What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate is a document which includes all the tests and inspections engineers perform on your gas appliances. These inspections reduce the risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning at home.
Landlords are required by law to organise 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 demonstrates that all the appliances and installations within your property have been checked by a licensed engineer to ensure they are safe to use. Gas appliances and flues must 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 don't comply with these rules could face fines or even prosecution.
Before issuance of the document, a gas engineer will conduct an extensive inspection to determine the condition of all appliances and installations. The report will show whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, and any suggestions for further actions. The landlord's name and address will be recorded on the certificate as well as a date when the test was carried out.
There are two types of gas safety certificates: domestic and non-domestic. The former is intended for homes, flats and studios, while the latter is for commercial properties like warehouses and office buildings. Both certificates need to be renewed annually and the engineer will provide the details of each appliance they've inspected.
Who is eligible for a gas safety check? The answer is anyone who leases or owns out a property that has any type of gas appliance or installation. This includes homeowners who are private housing associations, housing associations, local authorities, hotels and other hospitality places, and even schools. Landlords must inspect their properties and give the most current Gas Safety Record to their tenants. They are legally accountable for making sure that their tenants are safe in their homes regardless of whether they rent or own them.
If you have a home that is managed by an agent managing the property it is crucial to ensure that they are the ones who arrange the annual gas safety inspection and service. Having a managing agent does not absolve you of your legal obligation to have the property tested and provide your tenants with the most recent Gas Safety Record.
Although it's not a legal requirement for homeowner-occupiers to keep their own records of gas safety but they can be useful when selling the property as prospective buyers will be looking for evidence that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. boiler service and gas safety certificate that is a part of the conveyancing process, also asks for the record of gas safety which is why it's a good idea keep one before selling.
Who Needs a Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to inspect any gas appliance or pipework that is in a commercial or domestic property. This includes landlords, building owner and some tenants who reside in a property managed by an agency that manages the building.
Gas Safe engineers must check and confirm that all appliances, flues, and fittings in a rental property are safe every 12 months. This is referred to as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is an essential element of any rental property. It is illegal for a landlord to rent out any property without this certificate.
In terms of homeowners, while they do not have the same legal obligations as landlords, it is nevertheless a good idea to take advantage of an annual Gas Safety Check done once a year. This will keep their boiler in good condition and will highlight any issues that might require fixing.
The gas safety certificate is likely to include a header that shows the name and registration number of the engineer who carried out the inspection, as well as the address of the property, postcode and any other relevant identification numbers. It will also include a list of all the appliances that were examined, as well as a note of whether they passed or failed. If appliances are found to be unsafe they will be identified as not Compliant(NCS), Immediately Hazardous (ID) and At Risk (AR).
This document is issued to the homeowner following the service, and should be kept in a safe place to be able to refer to it in the future. This document is a great idea for homeowners when they are selling their house. It will reassure potential buyers that the property is safe for gas.
What is Included in what is included in a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate contains a full list of all 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 the header, which displays the date and time of the inspection. Then, it shows the appliances that were checked, their status and any action taken or safety issues that were identified.
The gas safety certificate includes specifics about the property where the inspection took place, as well as the name of the landlord or managing agent. The certificate must include the address, postcode, and any other relevant identifiers to differentiate between properties. It also contains the name of the engineer as well as Gas Safe Register ID number and their signature.
Landlords are legally obliged to conduct regular gas safety checks in their properties they let. It is essential to ensure that the gas appliances and pipework can be used safely and that there are no leaks or other dangers that could pose a danger to the residents. The engineer will mark the certificate if any appliances are unsafe. Three codes are used to indicate the level of safety of the appliance: Immediately dangerous, at risk or Not Current Standards.
Gas safety certificates are an obligation for landlords when selling a property. Potential buyers might request the certificates as part of their due diligence and can use them to find any issues they need to address prior to buying the property.
Landlords can arrange a gas safety check with a Gas Safe registered engineer, or they can conduct it themselves via our user-friendly platform. We suggest arranging a Gas Safety Check at least every 12 months, to make sure that all of the appliances are in good working in good condition and don't pose any dangers to the residents.
It is not the responsibility of tenants to get a gas safety certificate or have their appliances inspected. It is the landlord's responsibility, who must schedule an annual inspection and issue gas safety certificates to their tenants.
How Much Does a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?
Gas safety certificates are a legal requirement that landlords must obtain to ensure the safety of their rental properties. The cost of a gas safety inspection will vary based on the size and location of your property and the amount of gas appliances that need being checked.
It is important to inform your tenants and let them know when the inspection will occur to ensure that they are prepared for it. It's also helpful to explain the reason to allow access so that the engineer can perform the check. Some tenants are reluctant to give access due to the belief that it's an privacy invasion or they could be in danger in the event that they refuse to allow the engineer to examine the boiler, fireplace or other appliances. It is important to remind them that it is an obligation under the law. It is also possible to face fines or criminal charges when an engineer is unable to access the boiler, fireplace, or any other appliances.
When the gas engineer is 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 service along with the details of the engineer's name as well as your property address, along with a full list of all the appliances or installations that were checked. The report will also list the appliances or installations that failed the test, as well as any work required.
Gas Safe certificates are usually in yellow and black and your engineer will send you a copy of every appliance or installation that they have examined. Keep this document to refer to in the future and also to give a copy to your tenants.
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 the expiration date. It is also recommended to give the certificate to any new tenants that move into your property.