Why Landlords Need to Get a Gas Safety Certificate Near Me
A gas safety certificate is documentation that can be provided by a qualified engineer after completing an inspection of your home's gas appliances and the infrastructure. The certificate will contain the name of the engineer, the address of your property and the list of all gas appliances that were inspected by the engineer.
What is a gas safety certification?
Whether you are renting out your home or not, obtaining a Gas Safety Certificate is one of the best ways to be sure that all your appliances and pipes are operating properly. This will ensure that no one is at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or any other gas-related accidents.
To get a Gas Safety Certificate you will need to speak to a registered Gas Safe engineer. They will be able check every appliance you have, and then provide you with an acknowledgement that they are safe for use. This is a requirement for landlords renting out their properties. It can also be beneficial for homeowners who wish their home to be safe for their families.
The type of Gas Safety Certificate that you will need will depend on the property that you are looking at. If it's a domestic construction, then you'll require a Domestic Gas Safety Certificate (CP12). This certifies that all of the gas appliances and installation are safe and in good operating condition.
If you are looking at the inside of a non-domestic property, you'll require a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate (CP13). This certificate demonstrates that the gas equipment used in a commercial environment, such as offices or shops, is secure and in good working order.
It is crucial to only allow Gas Safe registered engineers to conduct your inspections. Anyone who isn't registered could put you and your tenants in danger, and they may not have the required skills and knowledge to do an excellent job.
As a landlord, you will need to keep records of the gas safety checks you have conducted and give them to any new tenants who move in after the check has been completed. This will protect you in the case of an accident.
It is a good idea, even if the Gas Safety Certificate for homeowners is not required to get your home and appliances regularly inspected by an engineer. This will help make sure that your appliances are safe to use and will be able to stand up to many years of wear and tear over the course of. A valid Gas Safety Certificate can also increase the likelihood of a sale if you decide to sell in the future.
How do I get an official gas safety certificate?
Gas safety certificates are an essential step any landlord can take to ensure that their property is safe for tenants. Landlords are legally required to have their gas appliances and the infrastructure checked on a regular basis and a certificate is issued after each inspection.
A gas safety certification is a document that outlines the findings of an inspection of the property. It contains information such as the address of the property as well as the details of the person who performed the inspection. It also includes an inventory of all the appliances that were examined. The certificate will also outline any issues discovered or remediation work that was done to fix them, if necessary.
The certificate will be presented by an Gas Safe registered Engineer after the property is thoroughly inspected and deemed to be passed. The certificate will be valid for a year and landlords must have a copy on at all times when renting out their property to tenants. You should contact your landlord immediately if you notice the gas safety certificate issued by your landlord is due to expire. Failure to do so could expose the property to a fine or even the possibility of imprisonment.
If your landlord is reluctant to carry out the gas safety inspection or other gas safety check, you can request them to do so or make a complaint to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). However, it's best not to do this unless you have other options available - HSE inspectors receive a high number of complaints and do not have the time nor resources to examine each case in isolation.
Gas safety certificates are not required for homeowners, however they should be checked annually. This will help them stay compliant with the law and could make their home more attractive to potential buyers should they decide to sell in the future. Gas safety certificates are easy to get and require an engineer registered with Gas Safe to visit the property. Many engineers offer online verification that makes the process even more streamlined and easy. Additionally many engineers provide digital copies of gas safety certificates which can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection.
What is the consequence if I don't possess a gas safety certificate?
Millions of people live in properties across the UK that are powered by gas appliances. Gas appliances and the pipes that bring them into your home have to be examined to ensure safety. Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations of 1998 stipulate that landlords are responsible for this.
The regulations require that all properties rented must have a gas safety inspection carried out on a regular basis. It is a significant responsibility, and failing to perform the inspection could put tenants at risk. Landlords who do not comply with the law could be subject to penalties.
Landlords must provide tenants with a copy of the gas safety certificate within 28 days of the date of the inspection. If they do not provide the certificate landlords could be fined up to PS6,000 and be liable for legal action by their tenants or the council.
If a landlord does not have an official gas safety certificate, they will not be able to rent their property. If the current certificate has expired, the new one has to be obtained prior to the property being renewed. If they're found lacking a gas certification, landlords could be charged with a criminal offence and imprisoned for a period of six months.
During the course of a gas safety check engineers will look at the flue systems and ventilation of each residence. They will make sure that all appliances are operating in good order and any gas leaks should be dealt with immediately. They will also test the gas meters to ensure that they are working properly. The engineer will then fill out a checklist and give the landlord their CP12 document.
If the engineer deems an appliance to be dangerous, they will indicate this on the CP12 form by ticking the 'Not Safe to Use' box. There are three codes that show the level of safety of an appliance that are immediately dangerous (ID) At Risk (AR) and Not to Current Standards (NCS). If the engineer determines that any of the appliances are dangerous they will request permission to shut off the gas supply. The landlord will then need to make arrangements for repairs to be carried out before a new CP12 is issued.
How much will it cost to get a gas safety certificate?
Gas safety certificates are an essential part of the landlord's responsibilities and protect tenants from poisoning by carbon monoxide. However many landlords are unclear about how much the inspection costs and what factors determine the price.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question because the cost of a gas safety certificate depends on a number of different factors such as the engineer's knowledge and experience, the size of the building and the extent to which additional work needs to be done. It is also worth bearing in mind that certain companies offer a service plan which includes a regular gas safety inspection and boiler maintenance, which could be a cheaper option than paying for these services separately.
A CP12 gas safety certification will typically cost between PS60-PS120 for properties that have a single gas hob, a gas fire and a boiler. The price will increase in the event that you own more than two gas appliances. This is due to the fact that the engineer has to examine each appliance more thoroughly. In addition the location of the property could have a impact on the price and prices can be higher in London than other regions of the country.
Landlords need to be aware that their insurance might be canceled if they don't have a valid gas safety certification in place. Therefore, it is vital that landlords look around and find an Gas Safe registered engineer who can issue a CP12 gas safety certificate at an affordable price.
A CP12 gas safety certification is a great way for landlords to spot any problems before they become serious. This could save them lots of money in the long term, as well as potentially preventing potential carbon monoxide poisonings or other serious accidents.
A gas safety certificate might appear to be an unnecessary expense however it is something that every landlord should be thinking about. Not only will it help in keeping tenants safe however, it could be an essential element in securing future sales as prospective buyers will likely ask for the current Gas Safe record before completing the purchase.