What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate contains all the inspections and tests an engineer conducts on your Gas Safety Certificate Check appliances. These inspections lower the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in your home.
The law stipulates that landlords must conduct these inspections every year. They must also be conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate is a valid document that demonstrates that the installations and appliances of your home have been inspected by a certified engineer. This ensures that they are safe for use. It's a legal requirement for landlords to have their flues and gas appliances regularly inspected to reduce the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning or other serious accidents. Landlords who don't comply with these rules could may be penalized with fines or even a prosecution.
Before issuance of the document, a gas engineer will conduct a thorough inspection to determine the condition of the appliances and installations. The document will indicate whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, as well as any suggestions for further action. The certificate will include the name of the landlord, his address and the date the test was conducted.
There are two types of gas safety certificates: domestic and non-domestic. The first one is for flats, homes, and studios while the latter refers to commercial properties such as warehouses or office buildings. Both certificates need to be renewed annually and the engineer will provide a copy of each appliance they've been examining.
Who needs a gas safety check? Anyone who owns, leases or uses an apartment or property that is equipped with any type of gas appliance. This includes homeowners who are private as well as housing associations, local authorities, hotels and hospitality venues. Landlords are required to have their properties examined and issue their tenants with the most current Gas Safety Record, as they are legally responsible to ensure that their tenants stay safe in the properties they lease or own.
If you own a property that is managed by an agent managing the property It is essential to make sure that they are the ones who organize the annual gas safety inspection and service. The fact that you have a managing agent does not relieve you of your legal obligation to have your property tested and to provide your tenants with the most up-to-date Gas Safety Record.
It's not mandatory for homeowners to keep gas safety records. However, they're beneficial when selling a house. Buyers will want to verify that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. In addition the TA6 form that is part of the conveyancing process asks for a gas safety report, so it's best to have one prior to selling.
Who is in need of a Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to check any gas appliances or pipework that is in the domestic or commercial property. This will include landlords and building owners, as well as even some tenants who may reside in a property that is managed by a managing agent.
Landlords are subject to a range of legal obligations, and one of these is to ensure that all flues, appliances and fittings are examined and certified safe by an Gas Safe engineer every 12 months. Gas Safety Certificates or CP12 are an essential part of every rental property. It is unlawful for landlords to let out properties without this document.
While homeowners don't have to adhere to the same legal obligations as landlords do, it's still recommended to have a gas Safety Check once a year. This will ensure that the boiler is in good condition and will highlight any issues that need to be fixed.
The header of the gas safety certificate will typically include the name and registration numbers of the engineer who performed the inspection, along with any other identifiers relevant to the inspection. It will also contain a list of all the appliances that were examined, as well as a note of whether they passed or failed. If any appliances were deemed to be unsafe they will be labeled as Not Compliant (NCS), Immediately Dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR).
The document will be handed to the homeowner at the conclusion of the service. It should be stored securely for future reference. It is usually an excellent idea for homeowners to keep this with them when selling their home, as it will reassure prospective buyers that the home is safe to use gas.
What is included in the contents of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate contains a full list of all the gas appliances and infrastructure that an engineer has inspected. The certificate also includes information on the engineer including their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document usually starts with an introduction that lists the date and time of the inspection. The document then lists the appliances inspected as well as their condition and any safety concerns or actions taken.
The gas safety certificate includes details of the property where the inspection was conducted in addition to the name of the managing agent or landlord. The certificate must contain the address, postcode, and any relevant identifiers that distinguish between different properties. The certificate must also contain the engineer's ID number and name and signature.
Landlords must conduct regular gas safety inspections at their rented properties. It is crucial to ensure that the gas appliances and pipes are safe to use and that there aren't any leaks or dangers that could pose a danger to the residents. The engineer will stamp the certificate if any appliances are unsafe. Three codes are used to indicate the safety level of the appliance: Immediately Dangerous, At Risk, or Not Current Standards.
It is important for landlords to keep their gas safety certificates up-to current, as they could be legally required when selling the property. Potential buyers might request the documents as part of their due diligence and can use them to spot any issues they require to resolve before buying the property.
Landlords can arrange a Gas Safety Check through an Gas Safe registered Engineer, or they may do it themselves by using our user-friendly platform. We recommend arranging a Gas Safety Check at least once every 12 months, to make sure that all the appliances are in good working in good condition and don't pose any danger to the people living in the premises.
It is not the responsibility of tenants to get the gas safety certification or have their appliances checked. It is the landlord's responsibility, who is required to arrange an annual inspection and issue an official gas safety certificate to their tenants.
How much will a Gas Safety Certificate cost?
A gas safety certificate is a legal requirement for landlords in order to ensure that their rental properties are safe for tenants to use. The cost of a gas safety check will vary based on the size and location of your property as well as the amount of gas appliances that need inspection.
It is essential to communicate with your tenants and inform them when the inspection is scheduled to take place to ensure that they are prepared for it. 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 it's an invasion of their privacy or that they could be put in danger in the event that the engineer does not have access to inspect the fireplace, boiler or other appliances. It's worth reminding them that it's a legal requirement and could result in the tenant facing fines or criminal charges if they fail to allow access when there is a problem with your appliance is found, such as carbon monoxide poisoning.
After the gas engineer has finished carrying out the inspection and has completed the inspection, they will provide you with the gas safety certificate. This will include the date of the inspection, the engineer's details and your property address, along with a full list of all the appliances or installations that were inspected. It will also indicate whether any of the appliances or installations failed the tests. It will outline the work that must be completed.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be in the form of an ordinary black and yellow document. Your engineer will send you the certificate for every appliance or installation they have inspected. It is recommended to keep this certificate to refer to in the future and you'll also have to provide a copy to your tenants.
Your gas engineer will also provide you with 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 the expiration date. You should also give a copy of it to any new tenants moving into your property.