What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate is a document that includes all the inspections and tests an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections lower the chance of poisoning by carbon monoxide at home.
Landlords are required by law to arrange these inspections on an annual basis. They should also be conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What is the definition of a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certification is an official document which demonstrates that the installations and appliances of your property have all been checked by a qualified engineer. This ensures that they are safe to use. Gas appliances and flues should be inspected by an experienced engineer each year. This is a legal requirement to ensure that carbon monoxide poisoning is not a problem and to avoid other serious accidents. Landlords who fail to adhere to these rules could be penalized or fined.
Before issuance of the document, a gas engineer will conduct a thorough inspection to determine the condition of the appliances and installations. The report will show whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, as well as any recommendations for further actions. The landlord's name and address will be noted on the certificate along with a date when the test was completed.
Gas safety certificates are available in two different kinds that are domestic and non-domestic. The first is for flats, homes, and studios while the latter is for commercial properties such as warehouses or office buildings. Both certificates need to be renewed each year. The engineer will provide an exact copy of each appliance they've inspected.
Who should undergo a gas safety check? Anyone who owns, leases or has a property that has any gas appliance of any kind. This includes homeowners who are private housing associations, housing associations and local authorities, hotels and other hospitality venues, and even schools. Landlords are especially required to have their homes examined and issue their tenants with the most recent Gas Safety Record, as they are legally accountable to ensure that their tenants are safe in the properties they lease or own.
If gas safety certificate landlord own a property and have a managing agent to take care of your property, then it is important to ensure that they are the ones to plan the annual gas safety checks. Having a managing agent does not relieve you of your legal obligation to get the property tested and to provide your tenants with the most up-to-date Gas Safety Record.
It's not required for homeowners to keep gas safety records. However, they can be helpful when selling a property. Potential buyers would like to see proof that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. Additionally, the TA6 form that's part of the conveyancing process asks for a gas safety record which is why it's a good idea to have one in place prior to selling.
Who Needs a Gas Safety Certificate?
Basically everyone who owns a domestic or commercial property with gas appliances and pipes must be examined by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer. This includes landlords, building owners and some tenants living in a building that is managed by an agency that manages the building.
Gas Safe engineers must check and verify that all appliances, flues and fittings in a rental property are safe for a period of 12 months. This is referred to as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is a vital element of any rental property. It is illegal for landlords to let out the property without this certificate.
For homeowners, although they do not have the same legal obligations as landlords, it's still a good idea get an annual Gas Safety Check done once a year. This will help keep their boiler and all gas appliances in good shape and can also highlight any issues that require repair, which could save them money in the end.
The gas safety certificate is likely to contain a header which displays the name and registration number of the engineer who performed the inspection, as well as the address of the property, the postcode, and any other pertinent identifications. It will also include an inventory of all the appliances that were inspected, as well as a note of whether they passed or failed. If appliances are deemed unsafe, they are classified as not Compliant(NCS), Immediately Hazardous (ID) and At Risk (AR).
The document is then given to the homeowner after the service and is best kept safe for future reference. It is often an excellent idea for homeowners to have this document with them when they sell their property, as it can reassure potential buyers that the property is gas safe.
What is included in the Gas Safety Certificate
The gas safety certificate contains a list of all gas appliances and other infrastructures that an engineer has inspected. The certificate also contains details on the engineer such as their name and Gas Safe Register number. landlord gas safety certificate will usually begin with a header displaying the date and place of the inspection. The document then lists the appliances that were inspected along with their condition, as well as any safety issues or actions taken.
The gas safety certificate contains details about the property in which the inspection was conducted along with the information of the managing agent or landlord. The certificate should include an address, a postcode and any identifiers that differentiate different properties. The certificate must also include the engineer's ID number and name, as well as signature.
Landlords are legally obligated to arrange regular gas safety inspections in their properties they let. It is essential to ensure that the gas appliances and pipework can be safely used and that there are no leaks or other dangers that could pose a danger to the residents. If any appliances are found to be unsafe the engineer will mark them as unsafe on the certificate. Three codes are used to indicate the safety level of an appliance: Immediately Dangerous, At Risk or Not Current Standards.
It is important for landlords to keep their gas safety certificates current and up to current, as they could be a legal requirement when selling the property. Prospective buyers may ask for the records as part of their due diligence and can use them to spot any issues they require to resolve before buying the property.
Landlords may arrange an appointment for a Gas Safety Inspection with a Gas Safe registered Engineer, or they can do it themselves using our user-friendly platform. We recommend that a Gas Safety Check is performed at least once a year to ensure that the appliances are in good in good condition and do not pose any safety risks to the occupants.
It is not the obligation of tenants to get an annual gas safety certificate or have their appliances inspected. It is the responsibility of the landlord, who must arrange an annual inspection and issue gas safety certificates to their tenants.
How Much is a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?
A gas safety certificate is a legal requirement for landlords to ensure their rental properties are safe for tenants to use. The cost of a safety test for gas appliances can vary in accordance with the size of your home as well as the location and number of appliances.
It is important to inform your tenants and inform them when the inspection will take place so that they can be prepared for it. It can also help to explain why it's important to let them in to allow the engineer to carry out the check. It's not unusual for tenants to be reluctant to allow access because they feel it's an invasion of privacy or they may be at risk when the engineer doesn't have access to examine the fireplace, boiler or other appliances. It's important to remind them that it's a legal requirement that could lead to being fined or even criminal charges if they fail to allow access and there is a problem with your appliance is found, such as carbon monoxide poisoning.
The gas engineer will send you a copy of the certificate once the inspection is completed. The certificate will contain the date as well as the contact details of the engineer along with your address at the property and the list of all the appliances and installations that were examined. The report will also detail any appliances or installations that failed the test and any work that was required.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be in the form of a standard black and white document. Your engineer will give you a copy 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. It is essential to renew your Gas Safety Certificate before it expires, and you should also give a copy to tenants who are about to move into the property.