What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certification is a document that includes all the tests and inspections engineers perform on your gas appliances. These inspections reduce the risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning at home.
Landlords are legally required to arrange these inspections on an annual basis. Gas Safe registered engineers must also conduct inspections.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate is a legal document that demonstrates that the appliances and installations of your home have been inspected by a certified engineer. This ensures that they are safe to use. It's a legal requirement that landlords to have their gas appliances and flues inspected every year to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, or other serious accidents. Landlords who do not adhere to these rules could be fined or prosecuted.
A gas engineer will carry out an exhaustive inspection of the house prior to issuing the report that will include the specifics of the appliances and installations they test. It will also state whether they passed or failed the test and include recommendations for further action, if required. The landlord's name and address will be listed on the certificate, along with a date when the test was conducted.
Gas safety certificates are available in two different types of certificates: domestic and non-domestic. The first is intended for residential properties, such as studios, homes and flats. The other is for commercial properties like offices and warehouses. Both certificates need to be renewed annually and the engineer will issue a copy for each appliance that has been examined.
Who needs to have an inspection for gas safety? 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 other hospitality places, and even schools. Landlords must check their properties and provide the latest Gas Safety Record to their tenants. They are legally accountable for making sure that their tenants are safe in their residences regardless of whether they rent or own them.
If you own a property that is managed by an agent who manages the property It is essential to ensure that they are the ones who plan the annual gas safety inspection and service. A managing agent cannot disqualify you from the legal obligation to have the property tested and to provide your tenants with an official Gas Safety Record.
Although it's not a legal requirement for homeowner-occupiers to keep their own records of gas safety but they can be useful when it comes to selling the property, as potential buyers will be looking for proof that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. The TA6 form that forms part of the conveyancing procedure will also require the record of gas safety and it's recommended to have one before selling.
Who is in need of needing a Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to check any gas appliances or pipework that is in any domestic or commercial property. This will include landlords and building owners, as well as even some tenants who may reside in a property which is managed by a managing agent.
Landlords are bound by a variety of legal obligations, and one of these is to ensure that all flues, appliances, and fittings are checked and deemed safe by an Gas Safe engineer every 12 months. Gas Safety Certificates or CP12 are an essential part of every rental property. It is illegal for landlords to rent a property without this document.
In terms of homeowners, while they do not have the same legal obligations as landlords, it is still a good idea have a gas Safety Check done once a year. This will ensure that their boiler is in good working order and highlight any problems that might need to be fixed.
The gas safety certificate will usually 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 other pertinent identification numbers. The certificate will also list all appliances that were examined and will 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 recommended for homeowners to carry this document with them when they sell their home, as it can reassure potential buyers that the property is gas safe.
What is included in a Gas Safety Certificate
The gas safety certificate includes a list of all gas appliances and infrastructures that an engineer has examined. The certificate also contains information on the engineer including their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document typically begins with an introduction that lists the date and location of the inspection. The document then lists the appliances checked along with their condition, as well as any safety issues or actions taken.
The gas safety certificate includes information about the property in which the inspection took place in addition to the name of the landlord or managing agent. The certificate should include an address, a postcode, and any identifiers which distinguish different properties. The certificate must 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 essential to ensure that the gas appliances and pipes can be used safely and that there aren't any leaks or dangers that could pose a danger to the residents. If any appliances are found 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 date, as they can be a legal requirement when selling a property. As part of their due diligence, potential buyers can request the certificates and use them to identify any issues they need to be able to fix prior to buying the property.
Landlords can arrange an inspection of their gas supply through a Gas Safe registered Engineer, or they can do it themselves by using our user-friendly platform. We recommend that a Gas Safety Check is performed at least once a year to ensure that all appliances are in good in good 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 inspected. It is the responsibility of the landlord to arrange an annual inspection, and issue an official certificate of gas safety.
How Much does a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?
Gas safety certificates are an obligation that landlords must obtain to ensure the security of their rental properties. The cost of a safety test for gas appliances will vary depending on your property's size as well as the location and number of appliances.
It is crucial to inform your tenants about when the inspection will be taking place, so that they can prepare. It's important to explain the reason they should allow the engineer to conduct the inspection. Some tenants are reluctant to give access to their property because they believe it's an invasion of privacy or they could be in danger if they don't allow the engineer to inspect the fireplace, boiler or other appliances. You must remind that this is a legal requirement. They could also be subject to fines or even criminal charges if an engineer cannot access the fireplace, boiler, or any other appliances.
When the gas engineer is finished carrying out the inspection and has completed the inspection, they will provide you with a copy of your gas safety certificate. It will include the date of the inspection, the engineer's details and your property address, along with a full list of all the appliances or installations that were inspected. what is a landlord gas safety certificate will also list any appliances or installations that failed the test and any work required.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be a standard black and yellow document, and your engineer will send you a copy for every appliance or system they have inspected. Keep this document for future reference and you'll also have to provide a copy to your tenants.
Your gas engineer will provide you with a copy the Gas Safety Record, which will be valid for 12 months from the date of inspection. You must ensure 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.