How Long Is the Gas Safety Certificate Grace Period? A Complete Guide

Generally, gas is considered a safer energy source than conventional fuels such as coal or oil. In this comparison, gas is an environment-friendly fuel. Moreover, gas is less risky for human health. 

Although rated as safe, gas is not a zero-risk energy source. It does have quite a few risks involved in its consumption, specifically for domestic purposes. The most common but very serious threat is leakage. It is often said, "Gas is safe unless it remains confined within the pipework." So, in case of a gas leak, fire, or even explosion is always possible.

On the other hand, gas can pose a serious threat to human health through carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide starts emitting if gas is not completely burned due to a fault in the burner. The dark side is that carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless; hence, it cannot be instantly detected, resulting in serious medical situations.

Given these potential risks, the authorities in the UK have made it compulsory for landlords to conduct annual gas safety inspections and obtain a valid gas safety certificate for properties where gas appliances are installed.

Gas Safety Certificate

Every landlord is legally required to obtain a gas safety certificate, commonly known as a "Landlord Gas Safety Certificate" or CP12. The "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998" is the fundamental law governing gas-related matters. Among many others, these regulations' most essential and relevant provision is the annual gas safety inspection, for which landlords are responsible.

The annual gas safety inspection aims to ensure that all gas appliances installed on the premises are safe for use. The gas safety certificate proves that the premises have undergone the annual gas safety inspection.

Another vital factor in annual gas safety inspection and issuance of gas safety certificates is that all this process must be conducted by a company or engineer registered with the "Gas Safe Register." Gas Safe Register is an official organisation that is responsible for the registration of qualified gas safety engineers. Once registered, these engineers are then authorized to work on gas appliances and installations for gas safety inspection. This also authorizes them for installation and maintenance of the gas appliances and allied installations.

Validity and Renewal of Gas Safety Certificate

A gas safety certificate is valid for 12 months from issuance. So, a gas safety certificate issued on the 1st of July 2024 will expire on the 30th of June 2025. Under the provisions of the Gas Safety Regulations of 1998, it needs to be renewed for another 12 months before the expiry date. So, if you get it renewed on 15th June 2025, the next expiry date would be 14th of June 2025.

Under the above scenario, a landlord was compelled to get the certificate renewed 11 times in 10 years. This ambiguity was therefore removed with an amendment in the gas safety regulation 1998, under the title "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Amendments Regulations 2018. After this amendment, the expiry date of the gas safety certificate now remains persistent. 

So, in the above example, if the landlord gets the certificate renewed any time before the expiry date, the next expiry date would remain the same: 30th June 2025, 30th June 2026, and so on. This amendment has provided flexibility for the landlord. Hence, the landlords can get the certificate renewed anytime during the last two months before the expiry date of the current gas safety certificate, without any change in the expiry date. 

However, if the landlord fails to conduct the annual gas safety inspection for the renewal of the gas safety certificate, he may face trouble. It is often enquired whether there is any grace period for the renewal of the current gas safety certificate.

How Long Is the Gas Safety Certificate Grace Period? 

A gas safety certificate is a mandatory requirement for landlords. The legal implication is that only rented property can be left inspected for gas safety with a valid gas safety certificate. If you need to conduct the annual gas safety inspection within the stipulated time, it will render your property safe using gas appliances. Resultantly, renting out any such property would stand "illegal."

So, the simple answer to the question "How long is the Gas Safety Certificate Grace Period?" would be "There is no grace period for a gas safety certificate." Why? Gas safety is the prime responsibility of the landlord, who is legally bound to arrange annual gas safety inspections on all gas installations and appliances, including boilers and flues. 

Secondly, it is a legal requirement for landlords to have a valid gas safety certificate for their rented properties at all times. That implies there should be no gap between the current and the following gas safety certificate. Hence, there is no possibility of any grace period to get the current gas safety certificate renewed. In any case, you have to get it renewed before the expiry date.

The only relaxation available with the landlords is that they can get it done at any time during the last two months of the currency of the existing gas safety certificate.

Consequences of Non-availability of a Valid Gas Safety Certificate

If under any compelling circumstances or merely due to negligence, a landlord fails to get the gas safety certificate renewed within the stipulated time, he may have to face many serious problems:

• A landlord is only authorised to rent his property with a valid gas safety certificate.
• He may have to face legal proceedings. It may involve fines and even imprisonment.
• If a gas mishap occurs at his property during the non-availability of a valid gas safety certificate, the landlord will be held responsible for any injuries or casualties, which may result in dire legal proceedings against him.
• In this eventuality, he may not be eligible for compensation from the Insurance company, as his insurance policy would be treated as void in the absence of a valid gas safety certificate.

So, to avoid any such unpleasant situation, you need to get the annual gas safety inspection done well before the expiry date. More importantly, don’t wait or look for any grace period, as it is not available under any circumstances.

Conclusion

A gas safety certificate called CP12 is a legal requirement for rented properties. The landlord manages the annual gas safety inspection and gets the required certificate. This certificate is valid for one year and has to be renewed every year before the expiry date. It is, therefore, a permanent requirement without any gap.

This means you cannot delay its renewal. Any gas between the expiry of the existing certificate and the issuance of a new one will be illegal, and the property will be illegally rented out in any such case. 

Remember, there is no grace period for renewing the gas safety certificate. However, you can renew it at any time during the last two months before the expiry of the current gas safety certificate. So, get it done immediately if it hasn't been done so far, and don't wait or expect any grace period in this context.