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What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?

A gas safety certificate is a document that includes all the inspections and tests an engineer conducts on your gas appliances. These inspections to reduce the risk 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 inspections.

What is what is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)?

A gas safety certificate is an official document that proves that all appliances and installations within your home have been inspected by a certified engineer to ensure that they are safe to use. Gas appliances and flues must be inspected by a qualified engineer each year. This is a legal requirement to ensure that carbon monoxide poisoning is not a problem and to avoid other serious accidents. Landlords who do not adhere to these rules could be prosecuted or fined.

A gas engineer will conduct an extensive inspection of the house prior to issuing the certificate, which will contain details of each appliance and installations they test. The report will show whether the appliances and installations passed or failed, as well as any recommendations for further actions. The landlord's name and address will be listed on the certificate, along with a date when 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, while the latter refers to commercial properties such as warehouses and office buildings. Both certificates need to be renewed annually and the engineer will give the details of each appliance they have inspected.

Who needs to have gas safety inspections? Anyone who owns, rents or owns an apartment or property that is equipped with any gas appliance of any kind. This includes private homeowners, housing associations, local authorities, hotels and other hospitality venues, and even schools. Landlords are required to have their properties inspected and to issue their tenants with the latest Gas Safety Record, as they are legally responsible for ensuring that their tenants are secure in their homes that they rent or own.

If you own a house and hire a managing agent to take care of your property, then it's important to make sure that they are the ones who organize the annual service and gas safety inspection. A managing agent's appointment does not relieve you of your legal obligation to get the property tested and to supply your tenants with the most current Gas Safety Record.

It's not required for homeowners to keep their gas safety records. However, they're helpful when selling a property. Potential buyers would like to verify that the appliances have been maintained and are safe. Additionally, the TA6 form that is part of the conveyancing process will ask for a record of gas safety and it's recommended to have one prior to selling.

Who Needs a Gas Safety Certificate?

In essence everyone who owns a residential or commercial property with gas appliances and pipework will need to have them examined by a certified 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 a managing agent.

Gas Safe engineers must check and verify that all appliances, flues and fittings in a rental property are safe for a period of 12 months. Gas Safety Certificates or CP12 are a crucial element of any rental property. It is illegal for landlords to rent out any property without this document.

For homeowners, although they don't have the same legal obligations as landlords, it is nevertheless a good idea to have an annual Gas Safety Check done once a year. This will ensure that the boiler is in good working order and identify any issues that may need to be fixed.

The head of the gas safety certificate will usually include the name and registration numbers of the engineer who performed the inspection as well as any other identifiers that are relevant. It will also contain an inventory of all appliances that were tested and a note of whether they passed or failed. If any appliance was found to be dangerous the appliance will be labelled as not compliant (NCS) or Immediately Dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR).

The document is then given to the homeowner following the service and is best kept safe for future reference. It is a good idea for homeowners to have this document with them when they sell their home, as it can reassure potential buyers that the property is safe for gas.

What is Included in a Gas Safety Certificate?

The gas safety certificate contains 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 is usually arranged with a header that lists the date and location of the inspection. The document then shows the appliances that were examined, their status, and any action taken or safety issues that were identified.

gas safety certificate what is checked  contains specifics about the property where the inspection was conducted and the name of the landlord or managing agent. The certificate must contain the address, postcode and any relevant identifiers that distinguish the properties. The certificate must also contain the engineer's ID number as well as name and signature.

Landlords are legally obligated to schedule regular gas safety checks at their let properties. It is important to check that the gas appliances and pipework can be used safely and that there aren't any leaks or other dangers that could pose a threat to the occupants. If  gas safe certificate check  are found to be unsafe the engineer will mark them as such on the certificate. There are three codes that indicate an appliance's safety level that are immediately dangerous (ID), At Risk (AR) or Not to Current Standards (NCS).

Gas safety certificates are an obligation for landlords who are selling their property. Prospective buyers may ask for the records as part of their due diligence and can use them to spot any issues they need to address prior to buying the property.

Landlords may arrange an appointment for a Gas Safety Inspection with a Gas Safe registered Engineer, or they can conduct it themselves with 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 safety risks to the residents.

It is not the responsibility of tenants to arrange for a gas safety certification or have their appliances tested. It is the responsibility of the landlord to organize an annual inspection and issue the certificate of gas safety.

How Much does a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?

Gas safety certificates are legally required for landlords to must obtain to ensure the safety of their rental properties. The cost of a gas safety inspection will differ based on the size and the location of your property, as well as the amount of gas appliances that need being checked.

It is important to inform your tenants and inform them when the inspection will take place so that they can be prepared for it. It can also help to explain why it's crucial for them to allow access so that the engineer can perform the check. Some tenants are hesitant to grant access to their property because they believe it's an invasion of privacy or might be at risk should they not allow the engineer to examine the boiler, fireplace or other appliances. It's important to remind them that it's a legal requirement, and could lead to them facing fines or even criminal charges if they fail to permit access if an issue with one of your appliances is discovered, like carbon monoxide poisoning.

After the gas engineer has completed the inspection, they will send you an original copy of your gas safety certificate. This will include the date of the service along with the details of the engineer's name and your property address as well as a complete list of all appliances or installations that were inspected. It will also note that any appliances or installations failed the tests and will detail the work that must be completed.

A Gas Safe certificate will usually be in the form of a standard black and white document, and your engineer will provide you with an original for every appliance or installation they have inspected. It is recommended to keep this certificate for future reference, and you'll also need to provide a copy of it to your tenants.

The gas engineer will provide you with a copy the Gas Safety Record, which will be valid for 12 months from the date of the inspection. You must renew your Gas Safety Certificate prior to its expiration. It is also recommended to give the certificate to any new tenants that move into your property.