It is illegal for a landlord to rent your property without a gas safety certificate. A landlord’s gas safety certificate is a legal requirement and a crucial piece of documentation that proves that your gas appliances have been verified by a qualified gas safety engineer in the last twelve months. It is an essential part of your legal obligations to ensure that you offer your tenants a safe living environment.

This is what it means, why you need one and how you can find a qualified engineer.

All about the gas safety certificate

As a landlord you have a series of legal obligations with your tenant, but providing a gas safety certificate may be the most important thing. It is your documented proof that pipes, devices and all relevant accessories have been verified by a qualified gas safety engineer in the last 12 months.

It is also commonly known as CORGI Proforma or CP12 and dates from the time that CORGI was responsible for the safety of all gas appliances on a site. Since 2009, the responsibility lies with the Gas Safety Registry, which contains the official list of gas engineers who are legally authorized to work on gas appliances in the United Kingdom. These are the only qualified people who perform your checks and you can find a list of qualified engineers in your area on their website.

As an owner, it makes sense to conclude an annual gas contract, because this ensures that your gas appliances are in optimum condition and last longer. The annual renewal of the gas safety check scheme can easily be completed as part of this annual service.

Having a valid service contract also gives your tenants peace of mind because it shows that they take the responsibilities of their owners seriously and can quickly repair the boiler and other appliances of gas appliances in the event of a problem.

This also gives your tenants a separate point of contact with the company with whom you contract the service in the event of a gas case.

How long is a gas safety certificate?

Each CP12 certificate has a duration of 12 months and must be delivered to the tenants within 28 days after the expiry of the previous certificate. You must also specify one for new tenants before they move or within 28 days of moving.

How long must the owner keep the gas safety certificate after it has expired?

You must keep all of the above for at least two years so that you can prove a compliance history if necessary.

What happens if the owner does not have a gas safety certificate?

If the owners do not meet their gas safety obligations, a fine may be imposed on them and you as a tenant can get more protection if they try to evict you.

What happens if tenants own their own gas appliances?

If renters bring their own equipment, they are their responsibility. The owners are only required to take care of the pipes and fittings. Yet, in the spirit that prevention is better than cure, it is probably worth checking them out.

What should an inspection include?

Every annual gas safety inspection verifies all equipment or devices that use gas. This includes gas supply, gas boiler and any gas fire.

The inspection must also include the following:

• Check if devices are tight and safety standards
• Ensure adequate ventilation
• Check the burner and gas pressure with the manufacturer’s nameplates
• Check the smoke flow to ensure the removal of flammable products.
• Monitor standing and working gas pressure
• Safety devices must be verified to ensure that they work safely and must also check whether there is a misuse of gas appliances

How much does the owner’s gas safety certificate cost?

The gas safety controller does not monitor the price of a gas safety inspection. As a result, the costs can vary considerably depending on who you go with. It is therefore a good idea to shop around. Do not use the name that appears in your search query; Try to make a short list of about three.

It is also worthwhile to go with the best people possible. Gas safety engineers are registered professionals, so you are probably working with someone of good quality

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