What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?
A gas safety certification is a document which contains all the tests and inspections an engineer performs on your gas appliances. These inspections help reduce the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning in your home.
Landlords are legally required to arrange the inspections on an annual basis. Gas Safe registered engineers must also conduct the inspections.
What is an Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?
A gas safety certificate is a legal document that demonstrates that all the appliances and installations within your property have been checked by a qualified engineer to make sure they are safe to use. It is a legal requirement for landlords to have their flues and gas appliances regularly inspected to reduce the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning or other serious accidents. Landlords who fail to adhere to these regulations could are subject to fines or even criminal prosecution.
Before releasing the document, the gas engineer will conduct a thorough inspection to determine the condition of all appliances and installations. what is gas safety certificate will state whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, and any suggestions for further action. The name and address of the landlord will be listed on the certificate, along with the date on which the test was carried out.
Gas safety certificates are available in two distinct types that are domestic and non-domestic. The former is intended for homes, flats and studios whereas the latter refers to commercial properties like warehouses and office buildings. Both certificates need to be renewed each year and the engineer will give a copy of every appliance they have checked.
Who needs gas safety checks? The answer is anyone who owns or rents out a property with any type of gas appliance or installation. This includes homeowners who are private as in housing associations, local authorities and hotels and hospitality establishments. Landlords are required to inspect their properties and provide the latest Gas Safety Record to their tenants. They are legally accountable to ensure that their tenants are safe in their homes, whether they rent or own them.
If you have a home that is managed by a managing agent, it is important to ensure that they are the ones who arrange the annual gas safety inspection and service. A managing agent cannot disqualify you from the legal requirement to have the property tested, and also to give your tenants a Gas Safety Record.
It's not mandatory for homeowners to keep gas safety records. However, they're beneficial when selling a house. Potential buyers would like to see proof that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. Additionally, the TA6 form that is part of the conveyancing process asks for a gas safety record and it's recommended to have one prior to selling.
Who requires needing a Gas Safety Certificate?
Gas Safe registered engineers will be required to inspect any gas appliances or pipework in any domestic or commercial property. This includes landlords, building owners and tenants living in a property managed by an agency that manages 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 deemed safe by an Gas Safe engineer every 12 months. This is referred to as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is an essential part of any rental property. It is illegal for a landlord to rent out any property without this certificate.
Although homeowners don't have to comply with the same legal obligations as landlords are required to follow, it's recommended to have a Gas Safety Check once a year. This will help keep their boiler and all gas appliances in good working order and also help to identify any issues that require fixing, which could save them money in the end.
The gas safety certificate will typically have a header that displays the name and registration number of the engineer who carried out the inspection, along with the address of the property, the postcode, and any other pertinent identifications. The certificate will also list the appliances that were inspected and indicate whether they were successful or not. If appliances are deemed to be unsafe, they are classified as Not Compliant(NCS) immediately hazardous (ID) and At Risk (AR).
This document is then issued to the homeowner following the service and should be kept somewhere safe to be able to refer to it in the future. This document is an excellent idea for homeowners who are selling their house. It can assure buyers that the house is gas-safe.
What is Included in what is included in a Gas Safety Certificate?
The gas safety certificate includes the list of all gas appliances and other infrastructures that an engineer has inspected. It also contains information about the engineer including their name and Gas Safe Register ID number. The document will usually begin with a header listing the date and time of the inspection. The document lists the appliances inspected along with their condition, as well as any safety issues or actions taken.
The gas safety certificate includes specifics about the property where the inspection was conducted in addition to the name of the managing agent or landlord. The certificate must contain the address, postcode, as well as any other identifiers that can be used to distinguish between properties. It must also include the name of the engineer as well as Gas Safe Register ID number and their signature.
Landlords must perform regular gas safety inspections in their rental properties. 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 risks that could pose a danger to the occupants. The engineer will mark the certificate if an appliance is unsafe. There are three codes that indicate the level of safety of an appliance: Immediately Dangerous (ID), At Risk (AR) or Not to Current Standards (NCS).
It is crucial for landlords to keep their gas safety certificates up to current, as they could be a legal requirement when selling a property. Potential buyers might request the documents as part of their due diligence. They can use them to find any issues they need to resolve before buying the property.
Landlords can schedule a gas safety check with a Gas Safe registered engineer, or they can do it themselves through our user-friendly platform. We recommend conducting the Gas Safety Check at least every 12 months, to make sure that all appliances are in good working condition and do not pose any danger to the occupants.
It is not the responsibility of tenants to obtain an annual gas safety certificate or have their appliances checked. It is the landlord's responsibility, who must arrange an annual inspection and issue gas safety certificates to their tenants.
How much does a Gas Safety Certificate cost?
A gas safety certificate is a legal requirement for landlords to ensure that their rental properties are safe for tenants to use. The cost of a gas safety test will differ based on the size and location of your property and the number of gas appliances that require checking.
It's important to communicate with your tenants and let them know when the inspection will take place so that they can be prepared for it. It's also helpful to explain why it's important for them to allow access so that the engineer can perform the check. Some tenants are reluctant to give access to their property because they believe it's an invasion of privacy or could be in danger should they not allow the engineer to inspect the fireplace, boiler or other appliances. It's important to remind them that it's a legal requirement, and could result in being fined or even criminal charges if they do not permit access if an issue with one of your appliances is found, such as carbon monoxide poisoning.
The gas engineer will send you an official copy of the certificate once the inspection is complete. It will include the date of the service, the engineer's details and your address for your home, along with a full list of all appliances or installations that were tested. The report will also list any appliances or installations that failed the test and any work that was required.
Gas Safe certificates are usually in yellow and black and your engineer will provide you a copy for each appliance or installation they've been examining. You should keep this documentation to refer to in the future and also to give a copy to your tenants.
Your gas engineer will give you a copy of the Gas Safety Record. This record is valid for one month from the date of inspection. You must ensure that you renew your Gas Safety Certificate before it expires. You must also give a copy to the new tenants when they move into your property.