What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate lists all the tests and inspections an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections help reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning within your home.
Landlords are legally required to arrange these inspections on a regular basis. Gas Safe registered engineers must also conduct inspections.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate is a legal document that confirms that the installations and appliances of your property have been checked by a qualified engineer. This ensures that they are safe for use. It's a legal requirement that landlords to have their gas appliances and flues inspected every year to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, or other serious accidents. Landlords who fail to comply with these regulations are subject to fines or even criminal prosecution.
Before releasing the document, gas engineers conduct an exhaustive inspection to assess the condition of all appliances and installations. It will also indicate whether they passed or failed the test, and include suggestions for further action if necessary. The name and address of the landlord will be noted on the certificate along with a date when the test was completed.
There are two kinds 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 or office buildings. Both certificates have to be renewed annually and the engineer must give a copy of each appliance that has been checked.
Who is eligible for 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 also housing associations, local authorities and hotels and other hospitality venues. Landlords are required to have their homes checked and to provide their tenants with the most current 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 property and have an managing agent to take care of your property, then it's crucial to ensure that they are the ones to plan the annual gas safety check. Having a managing agent does not relieve you of the legal obligation to have the property tested and to provide your tenants with the most current Gas Safety Record.
Although it's not a legal requirement for homeowner-occupiers to keep their own gas safety records however, they can be useful when selling the property, as potential buyers will want proof that the appliances are maintained and are safe. The TA6 form, which is part of the conveyancing process will also require 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 check any gas appliance or pipework in the domestic or commercial property. This will include landlords and building owners, as well as even tenants who reside in a house which is managed by an agent who manages the property.
Gas Safe engineers must check and certify that all appliances, flues, and fittings in a rental property are safe each year for 12 months. This is known as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is a crucial part of any rental property. It is illegal for landlords to let out a property without this document.
Although homeowners don't have to follow the same legal obligations that landlords are required to follow, it's a good idea for them to get a gas Safety Check once a year. This will ensure that their boilers and gas appliances in good shape and will also reveal any issues that require repair, which could save them money in the end.
The gas safety certificate will usually have a header that displays the name and registration number of the engineer who carried out the inspection, along with the address of the property, postcode, and other pertinent identification numbers. It will also include an inventory of all the appliances that were examined, as well as a note of whether they passed or failed. If appliances are deemed to be unsafe, they are marked as not Compliant(NCS) or Immediately Hazardous (ID) and At Risk (AR).
The document will be handed to the homeowner at the conclusion of the service. It should be kept in a safe place for future reference. It is often recommended for homeowners to carry this document with them when they sell their home, as it can reassure potential buyers that the property is safe for gas.
What is included in a Gas Safety Certificate
The gas safety certificate contains the list of all gas appliances and other infrastructures that an engineer has examined. The certificate also includes details on the engineer such as their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document is usually arranged with a header that lists the date and place of the inspection. The document then lists the appliances inspected along with their condition, as well as any safety concerns or actions taken.
landlord gas safety certificate how often contains information about the house where the inspection was conducted, and also the details of the landlord or managing agents. The certificate must include the address, postcode, and any other relevant identifiers to differentiate the properties. The certificate must also include the engineer's ID number as well as name and signature.
Landlords must perform regular gas safety inspections at their properties they lease. It is important to check that the gas appliances and pipes can be used safely and that there are no leaks or other dangers that could pose a risk to the occupants. If any appliances are found be unsafe the engineer will label them as in the certificate. Three codes are used to indicate the safety level of the appliance: Immediately dangerous, at risk or Not Current Standards.
It is crucial for landlords to keep their gas safety certificates up to current, as they could be a legal requirement 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 resolve before buying the property.
Landlords can arrange a gas safety inspection with a Gas Safe registered engineer, or conduct the check themselves using our user-friendly platform. We recommend that the Gas Safety Check is performed at least once a year to ensure that all appliances are in working properly and don't present any safety hazards to the occupants.
It is not the obligation of tenants to arrange an annual gas safety certificate or have their appliances checked. It is the landlord's responsibility conduct an annual inspection and issue an official certificate of gas safety.
How Much Does 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 safety check for gas appliances will vary depending on your property's size, location and the number of appliances.
It is essential to communicate with your tenants and let them know when the inspection will take place to ensure that they are prepared for it. It is also helpful to explain why it's crucial for them to allow access to allow the engineer to carry out the check. It's not uncommon for tenants to be reluctant to allow access to their property because they believe it's an invasion of privacy or they may be in danger 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, and could lead to the tenant facing fines or criminal charges if they do not allow access when there is a problem with one of your appliances is discovered, for instance, carbon monoxide poisoning.
The gas engineer will provide you a copy of the certificate after the inspection is completed. This will include the date of the inspection along with the details of the engineer's name and your property address as well as a complete list of all the appliances or installations that were inspected. It will also note that any appliances or installations failed the tests and will outline any work that has to be completed.
Gas Safe certificates are usually in yellow and black, and your engineer will provide you a copy for each appliance or installation they've examined. Keep this document to refer to in the future and also to provide a copy to your tenants.
Your gas engineer will send you a copy of the Gas Safety Record. This record is valid for one months from the date of the inspection. You must renew your Gas Safety Certificate prior to its expiration. It is also recommended to give an original copy to any new tenants who move in.