What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certification is a document that lists all the tests and inspections that an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections lower the risk of poisoning with carbon monoxide at home.
Landlords are required by law to conduct these inspections on a regular basis. Gas Safe registered engineers must also conduct the inspections.
What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate is a legal document that shows that all appliances and installations in your property have been checked by a qualified engineer to ensure that they are safe to use. The flues and gas appliances must be inspected by an experienced engineer every year. This is a legal requirement to ensure that carbon monoxide poisoning is not a problem and to avoid other serious accidents. what is gas safety certificate who fail to adhere to these regulations could face fines or even prosecution.
A gas engineer will conduct an exhaustive inspection of the home prior to issuing the certificate which will include details of all the appliances and installations they tested. It will also show whether they passed or failed the test, and provide recommendations for further action if needed. The certificate will also include the name of the landlord, his address, and the date that the test was conducted.
Gas safety certificates are available in two distinct types that are domestic and non-domestic. The first one is for homes, flats and studios whereas the latter applies to commercial properties such as warehouses and office buildings. Both certificates need to be renewed annually and the engineer will issue a copy of each appliance they've been examining.
Who is eligible for an inspection for gas safety? The answer is anyone who leases or owns out a property with any gas appliance or installation. This includes homeowners who are private, housing associations, local authorities, hotels and other hospitality places, and even schools. Landlords must inspect their properties and issue the latest Gas Safety Record to their tenants. They are legally accountable to ensure that their tenants are secure in their homes, whether they rent or own them.
If you own a home and hire an managing agent to take care of your property, it's crucial to ensure that they are the ones who arrange the annual gas safety checks. A managing agent's appointment does not absolve you of your legal obligation to get the property tested and provide your tenants with the most up-to-date Gas Safety Record.
Although it's not a legal requirement for homeowners to keep their own records on gas safety however, they can be useful when it comes to selling the property as potential buyers will want proof that the appliances are maintained and are safe. In addition, the TA6 form that's part of the conveyancing process asks for a record of gas safety and it's recommended to have one in place prior to selling.
Who needs a Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to check any gas appliance or pipework in a commercial or domestic property. This includes landlords, building owners and some tenants living in a property managed by an agency managing the building.
Landlords are bound by a variety of legal obligations. One of them is to ensure that all flues, appliances, and fittings are inspected and considered safe by a Gas Safe engineer every 12 months. Gas Safety Certificates or CP12 are an essential element of any rental property. It is illegal for the landlord to let out any property without this certificate.
In the case of homeowners, while they aren't subject to the same legal obligations as landlords, it is nevertheless a good idea to get a Gas Safety Check done once a year. This will ensure that their boiler is in good condition and identify any issues that may need to be fixed.
The front of the gas safety certificate is likely to include the registration and name of the engineer who performed the inspection as well as any other identifiers that are relevant. It will also contain an inventory of all the appliances that were inspected and the information on whether they passed or failed. If any appliance was found to be unsafe, they will be marked as Not Compliant (NCS), immediately dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR).
This document will be given to the homeowner at the conclusion of the service. It should be stored securely to be used in the future. It is usually a good idea for homeowners to carry this document with them when they sell their home, as it will reassure prospective buyers that the home is safe for gas.
What is Included in 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 includes information on the engineer including their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document will usually begin with a header displaying the date and location of the inspection. It then lists the appliances that were checked, their status, and any action taken or safety issues that were identified.
The gas safety certificate includes details of the property where the inspection took place and the name of the landlord or managing agent. The certificate must include an address, postcode and any identifiers that differentiate different properties. The certificate must also include the engineer's ID number and name along with the signature.
Landlords are legally obliged to arrange regular gas safety checks in their properties they let. This is to ensure that all the gas appliances and pipes are safe to use and there aren't any leaks or other hazards that could pose a risk for the occupants. If appliances are found to be unsafe the engineer will mark them as unsafe on the certificate. There are three codes that show the level of safety of an appliance three codes: Immediately Dangerous (ID), At Risk (AR) or Not to Current Standards (NCS).
It is important for landlords to keep their gas safety certificates up to date, as they may be legally required when selling a property. Buyers who are considering buying the property may request the documents as part of their due diligence. They can use them to find any issues they require to address prior to buying the property.
Landlords can schedule a gas safety check through an Gas Safe registered engineer, or they can conduct it themselves via our user-friendly platform. We suggest arranging an Gas Safety Check at least every 12 months, to ensure that all the appliances are in good in good condition and don't pose any dangers to the people living in the premises.
It is not the duty of tenants to get the issue of a gas safety certificate, or have their appliances inspected. It is the responsibility of the landlord, who is required to arrange an annual inspection and issue a gas safety certificate to their tenants.
How Much Does a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?
A gas safety certificate is an obligation for landlords to ensure their rental properties are safe for tenants to use. The cost of a gas safety check will vary depending on the size and location of your property as well as how many gas appliances need checking.
It's important to communicate with your tenants and let them know when the inspection will take place so that they can be prepared for it. It is also helpful to explain why it's important to let them in 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 their privacy or that they could be put in danger when the engineer doesn't have access to check the boiler, fireplace or any other appliances. It's important to remind them that it's a legal requirement and could also lead to them facing fines or even criminal charges if they fail to allow access and an issue with one of your appliances is discovered, like carbon monoxide poisoning.
After the gas engineer has finished carrying out the inspection and has completed the inspection, they will send you an original copy of your gas safety certificate. It will include the date of the service, the engineer's details and your address for your home, 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 list any work that needs to be done.
Gas Safe certificates are usually in yellow and black and your engineer will send you a copy for each appliance or installation they have inspected. You should keep this documentation to refer to in the future and also to give a copy to your tenants.
Your gas engineer will also provide you with a copy the Gas Safety Record, which will be valid for 12 months from the date of the inspection. You must renew your Gas Safety Certificate prior to the expiration date. You should also provide the certificate to any new tenants who move into your property.