Looking For Inspiration? Check Out Gas Safety Certificate Check

What is a Gas Safety Certificate and Who Needs One?

A gas safety certification is a document which lists all the tests and inspections engineers perform on your gas appliances. These inspections reduce the chance of carbon monoxide poisoning in your home.

The law stipulates that landlords must conduct annual inspections of their properties. They must also be carried out by an Gas Safe registered engineer.

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

A gas safety certificate is a legal document that demonstrates that the installations and appliances of your property have been inspected by a certified engineer. This assures you that they are safe to use. Gas appliances and flues must be inspected by an experienced engineer every year. This is a legal requirement to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and other serious accidents. Landlords who don't comply with these rules could are subject to fines or even criminal prosecution.

Before issuing the document the gas engineer will conduct a thorough inspection to determine the state of all appliances and installations. It will also show whether they passed or failed the test and provide recommendations for further action if needed. The certificate will include the name of the landlord, address and the date the test was conducted.

There are two kinds of gas safety certificates: domestic and non-domestic. The first is for flats, homes, and studios while the latter refers to commercial properties such as warehouses and office buildings. Both certificates need to be renewed each year and the engineer will provide a copy for every appliance they have inspected.

Who is required to undergo gas safety inspections? Anyone who owns, rents or has the property with any type of gas appliance. This includes private homeowners as in housing associations, local authorities, hotels and other hospitality venues. Landlords are required to have their homes inspected and to issue their tenants with the most recent 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 property and employ an agent managing the care of your property, then it is important to ensure that they are the ones who organize the annual gas safety inspection. A managing agent cannot let you out of the legal requirement to have the property tested and to provide your tenants with a Gas Safety Record.

Although it's not a legal requirement for homeowner-occupiers to keep their own records on gas safety but they can be useful when selling the property as prospective buyers will be looking for evidence that the appliances are maintained and are safe. Additionally, the TA6 form that is part of the conveyancing process requires for a gas safety record and it's recommended to have one prior to selling.

Who Needs a Gas Safety Certificate?

Essentially anyone who owns a domestic or commercial property with gas appliances and pipes will need to have them checked by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. This includes landlords and building owners, as well as even tenants who live in a building which is managed by a managing agent.

Landlords are subject to a range of legal obligations. One of them is to ensure that all flues, appliances, and fittings are examined and considered safe by a Gas Safe engineer every 12 months. This is known as a Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and is a vital part of any rental property. It is unlawful for a landlord to rent out any property without this certificate.

Although homeowners don't have to follow the same legal requirements as landlords are required to follow, it's a good idea for them to have an annual gas Safety Check once a year. This will ensure that their boiler and all gas appliances in good shape and also help to identify any issues that need fixing, which can save them money in the long term.

The header of the gas safety certificate will typically include the registration and name of the engineer who performed the inspection as well as any other relevant identifiers. The certificate will also list all appliances that were tested and indicate whether they passed or failed. If any appliances were deemed to be unsafe, they will be marked as not compliant (NCS) or Immediately Dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR).

This document is issued to the homeowner following the service and is best kept safe to be able to refer to it in the future. It is usually an excellent idea for homeowners to keep this document when selling their property, as it can assure prospective buyers that the home is gas safe.

What is Included in a Gas Safety Certificate?

A gas safety certificate contains a full list of all gas appliances and infrastructure 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 location of the inspection. Then, it lists the appliances that were checked, their status, and any action taken or safety issues that were identified.

The gas safety certificate includes information about the property in which the inspection took place and the name of the managing agent or landlord. The certificate must contain an address, postcode and any identifiers that differentiate different properties. The certificate must also contain the engineer's ID number and name along with the signature.

Landlords are legally obligated to arrange regular gas safety inspections in their properties they let. It is essential to ensure that the gas appliances and pipework can be safely used and that there aren't any leaks or dangers that could pose a risk to the occupants. If appliances are found to be unsafe the engineer will label them as unsafe on the certificate. There are three codes that signify 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 home. Potential buyers might request the documents as part of their due diligence and can use them to find any issues they need to address prior to purchasing the property.

Landlords can arrange an appointment for a Gas Safety Inspection with an Gas Safe registered Engineer, or they may do it themselves with our user-friendly platform. We recommend that the Gas Safety Check is performed every year, at least to ensure that all appliances are in working properly and don't pose any danger to the residents.

It is not up to tenants to get the gas safety certification or have their appliances inspected. It is the landlord's responsibility to arrange an annual inspection, and issue an official certificate of gas safety.

How Much is a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?

A gas safety certificate is a legal requirement for landlords in order to ensure that their rental properties are safe for tenants to use. The cost of a safety inspection for gas appliances is different depending on your property's size, location and the number of appliances.

It is important to inform your tenants when the inspection will be taking place to allow them to prepare. It's also a good idea to explain to them the reasons why they should let the engineer to conduct the inspection. Some tenants are hesitant to grant access because they feel it is an invasion of privacy or might be at risk in the event that they refuse to allow the engineer to inspect the fireplace, boiler or other appliances. You should remind them that this is legally required. They could also be subject to fines or criminal charges if an engineer cannot access the boiler, fireplace, or any other appliances.

The gas engineer will send you a copy of the certificate once the inspection is complete. This will include the date of the service as well as the details of the engineer as well as your property address, along with a full list of all appliances or installations that were checked. It will also note that any appliances or installations failed the tests and will list any work that has to be completed.

Gas Safe certificates are usually in yellow and black and your engineer will send you a copy of every appliance or installation they've inspected. You should keep this documentation for future reference and also to provide a copy to your tenants.

Your MK Gas Safety engineer will also give you a copy of the Gas Safety Record, which is valid for 12 months from the date of inspection. You must renew your Gas Safety Certificate prior to the expiration date. You should also give a copy of it to any new tenants who move into your property.