What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate is a document that contains all the inspections and tests an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections lower the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in your home.
The law requires that landlords conduct annual inspections of their properties. Gas Safe registered engineers must also conduct inspections.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate is an official document that demonstrates that all appliances and installations in your property have been checked by a qualified engineer to make sure 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 fail to adhere to these rules could be penalized or fined.
A gas engineer will conduct a thorough inspection of the home prior to issuing the document that will include the details of all the appliances and installations they tested. The document will indicate whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, and any suggestions for further actions. The landlord's name and address will be listed on the certificate as well as the date on which the test was completed.
There are two kinds of gas safety certificates: domestic and non-domestic. The first one is for flats, homes, and studios whereas the latter refers to commercial properties such as warehouses and office buildings. Both certificates must be renewed every year and the engineer will give the details of every appliance they have inspected.
Who needs 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 homeowners who are private, housing associations, local authorities, hotels and hospitality venues, as well as schools. Landlords are particularly required to have 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 safe in their homes that they rent or own.
If you own a house and have an managing agent to take care of your property, it is important to ensure that they're the ones who plan the annual gas safety check. A managing agent will not relieve you of the legal requirement to have the property tested, and also to provide your tenants with a 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 selling the property since potential buyers will be looking for proof that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. In addition the TA6 form that's 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 needs a Gas Safety Certificate?
Essentially, anyone who owns a residential or commercial property that is equipped with gas-powered appliances and pipes will need to be examined by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. This includes landlords as well as building owners and even some tenants who may live in a building which is managed by an agent who manages the property.
Landlords are bound by a variety of legal obligations. One of them is to ensure that all flues, appliances, and fittings are inspected and deemed safe by a Gas Safe engineer every 12 months. This is known as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is a crucial element of any rental property. It is not legal for a landlord to rent out any property without this document.
In the case of homeowners, even though they do not have the same legal obligations as landlords, it is still a good idea get an annual Gas Safety Check done once a year. This will help to keep their boilers and gas appliances in good condition and also help to identify any issues that require fixing, which can save them money in the end.
The gas safety certificate will typically include a header that shows the name and registration number of the engineer who performed the inspection, along with the address of the property, the postcode, and any other pertinent identifications. The certificate will also list all appliances that were inspected and will indicate whether they passed or failed. If appliances are deemed to be unsafe and are marked as Not Compliant(NCS), Immediately Hazardous (ID) and At Risk (AR).
The document is then given to the homeowner following the service and should be kept in a safe place to be able to refer to it in the future. It is often recommended for homeowners to keep this with them when selling their house, since it can reassure potential buyers that the property is gas safe.
What is included in the Gas Safety Certificate
A gas safety certificate includes a full list of all gas appliances and the infrastructure that an engineer has checked. It also includes details about the engineer, including their name and Gas Safe Register ID number. The document is usually accompanied by a header that displays the date and time of the inspection. The document then lists the appliances that were checked, their status, and any action taken or safety issues identified.
The gas safety certificate includes specifics about the property where the inspection took place, as well as the name of the landlord or managing agent. The certificate should include an address, postcode and any identifiers that distinguish between properties. The certificate must also include the engineer's ID number as well as name and signature.
Landlords are legally obligated to arrange regular gas safety inspections in their properties that they let. This is to ensure that all of the gas appliances and pipework are safe to use and that there aren't any leaks or other hazards that could pose a danger to the occupants. If any appliances are found to be unsafe the engineer will label them as such on the certificate. Three codes are used to indicate the safety level of the appliance: Immediately dangerous, at risk or Not Current Standards.
It is crucial for landlords to keep their gas safety certificates current and up to date, as they may be legally required when selling a property. Prospective buyers may ask for the certificates as part of their due diligence and could use them to identify any issues they require to resolve before buying the property.
Landlords can arrange an appointment for a Gas Safety Inspection with a Gas Safe registered Engineer, or they may do it themselves with our user-friendly platform. We recommend conducting an Gas Safety Check at least once every 12 months to ensure that all appliances are in good in good condition and don't pose any safety risks to residents.
It is not the obligation of tenants to arrange an annual gas safety certificate or have their appliances inspected. This is the landlord's responsibility, who is required to arrange an annual inspection and issue gas safety certificates to their tenants.
How Much Does a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?
Gas safety certificates are legally required for landlords to must get to ensure the safety of their rental properties. The cost of a gas safety check will differ based on the size and the location of your property, as well as the amount of gas appliances that need checking.
It is crucial to inform your tenants when the inspection will be taking place to allow them to prepare. It is also helpful to explain the reason to allow access to allow the engineer to conduct the inspection. It's not unusual for tenants to be reluctant to allow access to their property because they believe it's an invasion of their privacy or that they could be put in danger when the engineer doesn't have access to check the boiler, fireplace or other appliances. You should remind that this is a legal requirement. It is also possible to face fines or even criminal charges if an engineer cannot access the boiler, fireplace or any other appliance.
The gas engineer will send you an official copy of the certificate once the inspection is complete. This will include the date of the inspection, the engineer's details and your address for your home as well as a complete list of all installations or appliances that were checked. It will also note that any appliances or installations failed the tests and will detail the work that must be done.
Gas Safe certificates are usually in black and yellow and your engineer will give you a copy of every appliance or installation that they have examined. gas safety certificate landlord should be saved for future reference. landlord gas safety certificate will also need to give an original copy to each of your tenants.
The gas engineer will provide you with a copy of the Gas Safety Record, which is valid for 12 months from the date of the inspection. You must renew your Gas Safety Certificate prior to the expiration date. It is also recommended to give an original copy to any new tenants that move into your property.