Accessing Free Gas Safety Checks: Eligibility and Process

Gas has become an essential and must-have facility in homes, whether supplied directly to homes through a pipe network or in cylinders or bottles. In any case, gas is the most economical and efficient energy source, which makes it even more important for homes.

Normally, using gas in homes for heating or cooking is safe enough when used within the pre-defined safety standards. However, being a highly inflammable material, it does have some risks and threats, such as fire, explosion, and emission of carbon monoxide. Using sub-standard or faulty gas appliances is a major cause of gas accidents. To have effective regulatory control on the use of gas in homes, the authorities in the UK introduced a comprehensive law known as "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998", as amended from time to time and more commonly referred to as Gas Safety Regulations. One of the provisions of this Law is the requirement for annual gas safety inspection, which is also a prerequisite for getting a "Gas Safety Certificate."

Gas Safety – The Relevant Regulations

Because of an upward trend in gas accidents and for effective monitoring of the use of gas in the UK, the “Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998” was introduced. Later on, it was further amended in 2018, named "The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018.”        

The above law and its subsequent amendment have made it compulsory for landlords to obtain gas safety certificates for their properties. This certificate can be issued by a gas safety engineer, who must be registered with the official organization in the UK, referred to as the Gas Safe Register. To fulfill this legal requirement, the property has to be inspected by a gas-safe registered engineer. This process of inspection is known as the annual gas safety check. The engineer will give the required gas safety certificate after conducting a comprehensive safety check on all the gas appliances, such as cookers, heaters, boilers, and flues, installed on your property. The gas pipework is also included in this annual inspection.  

Gas Safety Check

A gas safety check or gas safety inspection is the complete examination of all gas appliances and related gas pipework by a qualified gas safety engineer. The engineer will have to visit the premises for a physical examination of all appliances to ensure that they are working properly and are fit for use. If any of the gas pipelines, fittings, or appliances are found faulty, the engineer will notify to the landlord. The landlord must remove the faults immediately or replace the faulty appliances or fittings with new ones.

This activity is a legal requirement under the prevailing rules and regulations in the UK and must be done annually. The relevant law legally binds landlords to conduct this annual inspection. It is the basic requirement for getting the Gas Safety Certificate, or CP-12.

The Process of Gas Safety Check

The safety of the occupants is the responsibility of the landlord. Hence, a landlord is required to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all gas appliances by a qualified engineer who must be registered with the gas safe register. This also includes boilers and pipework linked with gas appliances.  Annual Gas Safety Checks should essentially include the following:

• Visual inspection of gas installations and appliances, including boilers and flues.
• Checking gas burner pressure.
• Checking that the gas is burnt perfectly. This is important to avoid the emission of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is generated as a result of incomplete combustion.
• Checking for any leakages.
• Examine the performance of the ventilation system.
• Check the working of the safety devices.
• Check boiler performance, including the pressure vessel.

The gas safety engineer, examining all the gas appliances installed on the property, issued the Gas Safety Certificate, mentioning its status against each of them. The appliances considered unfit are categorized as ID, AR, and NCS:

1. ID stands for "Immediately Dangerous" – These are unfit for use and hence need immediate replacement.
2. AR means "At Risk". These are also unfit for use but are at lesser risk as compared to ID.
3. NCS denotes "Not to the Current Standards." Appliances rated as NCS can still be used but should be replaced with new ones as soon as possible.

The landlord has to pay a fee to the inspecting engineer, as may be decided before hiring him. However, there are some provisions for getting it done without cost, as well.

Accessing Free Gas Safety Checks: Eligibility and Process

Under normal circumstances, landlords are required to bear the cost of annual gas safety inspections. The cost may vary depending on the location and size of the property and the number of gas appliances installed in it.

However, there are certain circumstances under which the facility of free gas safety checks is also available. Let's explore these circumstances.

• Free Inspection by Gas Safe Register

If the annual gas safety check was conducted on your property by a gas-safe registered engineer, the organization provides a free inspection facility if the property has been inspected during the last six months. The facility is available for those who might be unsatisfied with the work done or have a genuine complaint about the gas safety inspection conducted by the gas safe registered engineer. It aims to maintain a quality check on the performance of gas-safe registered businesses in the context of whether they are following the safety standards. This facility can also be availed in case you have installed a new gas appliance on your property.

To avail of this opportunity, you need to fill out a form on their website. This facility cannot be claimed as a right, but it depends on whether or not your property is nominated by the gas safe register based on your request. The gas safe register will inform you within 6 months of the same. If no intimation is received from them within this period, your property is not selected for a free gas safety inspection.

• Free Gas-Safe Inspection by Gas-Safe Registered Businesses

The gas safe register is a regulatory body. Different companies register with the gas safe register, and their gas safety engineers are issued licenses to work on gas appliances and fittings. Most of these gas-safe registered businesses offer free gas-safe checks for their members, who fall into different categories.

Mostly, a free annual gas safety check is provided to those who receive the "means-tested benefits" and simultaneously fulfill any of the following parameters:

• The facility is available for the homeowners only. The landlords or tenants do not qualify for the free annual gas safety check.
• The household must have a child of less than five years of age.
• This facility is available for people living alone.
• The person has attained the pensionable age.
• A person having a permanent disability or one suffering from a chronic disease.
• A person who lives with others who fall under the pensionable age is permanently disabled, is suffering from chronic disease, or is under 18 years of age.

Conclusion

Annual gas safety inspections are legal requirements for all landlords in the UK. They are a prerequisite for getting a valid gas safety certificate. The inspection needs to be done by a gas-safe registered engineer employed by any gas-safe registered business.

Gas-safe registered businesses charge an agreed-upon fee for conducting this inspection. However, most of them also offer a free annual gas safety inspection to their members who fulfill certain criteria as defined by them. The gas safe register also provides this facility under some pre-defined circumstances.

Whether you qualify for a free annual gas inspection or not, you must ensure that you get it done to fulfill your legal obligation.