When you’re moving into a new home, besides the required number of bedrooms, the walls, location, and other factors, you also have to consider the safety of the place. Similarly, if you’re renting a place to someone, you have to ensure that you’re providing a safe and danger-free space.
Consequently, if you happen to be a homeowner, landlord, or even a tenant, something you must often hear about is a gas safety certificate. But what is a gas safety certificate exactly, and who really needs one? That’s what we’re here to find out.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
As the name suggests, a gas safety certificate is a certificate indicating the safe operation of various gas and heating appliances and fixtures at your home.
For some people, getting a gas safety certificate is a must, according to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, as it signifies that the gas appliances, flues, fittings, and chimney are all in working order and safe to operate.
Sometimes, a gas safety certificate is also referred to as a CP12, Corgi Proforma 12, which is an old name used for the certificate back when Corgi was the official registration body. You can get a gas safety certificate after a full gas safety check or even after a simple servicing. Usually, gas safety checks are performed by gas engineers who are registered on the Gas Safety Register.
Gas safety certificates last for 12 months, but sometimes, landlords can hold on to it for about two years to show their gas safety certificate history. You can also get a new check after 10 months, regardless of the certificate’s expiration date.
Who Needs a Gas Safety Certificate?
As crucial as these gas safety certificates are, they are not necessarily needed by everyone. Although, considering what they represent and ensure safety, we recommend anyone who lives in a house with gas appliances to get a safety check and obtain a gas safety certificate every once in a while.
Homeowners
By homeowners, we mean people owning a particular property and also living on it themselves. This does not include people who are living in their own house and renting out a portion or room as well. Homeowners can hire gas engineers to carry out a safety check and get a gas safety certificate in the process.
Getting this certificate can put a homeowner’s mind at ease regarding the safety and efficiency of their gas appliances and fittings. Moreover, sometimes, they can even catch gas and heating problems early on, saving them from any additional costs or potential accidents.
Considering all this, while a gas safety certificate sounds quite vital and beneficial, a homeowner does not necessarily need one by law. They can get one for themselves, but it is not obligated to do so.
Landlords
When it comes to gas safety certificates, landlords are the people who need to be most concerned. That’s because they are legally required to get gas safety certificates every year to ensure that the property they are renting out is entirely safe from any gas or heating-related accidents. Otherwise, they can face serious consequences in the form of fines and prosecution.
The gas safety check must include all the gas appliances owned by the landlord on their property. This means that if a tenant brings their own gas appliance, the landlord is not responsible for that particular appliance. However, they will be held responsible for the flues that the appliance connects to.
Once a Gas Safety registered engineer does a thorough checkup of all the gas and heating appliances in your home, he will give you a gas safety certificate, also known as a gas safety record. This document will include information regarding each appliance that was checked, details of the engineer who carried out the check, the date it was carried out, the landlord’s name and address, any fittings or appliances that need to be fixed or repaired, and the overall result of the entire inspection.
Even after getting a gas safety certificate, a landlord is required by law to provide a copy of the gas safety record to each of their tenants. You must give them a copy within 28 days of them moving in or within 28 days of opting for a gas safety check.
How to Get a Gas Safety Certificate?
To get a gas safety certificate, you will need to contact a Gas Safety registered engineer to come and inspect the house. The engineer will then perform several checks to ensure that every appliance is safe and working efficiently.
For instance, they will check the appliances for tightness and whether they comply with the safety regulations, make sure there is plenty of ventilation, check the burner and gas pressures, inspect the flow in the flues to make sure combustible products are effectively being removed, ensure all safety devices are in working order and more.
How much these gas safety checks cost depends on various factors, such as which company you approach, the size of your house, etc.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know what a gas safety certificate is as well as who needs one, you can ensure the safety of your home, whether you are a landlord or homeowner, by getting one for your home right away. As they say, better safe than sorry, so it’s best to get the safety check done by a trusted gas engineer and get your gas safety record for legal as well as safety reasons.
At Gasify, we have a trusted team of gas and heating engineers in central London who are on the Gas Safety Register. Therefore, you can rest assured knowing that your gas safety work is being done by only the best. If you’re looking to get a gas safety certificate for your home, visit our website today to book a safety check.
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