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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 can lower the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning at your home. Landlords are required by law to conduct these inspections on a regular basis. They must also be conducted by an Gas Safe registered engineer. What is a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC)? A gas safety certification is a legal document that proves that the installations and appliances of your property have been inspected by a certified engineer. This ensures that they are safe to use. The flues and gas appliances must be inspected by an experienced engineer every year. This is a legal requirement in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and other serious accidents. Landlords who fail to adhere to these rules could be prosecuted or fined. A gas engineer will carry out a thorough inspection of the house prior to issuing the certificate, which will contain details of all the appliances and installations they tested. It will also indicate whether they passed or failed the test. It will also include recommendations for further action, if required. The landlord's name and address will be recorded on the certificate along with a date when the test was conducted. Gas safety certificates are available in two different kinds: domestic and non-domestic. The former is intended for homes, flats and studios while the latter is for commercial properties such as warehouses or office buildings. Both certificates must be renewed every year and the engineer will issue the details of each appliance they've been examining. Who should undergo an inspection for gas safety? The answer is anyone who owns or rents out a property with any gas appliance or installation. This includes homeowners who are private housing associations, housing associations local authorities, hotels and hospitality places, and even schools. Landlords are required to inspect their properties and provide the latest Gas Safety Record to their tenants. mkgassafety are legally accountable to ensure that their tenants are secure in their homes regardless of whether they rent or own them. If you own a property and have an agent managing the care of your property, it's crucial to ensure that they're the ones who organize the annual gas safety inspection. A managing agent will not relieve you of the legal obligation to have your property tested and to give your tenants the Gas Safety Record. It's not mandatory for homeowners to keep gas safety records. However, they can be helpful when selling a property. Potential buyers would like to verify that the appliances were maintained and are safe. The TA6 form that forms part of the conveyancing procedure, also asks for the record of gas safety, so it's a good idea to keep one before selling. Who requires an Gas Safety Certificate? In essence anyone who owns a domestic or commercial property with gas-powered appliances and pipes is required to be examined by a certified Gas Safe registered engineer. This will include landlords and building owners, as well as even some tenants who may reside in a house that is managed by an agent who manages the property. 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. 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 document. In terms of homeowners, while they aren't subject to the same legal obligations as landlords, it is nevertheless a good idea to get a Gas Safety Check done once a year. This will help to keep their boilers and gas appliances in good shape and can also highlight any issues that need fixing, which could save them money in the long term. The front of the gas safety certificate is likely to include the name and registration numbers of the engineer who carried out the inspection, as well as any other identifiers that are relevant. It will also include an inventory of all the appliances that were examined and the information on whether they passed or failed. If any appliances were deemed to be unsafe the appliance will be labelled as not compliant (NCS), Immediately Dangerous (ID) or At Risk (AR). The document will be handed to the homeowner at the conclusion of the service. It should be kept in a safe place for future reference. This document is ideal for homeowners who are selling their home. It can reassure buyers that the home is safe for gas. What is included in the contents of a Gas Safety Certificate? A gas safety certificate contains the complete list of all the gas appliances and the infrastructure that an engineer has checked. It also contains details about the engineer, including their name and Gas Safe Register ID number. The document usually begins with a header that lists the date and location of the inspection. It then lists the appliances that were examined, their status and any action taken or safety issues identified. The gas safety certificate includes information about the property in which the inspection took place in addition to the name of the landlord or managing agent. The certificate must include the address, postcode and any other relevant identifiers to differentiate between properties. It also includes the name of the engineer as well as Gas Safe Register ID number, as well as their signature. Landlords must perform regular gas safety inspections in their rented properties. This is to ensure that all the gas appliances and pipework are safe to use and that there are no leaks or other dangers that could pose danger to occupants. If appliances are found to be unsafe the engineer will mark them as in the certificate. There are three codes that indicate the safety rating of an appliance: Immediately Dangerous (ID), At Risk (AR) or Not to Current Standards (NCS). Gas safety certificates can be a legal requirement for landlords when selling a property. Buyers who are considering buying the property may request the documents as part of their due diligence and could use them to identify any issues they need to resolve before buying the property. Landlords can arrange a gas safety inspection with an Gas Safe registered engineer, or they can do it themselves through our user-friendly platform. We recommend that a Gas Safety Check is performed at least once a year to ensure that all appliances are in good properly and don't pose any danger to the occupants. It is not the responsibility of tenants to obtain the issue of a gas safety certificate, or have their appliances inspected. It is the landlord's responsibility to organize an annual inspection and issue a certificate of gas safety. How Much does a Gas Safety Certificate Cost? A gas safety certificate is legally required for landlords to ensure their rental properties are safe for tenants to use. The cost of a safety inspection for gas appliances will vary depending on your property's size, location and number of appliances. It is important to inform your tenants when the inspection will be taking place to allow them to prepare. It is also helpful to explain why it's crucial to allow access to allow the engineer to perform the check. It's not uncommon for tenants to be reluctant to allow access because they feel it's an invasion of their privacy or that they could be put in danger in the event that the engineer does not have access to inspect the fireplace, boiler or any other appliances. It's important to remind them that it's a legal requirement that could also lead to being fined or even criminal charges if they don't allow access and a problem with your appliance is found, such as carbon monoxide poisoning. The gas engineer will provide you an official copy of the certificate after the inspection is complete. It will include the date of the inspection as well as the details of the engineer as well as your property address and a complete list of all appliances or installations that were inspected. It will also mention if any of the appliances or installations failed the tests. It will list any work that has to be completed. A Gas Safe certificate will usually be a standard black and yellow document, and your engineer will give you the certificate for every appliance or system they have inspected. You should keep this documentation to refer to in the future and you'll also have to provide a copy to your tenants. Your gas engineer will send you a copy the Gas Safety Record. This record is valid for 12 month 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 that move into your property.