What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certificate is a document that lists all the inspections and tests an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections lower the risk of carbon-monoxide poisoning at home.
Landlords are legally required to arrange 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 certification is an official document which confirms that the installations and appliances of your home have been inspected by a certified engineer. This ensures 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 stop carbon monoxide poisoning and other serious accidents. Landlords who do not comply with these rules could face fines or even prosecution.
Before issuance of the document, the gas engineer will conduct a thorough inspection to determine the condition of the appliances and installations. It will also state whether they passed or failed the test and include suggestions for further action if necessary. The name and address of the landlord will be listed on the certificate, along with the date that the test was conducted.
There are two kinds of gas safety certificates for domestic and non-domestic. The first is intended for homes, flats and studios, while the latter is for commercial properties such as warehouses and office buildings. Both certificates must be renewed annually and the engineer must give a copy of each appliance that has been examined.
Who needs to have gas safety inspections? Anyone who owns, rents or has a property that has any type of gas appliance. This includes homeowners who are private as also housing associations, local authorities, hotels and other hospitality venues. Landlords are particularly required to have their homes examined and issue their tenants with the latest Gas Safety Record, as they are legally responsible to ensure that their tenants stay safe in the properties they lease or own.
If you own a house and have an agent managing the care of your property, then it is important to ensure that they are the ones to organize the annual gas safety check. A managing agent's appointment doesn't mean you are free of your legal obligation to have the property tested and to provide your tenants with the most up-to-date Gas Safety Record.
It's not a requirement for homeowners to keep their gas safety records. However, they can be beneficial when selling a house. Potential buyers would like to see proof that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. The TA6 form, which is part of the conveyancing process, also asks for an evidence of gas safety which is why it's a good idea to have one prior to selling.
Who is in need of a Gas Safety Certificate?
In essence everyone who owns a home or commercial property with gas appliances and pipework is required to have them examined by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. This will include landlords and building owners, as well as even tenants who live in a building which is managed by an agent managing the building.
Landlords have a number of legal obligations, and one of them is to make sure 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 illegal for a landlord to rent out any property without this document.
In terms of homeowners, although they aren't subject to the same legal obligations as landlords, it's nevertheless a good idea to have an annual gas Safety Check done once a year. This will help keep their boiler and other gas appliances in good shape and also help to identify any issues that need repair, which could save them money in the long run.
The gas safety certificate will usually contain a header which displays the name and registration number of the person who conducted the inspection, along with the address of the property, postcode and any other relevant identifiers. It will also include an inventory of all appliances that were inspected, as well as an indication of whether they passed or failed. If appliances are found to be unsafe they will be marked as not Compliant(NCS), Immediately Hazardous (ID) and At Risk (AR).
The document will be handed to the homeowner at the end of the service. what is a landlord gas safety certificate should be saved in a safe place to be used in the future. It is recommended for homeowners to keep this with them when selling their home, as it can assure prospective buyers that the home is safe to use gas.
What is included in the Gas Safety Certificate
The gas safety certificate includes a list of all gas appliances and infrastructures an engineer has been examining. The certificate also includes details on the engineer such as their name and Gas Safe Register number. The document usually starts with a header that displays the date and location of the inspection. The document then lists the appliances that were checked, their status and any action taken or safety concerns that were discovered.
The gas safety certificate includes specifics about the property where the inspection took place, as well as the name of the managing agent or landlord. The certificate should include the address, postcode, and any other identifiers that can be used to distinguish the properties. It also includes the name of the engineer as well as Gas Safe Register ID number and their signature.
Landlords are legally required to arrange regular gas safety inspections in their let properties. This is to ensure that all of the gas appliances and pipework are safe to use and there aren't any leaks or other hazards that could pose a danger for the occupants. If any appliances are found to be unsafe the engineer will mark them as in the certificate. There are three codes that show the level of safety of an appliance that are immediately dangerous (ID), At Risk (AR) or Not to Current Standards (NCS).
It is important for landlords to keep their gas safety certificates up to date, as they may be legally required when selling the property. As part of their due diligence, potential buyers may request the records and use them to identify any issues they must fix before purchasing the property.
Landlords can schedule a gas safety inspection with an Gas Safe registered engineer, or conduct the check themselves via our user-friendly platform. We suggest arranging a Gas Safety Check at least every 12 months, to make sure that all the appliances are in good order and are not posing any dangers to the residents.
It is not the obligation of tenants to arrange the issue of a gas safety certificate, or have their appliances checked. It is the landlord's responsibility to conduct an annual inspection and issue the certificate of gas safety.
How Much does a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?
A gas safety certificate is an obligation for landlords in order to ensure that their rental properties are safe for tenants to use. The cost of a gas safety test will vary depending on the size and the location of your property, as well as the amount of gas appliances that need inspection.
It is essential 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 can also help to explain the reason for them to allow access so that the engineer can carry out the check. Some tenants are hesitant to grant access because they feel it is an privacy invasion or they could be in danger in the event that they refuse to allow the engineer to inspect the boiler, fireplace or other appliances. It's worth reminding them that it's a legal requirement, and could lead to the tenant facing fines or criminal charges if they do not allow access when a problem with one of your appliances is discovered, for instance, carbon monoxide poisoning.
The gas engineer will give you an official copy of the certificate once the inspection is complete. The certificate will include the date as well as the contact details of the engineer, your property address and a list of all appliances and installations that were examined. It will also indicate if any of the appliances or installations failed the tests and will outline any work that needs to be completed.
A Gas Safe certificate will usually be in the form of an ordinary black and yellow document, and your engineer will give you an original for every appliance or system they have inspected. This documentation should be kept for future reference. You should also provide a copy to each of your tenants.
Your gas engineer will also provide you with a copy of the Gas Safety Record, which is valid for 12 months from the date of the inspection. You must ensure that you renew your Gas Safety Certificate before it expires. You should also provide a copy to tenants who are about to move into the property.