What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certification is a document which contains all the tests and inspections that an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections help lower the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning within your home.
Landlords are legally required to conduct these inspections on a regular basis. They must also be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate is a legal document that confirms that the installations and appliances of your property have all been checked by a qualified engineer. This assures you that they are safe for use. It's a legal requirement for landlords to have their flues and gas appliances checked every year to avoid the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning and other serious accidents. Landlords who fail to comply with these rules could are subject to fines or even criminal prosecution.
A gas engineer will conduct an extensive inspection of the house prior to issuing the document, which will contain details of each appliance and installations they test. The document will state whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, and any recommendations for further action. The certificate will include the landlord's name, address, and the date that the test was conducted.
There are two types of gas safety certificates: domestic and non-domestic. The first is intended for homes, flats and studios while the latter applies to commercial properties such as warehouses or office buildings. Both certificates have to be renewed each year and the engineer must give a copy of each appliance that has been inspected.
Who is required to undergo a gas safety inspection? Anyone who owns, leases or uses the property with any gas appliance of any kind. This includes homeowners who are private housing associations, housing associations, local authorities, hotels and hospitality venues, as well as schools. Landlords must check their properties and give the latest Gas Safety Record to their tenants. They are legally responsible for making sure that their tenants are secure in their homes, whether they rent or own them.
If you own a property that is managed by a managing agent It is essential to make sure that they are the ones who plan the annual gas safety inspection and service. gas safety certificate what is checked that you have a managing agent doesn't mean you are free of the legal obligation to get the property tested and provide your tenants with the most up-to-date Gas Safety Record.
Although it's not an obligation for homeowners to keep their own records on gas safety but they can be useful when selling the property, as prospective buyers will want evidence that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. In addition the TA6 form that is 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 requires an Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to examine any gas appliances or pipework that is in any domestic or commercial property. This includes landlords, building owner and some tenants who live in a building that is managed by an agency that manages the building.
Gas Safe engineers must check and certify that all appliances, flues, and fittings in a rental property are safe for a period of 12 months. This is known as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is a vital element of any rental property. It is illegal for a landlord to rent out any property without this certificate.
Although homeowners don't have to adhere to the same legal obligations as landlords are required to follow, it's recommended to undergo a Gas Safety Check once a year. This will help keep their boiler and all gas appliances in good working order and can also highlight any issues that require fixing, which can save them money in the end.
The gas safety certificate will typically have a header that displays the name and registration number of the person who conducted the inspection, along with the address of the property, postcode, and other pertinent identification numbers. It will also contain an inventory of all the appliances that were tested and a note of whether they passed or failed. If appliances are found to be unsafe and are marked as Not Compliant(NCS), Immediately Hazardous (ID) and At Risk (AR).
This document is issued to the homeowner after the service has been completed and should be kept in a safe place for future reference. It is often recommended for homeowners to have this document when selling their property, as it can assure potential buyers that the property is gas safe.
What is included in a Gas Safety Certificate
The gas safety certificate contains the list of all gas appliances and infrastructures an engineer has examined. It also includes information about the engineer, including their name and Gas Safe Register ID number. The document is usually accompanied by an introduction that lists the date and time of the inspection. The document then shows the appliances that were checked, their status, and any action taken or safety concerns that were discovered.
The gas safety certificate includes information about the property in which the inspection was conducted and the name of the landlord or managing agent. The certificate should include the address, postcode, as well as any other relevant identifiers to differentiate between properties. The certificate should also contain the engineer's ID number as well as name along with the signature.
Landlords are required to conduct regular gas safety inspections in their properties they lease. It is crucial to ensure that the gas appliances and pipes can be used safely and that there are no leaks or other dangers that could pose a threat to the residents. If appliances are found to be unsafe the engineer will label them as such on the certificate. Three codes are used to indicate the level of safety of the appliance: Immediately Dangerous, At Risk, or Not Current Standards.
It is essential for landlords to keep their gas safety certificates up-to current, as they could be a legal requirement when selling the property. Potential buyers might request the records as part of their due diligence and can use them to find any issues they require to address prior to purchasing the property.
Landlords can arrange for a gas safety check through a Gas Safe registered engineer, or they can conduct it themselves using our user-friendly platform. We recommend that an annual Gas Safety Check is performed every year, at least to ensure that all appliances are in good order and do not pose any danger to the residents.
It is not the responsibility of tenants to arrange a gas safety certificate or have their appliances inspected. It is the responsibility of the landlord to arrange an annual inspection, and issue an official 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 inspection for gas appliances is different in accordance with the size of your home as well as the location and number of appliances.
It's important to communicate with your tenants and inform them when the inspection is scheduled to take place to ensure that they are prepared for it. It's important to explain the reason they should allow the engineer to do 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 they may be at risk when the engineer doesn't have access to inspect the fireplace, boiler, or any other appliances. It is important to remind that this is legally required. They could also face penalties or fines when an engineer is unable to access the boiler, fireplace or other appliances.
The gas engineer will give you a copy of the certificate after the inspection is completed. This will include the date of the inspection along with the details of the engineer's name as well as your property address and a complete list of all the appliances or installations that were inspected. It will also note whether any of the appliances or installations failed the tests. It will detail any work that has to be done.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be a standard black and white document, and your engineer will give you an original for every appliance or installation they have inspected. The certificate should be kept for future reference and you should also provide an original copy to each of your tenants.
Your gas engineer will provide you with a copy the Gas Safety Record, which is valid for 12 months from the date of inspection. You must make sure that you renew your Gas Safety Certificate before it expires, and you should also provide a copy to tenants who are about to move into the property.