although it's not a legal requirement for homeowners to keep their own records on gas safety but they can be useful when selling the property since prospective buyers will want evidence that the appliances are maintained and are safe. Furthermore the TA6 form that's part of the conveyancing process asks for a record of gas safety, so it's best to have one in place prior to selling.
Who is in need of a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence, anyone who owns a home or commercial property with gas appliances and pipes is required to be examined by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer. This includes landlords, building owners and some tenants who live in a building that is managed by a managing agency.
Gas Safe engineers must check and certify 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 vital part of any rental property. It is illegal for a landlord to rent out any property without this document.
In the case of homeowners, while they aren't subject to the same legal obligations as landlords, it is still a good idea to have a gas Safety Check done once a year. This will ensure that the boiler is in good condition and identify any issues that might need to be fixed.
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 identifiers that are relevant. The certificate will also list the appliances that were inspected and will indicate whether they were successful or not. If any appliances were deemed to be unsafe, they will be marked as Not Compliant (NCS) or immediately dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR).
This document will be presented to the homeowner at the end of the service. It should be saved safely to be used in the future. It is usually recommended for homeowners to keep this with them when selling their home, as it can assure prospective buyers that the home is gas safe.
What is included in a Gas Safety Certificate
The gas safety certificate contains an inventory of all gas appliances and other infrastructures that an engineer has inspected. The certificate also contains details on the engineer such as their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document typically begins with an introduction that lists the date and time of the inspection. Then, it lists the appliances that were scrutinized, their condition and any actions taken or safety issues identified.
The gas safety certificate includes information about the house where the inspection was conducted and also the details of the managing agent or landlord. The certificate must contain the address, postcode, and any other relevant identifiers to differentiate between properties. It also includes the engineer's name and Gas Safe Register ID number along with their signature.
Landlords must perform regular gas safety inspections in their properties they lease. This is to ensure that all the gas appliances and pipes are safe to use and that there are no leaks or other risks that could pose danger for the occupants. If any appliances are found to be unsafe the engineer will mark them as unsafe on the certificate. There are three codes that indicate an appliance's safety level: Immediately Dangerous (ID), At Risk (AR) or Not to Current Standards (NCS).
It is essential for landlords to keep their gas safety certificates up-to date, as they can be legally required when selling a property. As part of their due diligence, potential buyers can request the certificates and use them to identify any issues they must address prior to purchasing the property.
Landlords can arrange a gas safety check with a Gas Safe registered engineer, or conduct the check themselves via our user-friendly platform. We recommend conducting the Gas Safety Check at least once every 12 months to make sure that all the appliances are in good working order and are not posing any safety risks to residents.
It is not the duty of tenants to obtain the issue of a gas safety certificate, or have their appliances checked. It is the landlord's responsibility to conduct an annual inspection and issue a certificate of gas safety.
How what is gas safety certificate Does a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?
Gas safety certificates are legally required for landlords to must obtain to ensure the security of their rental properties. The cost of a safety test for gas appliances will vary depending on your property's size, location and number of appliances.
It is important to inform your tenants when the inspection will be taking place to allow them to prepare. It's also helpful to explain why it's important to allow access to allow the engineer to perform the check. It's not uncommon for tenants to be hesitant to grant access to their property because they believe it's an invasion of privacy or they may be at risk in the event that the engineer does not have access to examine the fireplace, boiler or any other appliances. It's important to remind them that it's a legal requirement that could lead to being fined or even criminal charges if they fail to allow access when there is a problem with one of your appliances is discovered, for instance, carbon monoxide poisoning.
When the gas engineer is finished carrying out the inspection after which they will send you the gas safety certificate. This will include the date of the service as well as the details of the engineer and your property address and a complete list of all installations or appliances that were checked. The report will also detail any appliances or installations that failed the test, as well as any work required.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be in the form of an ordinary black and yellow document, and your engineer will give you a copy for every appliance or installation they have inspected. The certificate should be kept for future reference. You must also give an original copy to each of your tenants.
Your gas engineer will give you a copy the Gas Safety Record. This record is valid for one month from the date of inspection. You must renew your Gas Safety Certificate prior to the expiration date. You should also give the certificate to any new tenants that move into the property.