Gas Safety Certificates for New Build Homes: A Complete Guide

Gas Safety Certificate is a mandatory requirement for homes, including new build properties, where one or more gas appliances are installed. Gas is generally considered a safer energy source as compared to other conventional fuels, like oil or coal. However, gas cannot be rated as zero-risk energy. It does have some serious risks, such as the eruption of fire, sudden explosion, and most importantly, there is always a possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning. 

That's why it is a legal requirement for every rented home to ensure that all the gas appliances are safe for use. The same is also applicable to new build homes. A gas safety certificate is the basic document that proves that the property has been inspected by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer during the last twelve months for gas safety. It is a legal requirement under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. 

However, for the new build homes, the process of ensuring gas safety might be somewhat different. New build homes are required to comply with the building regulations, which also include the Building Regulations Compliance Certificate (for gas appliances) and the Benchmark Certificate (for Boilers). 

Both these certificates are issued by a Gas Safe Registered Installer. Although these certificates suffice the legal requirement when it comes to Building Regulations, a proper and valid gas safety certificate would still be required before renting out a new build home. 

Building Regulations and Gas Appliances

Installation and use of gas appliances is primarily governed by the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, but in the case of new build homes, Part J of the Building Regulations 2010 also comes into play. Part J deals with Combustion Appliances and Fuel Storage Systems. All the gas appliances, if installed in the new build home, including boilers, come under the purview of Part J of the Building Regulations 2010. 

Accordingly, the builders and developers are legally required to ensure that gas appliances and allied installations are safe and compliant with the gas safety standards. As proof, they need to obtain either a valid gas safety certificate or an equivalent document. Part J of the Building Regulations does not require Builders or Developers to obtain a Gas Safety Certificate; instead following documents suffice to meet the legal requirement for new build homes: 

• Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. It proves that gas work in a new build home was done by a Gas Safe registered engineer and that it meets the building regulations.
• Benchmark Certificate (for boilers). This certificate is specifically issued for the installation of boilers. It proves that the boiler was installed correctly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. 
• Gas Safe Installation Report. It is a detailed report covering the safe and correct installation of all gas appliances and allied installations. It almost equals the gas safety check records. A Gas Safe registered engineer also issues this report. 

Responsibility 

Getting the above three reports/certificates is the responsibility of the builders and developers, in the case of new build homes. They are also required to ensure that:

1. The installation of gas appliances is notified to the Gas Safe Register within 30 days of completing gas work in new build homes.
2. Benchmark Certificates and Building Regulations Compliance Certificates are provided to the homeowner. 

Important

Failure to comply with the above requirements may attract penalties for builders and developers. The homeowner should ensure that these are done before moving in or renting out their new build homes. 

Gas Safety Certificate for New Build Homes

As discussed above, a Gas Safety Certificate (CP 12) is not directly required for new build homes; instead, the builders and developers need to produce Benchmark Certificate (for boilers), Building Regulations Compliance Certificate, and a Gas Safe Installation Report, before handing over the new build home to the homeowners.

Although these three documents prove that the gas work was conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer, the owners would be required to obtain a formal gas safety certificate, in case they wish to rent it out. However, if they intend to use their new build home for their own residence, they are not bound to obtain a gas safety certificate for that particular property. 

Process of Getting a Gas Safety Certificate for New Build Homes

If the owner of a new build home intends to rent it out, it is a legal obligation for them to get it inspected for gas safety by a Gas Safe registered engineer. On successful inspection, the Gas Safe registered engineer will issue a Gas Safety Certificate, commonly known as a CP12 or annual gas safety check record. 

The process of getting a gas safety certificate is almost the same for new build homes as in the case of other rented properties. The only difference is that the new build home would be inspected for the first time for gas safety, whereas it is an annual process for other rented properties. 

The process of getting a gas safety certificate for new build homes is as under:

• Installation of Gas Appliances and Allied Fittings

The first step in getting a gas safety certificate for new build homes is to ensure that the gas appliances and allied fittings, including boilers are installed correctly, per the specifications of the manufacturers, and strictly following the safety parameters, as provided in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, as amended from time to time. All this work must be done by a gas safe registered engineer.

This step is in fact related to the builders/developers and they are required to provide the following documentation when handing over the new build home to the owners:

• Benchmark Certificate (for boilers)
• Building Regulations Compliance Certificate
• Gas Installation Report

The owners must ensure that while taking possession of the new build home, the above three documents are in place. If missing, the incident must be reported to the Gas Safe Register or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The matter can also be reported to the Local Building Control Authority. 

• Inspection of Gas Installations for Gas Safety

From here, the responsibility of getting a gas safety certificate shifts to the owners of the new build home.

Although the above-mentioned documents prove that a gas safe registered engineer does the gas work, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive inspection of all gas appliances, boilers, flues, and allied pipework by a gas safe registered engineer for the purpose of getting a valid gas safety certificate. This needs to be done before renting out the new build home. 

The process flow is as under:

• The owner needs to search for a Gas Safe registered engineer near the location of the new build home. This can be done by visiting the official website of the Gas Safe Register. 
• Check the credentials of the gas safety engineer to confirm whether they are eligible and well-experienced to conduct the desired safety inspection.
• Contact the engineer to schedule the day, date, and time of inspection as per the availability of the engineer and your own convenience. Don't forget to decide on the cost of the inspection. 
• On the day of inspection, prepare your home for a smooth and trouble-free inspection. Manage free access for the engineer to all gas installations. Remove any hurdles or clutter to provide free space for the engineer. 
• The engineer will physically examine all the gas appliances and allied pipework and check if everything is working as expected. He will also check and confirm that the safety parameters are in place and that every appliance is correctly installed.
• The engineer will also check for ventilation arrangements on the property. 
• They will also check the flues to confirm that these are free from any blockage.
• Boiler inspection is one of the core responsibilities of the Gas Safe engineer. 
• Burners and kitchen hobs will also be checked to detect any incomplete or incorrect combustion. This is a very important step, as any incomplete combustion may result in the emission of carbon monoxide.
• On successful completion of the inspection, the new build home will be declared gas safe and it will qualify for issuance of a gas safety certificate. 

• Issuance of Gas Safety Certificate

If all the gas appliances, including boilers and flues, and all the allied installations, are found correct as per safety standards, the new build home will qualify for issuance of a gas safety certificate. The engineer will issue this certificate, which can be either in hard form or digital, as per your choice. You need to check and confirm that the following information is properly added to the certificate:

• Date of Inspection
• Complete Address of the new build home
• Name and ID number of the inspecting engineer
• Official logo of Gas Safe Register
• Name and contact number of the owner or their representative
• Details of all gas appliances inspected by the engineer, with their current status, whether safe for use or otherwise

Important

The gas Safety Certificate is valid for one year (12 months). The owner is required to get it renewed before the expiration of the current certificate. For this purpose, an annual gas safety inspection would be required, which would be conducted by a Gas Safe registered engineer. The owner is required to provide a copy of this certificate to the tenants. 

Conclusion

The builders and developers of new build homes, having one or more gas appliances installed therein, are bound to ensure that a registered Gas Safe engineer conducts all gas work. This also includes the installation of boilers. They are bound to provide a Benchmark Certificate (for boilers) and a Building Regulation Compliance Certificate to the owners before handing over the new build home. 

On the other hand, if the owner intends to rent out this new build home, they must obtain a valid gas safety certificate before doing so. For this, they would need to conduct a comprehensive gas safety inspection on all gas appliances and allied gas installations. On successful completion of this inspection, the Gas Safe registered engineer will issue a Gas Safety Certificate (CP12), which will be valid for one year and will need renewal before expiry. However, if the owner intends to use this new build home for personal accommodation. In that case, they are not legally bound to conduct a gas safety inspection, although it is always in their own interest to do so.