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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 risk of poisoning with carbon monoxide in your home.

The law stipulates that landlords must conduct these inspections annually. They must also be conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate is a valid document that confirms that the appliances and installations of your home have been examined by a qualified engineer. This ensures that they are safe for use. The flues and gas appliances must be inspected by a qualified engineer every year. This is a legal requirement to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and other serious accidents. Landlords who do not comply with these regulations may be penalized with fines or even a prosecution.

A gas engineer will carry out an extensive inspection of the house prior to issuing the certificate which will include details of each appliance and installations that they tested. The document will indicate whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, as well as any suggestions for further action. The landlord's name and address will be listed on the certificate, along with the date that the test was carried out.

There are two types of gas safety certificates for 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 must be renewed every year and the engineer must provide a copy for each appliance that they have examined.

Who is eligible for a gas safety check? The answer is anyone who leases or owns out a property with any type of gas appliance or installation. This includes private homeowners as also housing associations, local authorities and hotels and hospitality venues. Landlords are particularly required to get their properties checked and to provide their tenants with the most recent Gas Safety Record, as they are legally responsible to ensure that their tenants are secure in the homes they rent or own.

If you own a property and hire a managing agent to take care of your property, then it's important to make sure that they are the ones to organize the annual service and gas safety check. Having a managing agent does not absolve you of the legal obligation to have the property tested and provide your tenants with the most up-to-date Gas Safety Record.

It's not mandatory for homeowners to keep gas safety records. However, they can be beneficial when selling a house. Potential buyers will want to see proof that the appliances were maintained and are safe. The TA6 form that is a part of the conveyancing process, also asks for an evidence of Gas Safety Certificate Check safety and it's recommended to have one before selling.

Who needs a Gas Safety Certificate?

Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to inspect any gas appliance or pipework in the domestic or commercial property. This includes landlords, building owners, and some tenants who live in a building managed by a managing agency.

Gas Safe engineers must check and confirm that all appliances, flues and fittings in a rental property are safe for a period of 12 months. Gas Safety Certificates or CP12 are a crucial part of every rental property. It is unlawful for landlords to rent out any property without this document.

Although homeowners don't have to comply with the same legal obligations as landlords do, it's still recommended to have a Gas Safety Check once a year. This will ensure that their boiler and other gas appliances in good shape and can also highlight any issues that require fixing, which can save them money in the long run.

The head of the gas safety certificate will typically include the name and registration numbers of the engineer who performed the inspection as well as any other relevant identifiers. It will also contain an inventory of all the appliances that were tested and an indication of whether they passed or failed. If appliances are found to be unsafe they will be marked as not Compliant(NCS), Immediately Hazardous (ID) and At Risk (AR).

The document will be handed to the homeowner at the end of the service. It should be stored in a safe place for future reference. This document is an excellent idea for homeowners who are selling their home. It can reassure buyers that the property is gas-safe.

What is included in the Gas Safety Certificate

A gas safety certificate will include an exhaustive list of all the gas appliances and infrastructure an engineer has checked. The certificate also includes information on the engineer including their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document usually begins with a header listing the date and location of the inspection. The document then shows the appliances that were checked, their status and any action taken or safety issues that were identified.

The gas safety certificate contains 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 which distinguish different properties. It also contains the name of the engineer and Gas Safe Register ID number, as well as their signature.

Landlords are required to conduct regular gas safety checks in their properties they lease. This is to ensure that all the gas appliances and pipes are safe to use and there aren't any leaks or other risks that could pose danger to occupants. The engineer will mark the certificate if any appliances are unsafe. Three codes are used to indicate the safety level of an appliance: immediately Dangerous, At Risk or Not Current Standards.

Gas safety certificates can be an obligation for landlords when selling a home. As part of their due diligence, potential buyers may request the records and use them to identify any issues they have to be able to fix prior to buying the property.

Landlords can schedule a gas safety check through a Gas Safe registered engineer, or they can do it themselves through our user-friendly platform. We recommend arranging an Gas Safety Check at least every 12 months, to make sure that all appliances are in good working condition and do not pose any danger to the occupants.

It is not the responsibility of tenants to get the gas safety certification or have their appliances tested. This 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 security of their rental properties. The cost of a gas safety test will vary based on the size and location of your property as well as how many gas appliances need inspection.

It is essential to communicate with your tenants and inform them when the inspection is scheduled to take place so that they can be prepared for it. It's important to explain to them why they should allow the engineer to do the check. It's not unusual for tenants to be reluctant to allow access as they may feel it's an invasion of privacy or that they could be in danger in the event that the engineer does not have access to check the fireplace, boiler or other appliances. It's worth reminding them that it's a legal requirement and could lead to them facing fines or even criminal charges if they don't allow access and a problem with one of your appliances is found, such as carbon monoxide poisoning.

The gas engineer will give you the certificate after the inspection is completed. The certificate will contain the date as well as the contact details of the engineer as well as your address for the property. It will also include a list of all the appliances and installations that were inspected. It will also mention if any of the appliances or installations failed the tests and will detail any work that has to be completed.

A Gas Safe certificate will usually be in the form of a standard black and yellow document, and your engineer will give you a copy for every appliance or installation they have been examining. This documentation should be kept for future reference and you must also give a copy to each of 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 inspection. You must renew your Gas Safety Certificate prior to the expiration date. You should also give a copy of it to any new tenants moving in.