What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate is a document that contains all the tests and inspections that engineers perform on your gas appliances. These inspections help reduce the risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning in your home.
The law requires that landlords conduct these inspections every year. They must also be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate is an official document that demonstrates that all the appliances and installations within 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 a qualified engineer each 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 exhaustive inspection of the property before issuing the certificate that will include the details of each appliance and installations they tested. It will also indicate whether they passed or failed the test. It will also provide recommendations for further action if necessary. The name and address of the landlord will be noted on the certificate, along with the date on which the test was conducted.
Gas safety certificates are available in two kinds: domestic and non-domestic. The first one is for residential properties, such as flats, studios, and homes. The second one is for commercial properties like warehouses and offices. Both certificates need to be renewed each year and the engineer will give a copy of each appliance that they have inspected.
Who should undergo gas safety inspections? The answer is anyone who owns or rents out a home with any type of gas appliance or installation. This includes private homeowners as well as housing associations, local authorities and hotels and other hospitality venues. Landlords must check their properties and issue the most recent Gas Safety Record to their tenants. They are legally accountable for ensuring that their tenants are safe in their residences, whether they rent or own them.
If you have a home that is managed by a managing agent it is crucial to make sure that they are the ones who organize the annual gas safety inspection and service. The fact that you have a managing agent does not absolve you of the legal obligation to have the property tested and provide your tenants with the most current Gas Safety Record.
It's not a requirement for homeowners to keep gas safety records. However, they are useful when selling a home. Buyers will want to see proof that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. The TA6 form that is a part of the conveyancing procedure is also a requirement for the record of gas safety and it's recommended to have one prior to selling.
Who needs a Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to check any gas appliance or pipework within any domestic or commercial property. This includes landlords as well as building owners and even tenants who reside in a house which is managed by an agent managing the building.
Landlords are bound by a variety of legal obligations. One of these is to ensure that all flues, appliances and fittings are examined and considered safe by an Gas Safe engineer every 12 months. Gas Safety Certificates or CP12 are an essential part of every rental property. It is unlawful for landlords to rent out a property without this document.
While homeowners aren't required to follow the same legal obligations that landlords do, it's still a good idea for them to have an annual gas Safety Check once a year. gas safe register duplicate certificate will ensure that the boiler is in good working order and identify any issues that require fixing.
The gas safety certificate will typically include a header that shows the name and registration number of the person who conducted the inspection, as well as the address of the property, postcode, and any other pertinent identification numbers. The certificate will also list all appliances that were tested and indicate whether they passed or failed. If appliances are deemed unsafe and are identified as not Compliant(NCS), Immediately Hazardous (ID) and At Risk (AR).
This document is issued to the homeowner after the service and should be kept somewhere safe to be able to refer to it in the future. It is usually recommended for homeowners to carry this with them when selling their home, as it will reassure prospective buyers that the home is gas safe.
What is included in a Gas Safety Certificate
A gas safety certificate will include the complete list of all gas appliances and infrastructure that an engineer has checked. The certificate also includes details on the engineer such as their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document usually begins with a header listing the date and place of the inspection. The document then shows the appliances that were examined, their status and any actions taken or safety concerns that were discovered.
The gas safety certificate includes details of the property where the inspection was conducted in addition to the name of the landlord or managing agent. The certificate should include an address, a postcode and any identifiers that distinguish between properties. It also contains the name of the engineer as well as Gas Safe Register ID number along with their signature.
Landlords are legally obliged to conduct regular gas safety checks in their properties they let. This is to ensure that all of the gas appliances and pipes are safe to use and that there aren't any leaks or other dangers that could pose a danger to the occupants. The engineer will sign the certificate if the appliances are unsafe. Three codes are used to indicate the safety level of the appliance: Immediately Dangerous, At Risk, or Not Current Standards.
Gas safety certificates are a legal requirement for landlords selling their home. As part of their due diligence, prospective buyers can request the certificates and use them to determine any issues they have to address prior to purchasing the property.
Landlords can arrange for a gas safety check with a Gas Safe registered engineer, or they can do it themselves through our user-friendly platform. We recommend that the Gas Safety Check is performed every year, at least to ensure that the appliances are in good properly and don't present any safety hazards to the residents.
It is not the responsibility of tenants to arrange a gas safety certificate or have their appliances checked. It is the landlord's responsibility organize an annual inspection and issue a certificate of gas safety.
How much will a Gas Safety Certificate cost?
A gas safety certificate is an obligation for landlords to ensure that 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, location and number of appliances.
It is important to inform your tenants and inform them when the inspection is scheduled to take place to ensure that they are prepared for it. It's also a good idea to explain the reason they should permit the engineer to conduct the inspection. It's not unusual for some tenants to be hesitant to grant access because they 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 boiler, fireplace or other appliances. You must remind them that this is an obligation under the law. They could also be subject to fines or criminal charges when an engineer is unable to access the fireplace, boiler or any other appliance.
The gas engineer will send you an official copy of the certificate after the inspection is completed. The certificate will contain the date, the engineer's contact details along with your address at the property and an inventory of all the appliances and installations that were examined. It will also note that any appliances or installations failed the tests and will list any work that has to be completed.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be a standard black and yellow document, and your engineer will give you an original 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 of it to your tenants.
Your gas engineer will send you a copy the Gas Safety Record. This record is valid for 12 month from the date of inspection. It is essential to renew your Gas Safety Certificate before it expires. You must also provide a copy to new tenants when they move into the property.