What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate includes all the tests and inspections an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning at your home.
The law stipulates that landlords must conduct these inspections every year. They must also be conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate is a legal document that proves that the installations and appliances of your home have been checked by a qualified engineer. This assures you that they are safe to use. Gas appliances and flues must be inspected by a certified engineer each year. This is a legal requirement in order to ensure that carbon monoxide poisoning is not a problem and to avoid other serious accidents. Landlords who do not comply with these regulations may be penalized with fines or even a prosecution.
A gas engineer will conduct an exhaustive inspection of the property before issuing the report that will include the details of all the appliances and installations they tested. The report will show whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, as well as any suggestions for further actions. The certificate will include the landlord's name, address, and the date that the test was conducted.
There are two kinds of gas safety certificates that are domestic and non-domestic. The former is for homes, flats and studios, while the latter is for commercial properties such as warehouses and office buildings. Both certificates need to be renewed every year and the engineer will give an exact copy of every appliance they have examined.
Who should undergo an inspection for gas safety? The answer is anyone who owns or rents out a property with any gas appliance or installation. 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 properties examined and issue their tenants with the most current Gas Safety Record, as they are legally accountable for ensuring that their tenants stay safe in the properties they lease or own.
If you own a house that is managed by a managing agent, it is important to ensure that they are the ones to arrange the annual gas safety inspection and service. A managing agent can't relieve you of the legal requirement to have the property tested and to provide your tenants with the Gas Safety Record.
Although it's not a legal requirement for homeowners to keep their own records on gas safety, they can be helpful when it comes to selling the property as prospective buyers will want evidence that the appliances are maintained and are safe. The TA6 form, which is part of the conveyancing process, also asks for a record of gas safety which is why it's a good idea to have one before selling.
Who needs a Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to examine any gas appliance or pipework that is in a commercial or domestic property. This includes landlords, building owner and tenants who live in a property managed by a managing agency.
Gas Safe engineers must check and confirm that all appliances, flues, and fittings in a rental property are safe each year for 12 months. This is referred to as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is a crucial element of any rental property. It is unlawful for landlords to rent properties without this document.
For homeowners, while they aren't subject to the same legal obligations as landlords, it's nevertheless a good idea to get an annual gas Safety Check done once a year. This will ensure that their boiler and other gas appliances in good working order and will also reveal any issues that need repair, which could save them money in the end.
The gas safety certificate will typically include a header that shows the name and registration number of the person who conducted the inspection, along with the address of the property, postcode, and any other pertinent identifiers. The certificate will also list the appliances that were tested and indicate whether they were successful or not. If any appliances were deemed to be dangerous they will be labeled as Not Compliant (NCS), Immediately Dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR).
This document will be given to the homeowner at the end of the service. It should be saved in a safe place to be used in the future. This document is ideal for homeowners when they are selling their home. It will reassure potential buyers that the property is safe to use gas.
What is included in the Gas Safety Certificate
A gas safety certificate will include the complete list of all 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 typically begins with the header, which displays the date and location of the inspection. Then, it shows the appliances that were examined, their status and any action taken or safety concerns that were discovered.
The gas safety certificate contains information about the house where the inspection was conducted along with the information of the landlord or managing agents. The certificate must contain 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 must perform regular gas safety inspections at their properties they lease. It is crucial to ensure that the gas appliances and pipes are safe to use and that there aren't any leaks or dangers that could pose a risk to the occupants. If any appliances are found be unsafe the engineer will label them as in the certificate. There are three codes that show the safety rating of an appliance three codes: Immediately Dangerous (ID), At Risk (AR) or Not to Current Standards (NCS).
Gas safety certificates can be an obligation for landlords selling their property. Buyers who are considering buying the property may request the documents as part of their due diligence and can use them to spot any issues they need to address prior to buying the property.
mkgassafety can arrange a gas safety inspection with an Gas Safe registered engineer, or conduct the check themselves via our user-friendly platform. We recommend conducting an Gas Safety Check at least every 12 months, to ensure that all of the appliances are in good working in good condition and don't pose any dangers to the residents.
It is not the duty of tenants to arrange the issue of a gas safety certificate, or have their appliances inspected. It is the landlord's responsibility to conduct an annual inspection and issue the certificate of gas safety.
How much will a Gas Safety Certificate cost?
Gas safety certificates are an obligation that landlords must get to ensure the safety of their rental properties. The cost of a gas safety inspection will differ based on the size and location of your property as well as the amount of gas appliances that need inspection.
It is important to inform your tenants and let them know when the inspection will occur to ensure that they are prepared for it. It's also a good idea to explain to them why they should permit the engineer to do the check. It's not unusual for some tenants to be reluctant to allow access to their property because they believe it's an invasion of their privacy or they may be put in danger if the engineer doesn't have access to examine the boiler, fireplace or other appliances. You must remind that it is legally required. It is also possible to face fines or even criminal charges If an engineer is not able to access the boiler, fireplace, or any other appliances.
The gas engineer will provide you the certificate once the inspection is complete. This will include the date of the service as well as the details of the engineer as well as your property address as well as a complete list of all the appliances or installations that were checked. It will also note if any of the appliances or installations failed the tests. It will detail the work that must be done.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be an ordinary black and yellow document. Your engineer will give you an original for every appliance or system they have examined. Keep this document to refer to in the future and also to provide a copy 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. You must make sure that you renew your Gas Safety Certificate before it expires. You must also provide a copy to new tenants when they move into the property.