What Is a Gas Safety Certificate and Why Do You Need One in UK?

Gas Safety Certificate is critical in the rental property world – and in life in general. Ensuring that the property is safe for habitation is central to the rental business, which is why certificates are required to remain compliant.

One of the most important aspects is Gas Safety Certificate, which requires landlords to obtain a gas safety certificate and provide it to tenants by law. In this article, we will define a gas safety certificate and discuss tenants’ responsibilities in this regard.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate for Landlords?

CP12 certificates are commonly used to refer to gas safety certificates. CORGI Proforma 12 was named when CORGI was the primary UK body for gas safety issues back in the day. Gas Safe Register has been the official registration body for gas safety since 2010.

Existing tenants must receive a gas safety certificate within 28 days of completion, and new tenants must receive one before moving in. It is an official document that records all of the results of the annual gas safety checks, as well as any corrective action taken as a result of the checks. In other words, the certificate indicates whether or not the property meets the requirements of the government.

What does a Gas Safety Certificate cover?

The full name, signature, and registration ID* of the gas engineer who performed the gas safety check • The address of the property being checked • The contact details of the landlord of the property, or an estate agent if applicable • The date of the inspection • The location and description of all gas appliances and flues • Verification that all relevant safety checks have been completed

By law, all working gas engineers must be registered with the Gas Safe Register. All work performed by an engineer who is not on the Gas Safe Register is considered illegal. Inquire about the engineer’s qualification by asking for their Gas Safe Register ID.

What does the engineer do to ensure the safety of the gas?

A qualified gas safe engineer will conduct each annual gas safety inspection. They will inspect any gas-powered equipment or appliances. This includes the supply of gas, the gas boiler, the gas tubing, and any gas fires.

In addition to appliance checks, the inspection should include the following:

• Examine the chimneys and flue flow. The engineer will most likely use smoke pellets to determine how much smoke makes its way outside. If any returns to the source, the flue is likely to become clogged, and combustible products must be removed.
• Inspect the gas lines and infrastructure. It is critical that your gas supply delivers gas safely and directly to your gas appliances.
• Examine the property’s ventilation and oxygen supply.
• Keep an eye on the standing and working gas pressures.
• Inspect all gas appliances, burners, and gas pressures. Each gas appliance’s basic model and manufacturer information will be listed by the engineer. If anything is wrong, they should turn the appliance off and disconnect it.

If the issue discovered during the checks is a simple fix, the engineer will usually attempt to repair the appliance on the spot. If major repairs are required, they will include repair and maintenance recommendations in the final report.

How often should landlords perform a gas safety inspection?

Landlords are required by law to repeat this gas inspection every year, as each certificate is only valid for 12 months. The property cannot be rented unless it has a valid gas safety certificate.

Renting out a property without using gas safely is illegal and may result in a criminal charge. Tenants may sue for civil damages in court. A substantial fine of up to £6000 and/or imprisonment for up to 6 months are the penalties for renting a property without a gas safety check. DIY landlords who do not use a high street agent can order a gas safety check online through the services of an online letting platform.

What are the responsibilities of tenants in terms of gas safety?

Landlords must obtain the certificates on an annual basis. Tenants, on the other hand, have responsibilities in the rental property, Gas Safety Certificate.

It is the tenant’s responsibility, as the active resident, to monitor the condition of the property and notify the landlord if anything is wrong, including the gas systems. When dealing with gas and gas appliances, the tenant must understand the safety rules. Tenants should not operate gas systems that have not been serviced or that have been serviced but have not been found safe for use. Furthermore, gas appliances should not be used for purposes other than those intended.

If a gas safety inspection is required while an existing tenant is residing in the property, the tenant must grant access to the property for inspection and faulty gas repairs. If a gas appliance fails or there is another gas emergency, the tenant must follow the following procedure:

• Turn off the appliance immediately
• Open all doors and windows in the room and, if possible, the property
• Leave the property

Contact the landlord and thoroughly explain what occurred:

Don’t dismiss minor issues or causes for concern. Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning should be avoided because it can be harmful to one’s health.

If these symptoms appear only at home or in a room where gas appliances are located and used, CO poisoning may be the cause. It is advised to leave the property and go for a walk. If the symptoms improve when the tenants are outside and worsen when they return to the property, this is an indication of carbon monoxide poisoning. The tenant should go to the hospital to be tested for poisoning. Carbon monoxide alarms should be installed in rooms where gas is used by the landlord. More information about smoke detectors and other safety regulations can be found on our blog or on the government’s website.