Why Landlords Need to Get a Gas Safety Certificate Near Me
A gas safety certificate is the document that an engineer can issue after having inspected the gas appliances and infrastructure of your home. It will contain the name of the engineer's address, the address of the engineer and the complete list of all gas appliances located in your property that have been evaluated by the engineer.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
No matter if you're renting your home or not, getting an Gas Safety Certificate is one of the best ways to be sure that all your appliances and pipes are operating correctly. This will ensure that nobody is at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or any other gas-related accident.
To obtain a Gas Safety Certificate you will have to talk to an accredited Gas Safe engineer. They will be able to examine all your appliances and then issue you an official certificate stating that they are safe to use. This is an obligation for landlords who rent out properties. It can also be beneficial for homeowners who want their home to be safe for their families.
The type of Gas Safety Certificate you need will depend on the type of property you are examining. If it's a residential construction, then you'll require a Domestic Gas Safety Certificate (CP12). This is a certificate that states that all gas appliances and installation are secure and in good working condition.
If you are looking at a non-domestic building, then you'll require a Commercial Gas Safety Certificate (CP13). This certificate confirms that the gas equipment used in commercial environments such as an office or shop is safe and in good repair.
Gas Safe registered engineers should only be able to conduct your inspections. Anyone who isn't registered could be putting you and your tenants at risk, and they are unlikely to have the expertise and experience required to complete a good job.
As a landlord, you must keep a record of all gas safety checks. You'll also have to give this information to any new tenants who move in after having completed the check. This will help protect you from any potential liability in the future should any accidents occur.
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 allow you to be sure that your appliances are safe to use and will be capable of enduring the wear and tear over the course of. Additionally, if you ever decide to sell your home in the future having a valid Gas Safety Certificate will put buyers at ease and can improve the odds of a sale.
How do I get an gas safety certification?
The obtaining of a gas safety certification is a vital step for any landlord to take, helping to ensure that their property is safe for tenants. Landlords are legally required to have their gas appliances and infrastructure examined regularly and a certificate given after each inspection.
A gas safety certification is a document that outlines the results from an inspection of a house. It includes information such as the address of the property as well as the details of the engineer who carried out the check. It also includes an inventory of all the appliances that were examined. The document will also detail any issues that were discovered and the work done to rectify them, if necessary.
The certificate will be issued by a Gas Safe registered Engineer after the property has been thoroughly inspected and then passed. The certificate is valid for a year, and landlords are encouraged to keep one when they rent out their properties. If you discover that your landlord's gas safety certificate is about expire, it's vital that you get in touch with them to arrange an inspection as quickly as you can. If you fail to complete this task, your property could be subject to a fine or even jail time.
You can ask your landlord to perform an inspection of gas safety, or you can make an appeal to the Health and Safety Executive. It's best not to do this unless you have other options - HSE inspectors are faced with a large volume of complaints and often don't have the time or resources to examine each case in isolation.
Homeowners aren't obliged to have an official gas safety certificate, but it is recommended to have a check done each year. This will allow them to stay legally compliant and may help make their home more attractive to buyers if they decide to sell in the near 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 to make the process more convenient and streamlined. Many engineers also offer digital copies for gas safety certificates that can be accessed from anywhere with an Internet connection.
What happens if I don't own a gas safety certificate?
Gas appliances are found in a multitude of homes across the UK. These appliances, as well as the pipes that deliver them to your home, need to be inspected to ensure that they are safe for use. This is the responsibility of landlords as stipulated by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Gas safety inspections are required by law to be performed on all properties rented. This is a significant obligation and failing to carry out this inspection could put your tenants in danger. There are a variety of penalties that could be imposed on landlords who fail to comply with the law.
Landlords must provide the gas safety certificate to their tenants within 28 days following an inspection. If they fail to provide the document landlords could be fined as much as PS6,000 and may be liable for legal action by their tenants or the council.
If a landlord doesn't have an approved gas safety certificate, they will not be able to rent their property. The current certificate must be replaced if it expires. Landlords can be found guilty of a crime and could be imprisoned for a period of up to six months if they are caught without a gas safety certificate.
During the gas safety inspection engineers will look at the ventilation systems and flues of each residence. They will ensure that all appliances are in working properly and any gas leaks should be addressed immediately. They will also test and confirm that the gas meters function properly. The engineer will then complete a checklist and give the landlord their CP12 document.
If the engineer considers an appliance to be hazardous the engineer will mark this on the CP12 form by ticking the 'Not Safe to Use' box. Three codes are used to indicate the safety level of an appliance: Immediately dangerous, at risk and Not Current Standards. If the engineer decides that any of the appliances is unsafe, he'll ask permission to shut off the gas. The landlord will then have to make arrangements for repairs to be carried out before the new CP12 will be issued.
What is the cost to obtain a gas safety certification?
Gas safety certificates are an essential part of the landlord's responsibilities and can safeguard tenants from carbon monoxide poisoning. However many landlords are confused about the amount that an inspection costs and what elements affect the cost.
The cost of a certificate of gas safety isn't a one-size solution that will work for everyone. It is contingent upon a variety of aspects, including the experience and expertise of the engineer, the size of your house, and if you need to perform any additional work. Some firms offer a service agreement that includes an annual gas safety inspection year as well as boiler maintenance. This can be a more affordable option than paying for these services separately.
A CP12 gas safety certificate is typically priced between PS60 and PS120 for homes with one gas hob, gas fire and boiler. Prices will increase for properties with more than two gas appliances as the engineer will need to examine each one in more detail. The location of the property can affect the price, with London prices being higher than other parts of the United Kingdom.
Landlords must be aware that their insurance could be invalidated if a valid gas safety certificate is not in place. It is crucial that landlords shop around to find a Gas Safe registered engineer who can provide a CP12 Gas Safety Certificate at an affordable cost.
In addition to making sure that the boiler and gas appliances are safe, a CP12 gas safety certificate may also provide an opportunity for landlords to catch any issues before they become major issues. This can save them a lot of money in the long run, as well as potentially preventing carbon monoxide poisoning and other serious accidents.
Although it may appear to be an unnecessary expense an gas safety certificate is a must for all landlords should consider having. Not only does it help in keeping tenants safe, but it can also be a vital aspect of securing future sales as prospective buyers will likely request the current Gas Safe record before completing a purchase.