What is a Gas Safety Certificate

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to ensure the property you are renting out is safe and up to gas safety standards. One way to do this is by obtaining a Gas Safety Certificate (GSC).

In this Article post, we will explain what a GSC is and how you can obtain one. Landlords, pay attention! Getting a Gas Safety Certificate is crucial to keeping your tenants safe and compliant with the law.

1. What is a gas safety certificate?

A gas safety certificate, also known as a CP12, is an official document which proves that your property has been inspected by a registered Gas Safe engineer and that it meets all the required safety standards.

The certificate will list all of the appliances in your property that have been checked, as well as the date of the inspection and when the next one is due.

It's important to note that you must have your property inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer – if you don't, you could be breaking the law.

2. How do you get a gas safety certificate for your home or business premises?

You can get a gas safety certificate by booking an inspection with a registered Gas Safe engineer.

The engineer will carry out a series of checks on all of the gas appliances in your property to make sure they are safe to use and meet all the required safety standards.

Once the inspection is complete, you will be issued with a CP12 certificate which you must keep safe as you will need to show it to your tenants (more on this later).

It's important to note that you must have your property inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer – if you don't, you could be breaking the law.

3. What are the benefits of having a gas safety certificate in place?

There are several benefits of having a gas safety certificate in place, both for you as a landlord and for your tenants:

- It proves that your property is safe and up to gas safety standards. This is important for your tenants' peace of mind, and it also means they are less likely to raise any issues with their rental accommodation.

- It protects you from liability if something were to go wrong with the gas appliances in your property. For example, if there was a gas leak or an appliance caught fire, you would not be held responsible as long as you had a valid gas safety certificate in place.

- It shows that you are taking your responsibilities as a landlord seriously and that you are committed to providing a safe environment for your tenants.

4. Who should inspect your property for gas safety compliance certificates and why is this important?

As we mentioned earlier, it is a legal requirement that your property is inspected by a registered Gas Safe engineer in order to obtain a gas safety certificate.

This is because only Gas Safe registered engineers have the knowledge and expertise to carry out the required safety checks.

Attempting to carry out the inspection yourself or using an unregistered engineer could put your tenants at risk, so it's not worth taking the chance.

5. How often should your property be inspected for gas safety compliance certificates, and how much will this cost you on average?

According to the law, you must have your property inspected for a gas safety certificate every 12 months.

The cost of the inspection will depend on the size of your property and the number of appliances that need to be checked, but it is usually between £60 and £120.

6. What happens if you don't have a gas safety certificate in place - can this lead to fines or imprisonment?

If you don't have a valid gas safety certificate for your property, you could be fined up to £5,000 and/or sent to prison for up to six months.

You may also be liable for any damages caused if something goes wrong with the gas appliances in your property, so it's not worth taking the risk.

7. Gas Safety Checklist

As a landlord, it is your responsibility to make sure that all gas appliances in your property are safe to use.

You can do this by following the steps below:

- Check that all appliances are properly ventilated so that they can work safely.

- Make sure that flues and chimneys are not blocked so that fumes can escape.

- Ensure that all appliances are serviced and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

- Keep an up-to-date record of all safety checks and gas safety certificates.

- Install carbon monoxide detectors in every room where there is a gas appliance.

If you follow these steps, you will help to keep your tenants safe and avoid any potential legal problems.

Conclusion

Having a gas safety certificate is a legal requirement for all landlords, so it's important that you make sure your property is up to standard.

Not only will this protect your tenants, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing that you are complying with the law.

Remember, if you don't have a valid gas safety certificate in place, you could be fined or even sent to prison, so it's not worth taking the risk.

Birkbeck Installations is a leading provider of gas safety certificates in the UK. We offer a fast and efficient service, and our prices start from just £75. To find out more about our services, please or contact us on 020 7459 4356