How To Be Gas Safe When Buying Or Selling Your Home

Selling or buying a home is a stressful effort, as it may involve a variety of tasks, ranging from financial management to legal documentation. But the safety against different hazards, is perhaps the most important thing, especially gas safety. 

As a common practice, though not legally binding, it is always better for the seller to provide the Building Regulations Compliance Certificate. Having a building regulations compliance certificate on record means that the local authorities were informed about the installation of heat-producing gas appliances on the property, which is a mandatory requirement, except for cookers. In that case, a building regulation compliance certificate is issued by the local authorities. 

If the property, whether being sold or bought by you, has any gas appliances installed therein, a proper gas safety inspection is required to ensure the safety of the property as well as its occupants. Hence, it is very important that the property must be gas safe, whether you are buying or selling it. Obviously, the seller must be responsible for making sure that the property under sale is gas-safe. Being a buyer, it is also your right to seek assurance from the seller about the property's being gas-safe.

Understanding the Gas Safety

Gas safety is a process of maintaining all the gas appliances installed in the property safe for use. Although gas is considered a safe energy source, as compared to other conventional sources like coal and oil, it cannot be termed as zero-risk fuel. There is a general saying that gas is safe unless it remains confined within the pipe network. That means the gas becomes dangerous when it starts leaking out of a gas appliance or associated pipe network. A leaking gas can cause fire or explosion. In some cases, incomplete burning of gas may result in the emission of carbon monoxide, which is the most dangerous part of the gas hazards.

In view of the potential threats of fire, explosion, or emissions, the authorities in the UK had introduced a comprehensive law titled "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998", which is equally applicable in the entire UK, including England and Wales. These regulations, as amended from time to time, legally bind the landlords to ensure the safety of their properties. Although homeowners are not legally required to do so, it is highly recommended for them as well to ensure the gas safety of their residential properties. 

Under the provisions of these regulations, landlords are required to conduct annual gas safety inspections of their rented-out properties if one or more gas appliances are installed therein. On successful completion of the annual gas safety inspection, the inspecting engineer would issue a "Gas Safety Certificate," more commonly known as CP12. This certificate is valid for 12 months from the date of inspection and needs to be renewed each year after conducting an annual gas safety inspection. 

It is further required by the gas safety regulations that only a gas safe registered engineer is authorized to conduct the annual gas safety inspection and issue a gas safety certificate. A gas safe registered engineer is a qualified gas engineer, officially registered with the Gas Safe Register, the only authorized body to issue license to the gas safety engineers. 

For the purpose of gas safety inspection and issuance of gas safety certificates, gas appliances also include flues and boilers. The gas-safe registered engineer is required to check each and every gas appliance, including boilers and flues, to ensure that they are in perfect working condition and there is no gas leakage anywhere within the property. If the inspection is successful, the property can be termed as "Gas Safe." 

How To Be Gas Safe When Buying or Selling Your Home

While placing a property on the market for sale, it is crucial for the seller to ensure that the property is gas-safe, as the gas can pose serious threats, such as fire, explosion, and emissions, if the gas appliances are not perfectly maintained. If you are a seller, a perfect gas-safe property may fetch you a higher price. 

On the other hand, as a buyer, you are guaranteed your safety as well as peace of mind when buying a gas-safe property. So, whether you are a buyer or seller, ensuring that the property is gas-safe is a must. Here’s a summary of the steps you need to take to keep your property Gas Safe.

If you are a Seller

The responsibilities are a bit higher, and so are the expectations from a potential seller, when it comes to selling their property. Though it is a legal requirement for the landlords to keep their properties, gas safe, it is not binding on the homeowners of non-rented properties. However, it is in the best interest of the homeowners, to ensure that their properties are gas safe when offering it for sale, in the market. 

Here are some of the most important steps a seller must ensure before placing his property for sale: 

• Gas Safety Record / Gas Safety Certificate (CP12)

A gas safety record otherwise known as a Gas Safety Certificate is the most important and basic document, which is a proof that the property is gas safe. A valid gas safety certificate (CP12) is documented evidence that property was inspected during the last 12 months. Hence, while offering your property for sale, providing a valid gas safety record not only satisfies the buyer but may also get a reasonable price for your property. 

On the other hand, homeowner of a self-occupied property is not legally bound to have a valid gas safety certificate. In this case, the buyer is not supposed to ask for any such record. However, the homeowners are also encouraged to keep their properties gas safe, by obtaining a valid gas safety record. This may get a better price for your property, as the buyer would be mentally satisfied with the property being gas safe.   

• Servicing & Maintenance of Gas Appliances

A perfect gas-safe property is one where the gas appliances are regularly serviced and maintained to perform as expected. If you are planning to sell your property, whether in the capacity of landlord or homeowner, it is a vital step to follow. Ensure that all gas appliances installed in your property, including flues and boilers, are regularly serviced and the faults are removed instantly. It will be even more beneficial for the sellers to keep the receipts and relevant records of all such servicing and maintenance activities. This record may be produced as evidence of the property being gas-safe. 

• Carbon Monoxide Detectors / Alarms

Carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the most serious threats associated with the gas. Carbon monoxide is generated due to incomplete combustion of gas, due to any fault in the burners. It is a colorless and odorless gas; hence cannot be detected without a perfectly working CO Detector. Make sure that CO detector/alarm must be installed near the gas appliances, where gas is burnt, such as boilers and fires. Similarly, such alarms are also required near the appliances where sold fuel, such as wood, is burnt. Installation of carbon monoxide alarms near these appliances is also a legal requirement. 

If You are a Buyer

If you are a potential buyer, generally, there are no legal requirements for you to ensure that the property you are buying is gas-safe. However, it is in your own interest to make sure that the property you are intending to buy, must be gas safe. Another legal implication is that once you have bought the property, you will be responsible for ensuring that it is gas-safe; hence, it is important for you to ensure it before you buy it. 

Here are some of the important things you need to ensure before buying a property:

• Check Gas Safety Documents, such as Gas Safety Certificate or CP12 and/or the latest service and maintenance records of gas appliances, with documentary proof. 
• A gas safety certificate is only required if the property was rented out by the landlord. If the property was owner-occupied, the buyer cannot demand a gas safety certificate.
• Building Regulations Compliance Certificate is yet another proof that the installation of heat producing gas appliances was notified to the local authorities. You can also check for this certificate; if the seller has one. However, make sure that this certificate is still valid and is not outdated. 
• If the documents provided by the seller do not satisfactorily prove the gas safety concept, it is you may opt to conduct a separate gas safety inspection through a gas-safe registered engineer to ensure the property is gas safe.
• If the boiler is older than 10 years, it is normally considered old or outdated. Check the age of the boilers and other gas appliances to ensure that they are still within the useful life range. If any of the appliances, especially the boiler, are old, the property might not be gas-safe. 
• Checking the flames can also reveal the condition of gas appliances. A perfectly working appliance produces a blue flame, whereas a faulty appliance produces a yellow flame. 
• One of the most important things to check, while buying a property, is the condition of the carbon monoxide detector. Check if these are installed at the right locations. Also, test their working. In case of any unsatisfactory performance, you may like to replace these alarms. 

• Main Steps for Both Parties

• Always hire the services of a Gas Safe registered engineer for any type of gas work on your properties.
• Keep records of annual gas safety inspections as well as servicing and maintenance. It is a legal requirement to keep the annual gas safety record for at least two years.  
• Install carbon monoxide detectors at appropriate locations, preferably near the gas appliances.
• If in doubt, go for a professional gas safety inspection through a gas-safe registered engineer before finalizing the sale.

Conclusion

Selling or buying a home in the UK is quite a hectic exercise. It involves a lot of legal documentation. Apart from that, the most important factor in such deals is ensuring that the property sold or purchased is gas-safe. It is in the best interest of both the seller and the buyer to ensure that the property offered for sale is gas-safe. A gas-safe property would be one where all the gas appliances are checked for gas safety by a gas-safe registered engineer, and a valid gas safety certificate is on record. 

This is very important, as an unsafe gas appliance may result in serious accidents, including fire, explosion, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Hence, both parties must ensure that the property is gas-safe, which can be evidenced through gas safety inspection records, including the records of routine maintenance and servicing.