What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate is a document that includes all the tests and inspections an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections reduce the risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning at home.
The law requires that landlords conduct these inspections annually. Gas Safe registered engineers must also conduct the inspections.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certification is a legal document that confirms that the appliances and installations of your home have been checked by a qualified engineer. This assures you that they are safe for use. The flues and gas appliances must be inspected by a qualified 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 regulations could face fines or even prosecution.
A gas engineer will carry out an exhaustive inspection of the property before issuing the document, which will contain details of all the appliances and installations they tested. The document will state whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, as well as any suggestions for further actions. The certificate will also include the name of the landlord, address, and the date the test was conducted.
Gas safety certificates are available in two distinct kinds that are domestic and non-domestic. The first one is for residential properties like studios, homes and flats. The other is for commercial properties like offices and warehouses. Both certificates need to be renewed every year and the engineer will give a copy of every appliance they have been examining.
Who needs to have an inspection for gas safety? The answer is anyone who rents out a property that has any gas appliance or installation. This includes private homeowners as also housing associations, local authorities, hotels and hospitality establishments. Landlords are required to inspect their properties and provide the latest Gas Safety Record to their tenants. They are legally responsible for making sure that their tenants are safe in their residences whether they lease or own them.
If you own a property that is managed by a managing agent It is essential to ensure that they are the ones who plan the annual gas safety inspection and service. A managing agent cannot relieve you of the legal requirement to have the property tested and to provide your tenants with an official 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 it comes to selling the property, as prospective buyers will be looking for proof that the appliances are maintained and are safe. The TA6 form that forms part of the conveyancing process, also asks for an evidence of gas safety and it's a good idea have one before selling.
Who needs a Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to check any gas appliance or pipework within the domestic or commercial property. This includes landlords, building owners and some tenants who live in a building managed by an agency managing the building.
Landlords are subject to a range of legal obligations. One of them is to ensure that all flues, appliances, and fittings are checked and considered safe by a Gas Safe engineer every 12 months. This is referred to as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is a vital element of any rental property. It is unlawful for landlords to rent out any property without this certificate.
In terms of homeowners, even though they don't have the same legal obligations as landlords, it's still a good idea have a Gas Safety Check done once a year. This will keep their boiler in good working order and highlight any problems that might require fixing.
The head of the gas safety certificate will usually include the registration and name of the engineer who carried out the inspection, along with any other identifiers that are relevant. It will also include a list of all the appliances that were inspected, as well as an indication of whether they passed or failed. If appliances are deemed unsafe they will be classified as Not Compliant(NCS) immediately hazardous (ID) and At Risk (AR).
This document is then issued to the homeowner following the service and is best kept safe to be able to refer to it in the future. It is often an excellent idea for homeowners to have this document when selling their house, since it can 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 includes an exhaustive list of all gas appliances and infrastructure that an engineer has examined. It also includes details about the engineer, including their name and Gas Safe Register ID number. The document will usually begin with a header listing the date and place of the inspection. The document lists the appliances checked as well as their condition and any safety issues or actions taken.
The gas safety certificate contains information about the property in which the inspection was conducted in addition to 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 includes the engineer's name and Gas Safe Register ID number, as well as their signature.
Landlords are legally required to arrange regular gas safety checks at their properties they let. 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 residents. If any appliances are found to be unsafe the engineer will label them as unsafe on the certificate. There are three codes that show an appliance's safety level three codes: Immediately Dangerous (ID), At Risk (AR) or Not to Current Standards (NCS).
Gas safety certificates are an obligation for landlords when selling a property. Buyers who are considering buying the property may request the records as part of their due diligence. They could use them to identify any issues that they need to address prior to buying the property.
Landlords can arrange for a gas safety check through an Gas Safe registered engineer, or conduct the check themselves through our user-friendly platform. We recommend that a Gas Safety Check is performed every year at a minimum to ensure that the appliances are in good properly and don't pose any safety risks to the residents.
It is not the obligation of tenants to obtain an annual gas safety certificate or have their appliances checked. It is the responsibility of the landlord to organize an annual inspection and issue the certificate of gas safety.
How Much is a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?
certificate cost is a legal requirement for landlords to ensure their rental properties are safe for tenants to use. The cost of a gas safety check will vary based on the size and the location of your property, as well as how many gas appliances need checking.
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 do the check. Some tenants are hesitant to grant access due to the belief that it is an invasion of privacy or they might be at risk should they not allow the engineer to inspect the fireplace, boiler or other appliances. You should remind that this is a legal requirement. They could also be subject to penalties or fines If an engineer is not able to access the fireplace, boiler, or any other appliances.
After the gas engineer has finished carrying out the inspection after which they will send you a copy of your gas safety certificate. The certificate will contain the date as well as the contact details of the engineer, your property address and an inventory of all appliances and installations that were tested. The report will also include any appliances or installations that failed the test, as well as any work that was required.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be in the form of an ordinary black and yellow document, and your engineer will provide you with an original for each appliance or installation that they have been examining. It is recommended to keep this certificate to refer to in the future and also to provide a copy of it 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 its expiration. You should also give the certificate to any new tenants that move into your property.