The Process of Obtaining a Gas Safety Certificate

Obtaining a gas safety certificate is not only a legal requirement but is also essential for the safety of the properties of the landlords and the tenants. Gas is generally considered a safe fuel for domestic and industrial use. However, it cannot be rated as a zero-risk source of energy. Potential risks associated with using gas are eruption of fire and explosion in the event of leakage. It may also cause the generation of carbon monoxide (CO), which is highly dangerous for human health and may even result in death.

In any case, the major cause of gas accidents is generally leakage. That's why it is often said that gas is safe unless it remains confined within the gas appliances and allied pipe network. At the same time, it is also very important that the gas appliances should be compliant with the safety protocols, which involve their correct installation and perfect working.

Any gas appliance not working "as expected" would be termed faulty. Given these potential risks, the authorities in the UK have introduced "Gas Safety Regulations." One of the provisions of these regulations allows the landlords to obtain a "Gas Safety Certificate." Hence, all landlords must have a valid Gas Safety Certificate for their rented properties, where one or more gas appliances, including boilers and flues, are installed.

Gas Safety Regulations

Gas safety has long been a severe concern for the authorities. Many gas accidents involving injuries, deaths, and loss of properties and assets are reported annually. To minimize the chances of gas accidents and ensure the safety of people and properties, the authorities in the UK introduced a comprehensive law titled "Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998." Later, various amendments were made to the basic regulations to make them more effective.

One requirement of the Gas Safety Regulations of 1998, as amended from time to time, is obtaining a gas safety certificate. The law further explains that the "gas-safe registered engineer" can only issue the certificate after inspecting all the gas appliances installed on the property. The term "Gas-Safe Registered Engineer" refers to a gas safety engineer who must be registered with the "Gas Safe Register."

Gas Safe Register

The gas safe register is an official body responsible for registering qualified gas safety engineers. It was established in the year 2009, replacing the "CORGI" (Council for Registered Gas Installers). The main functions of the Gas Safe Register include:

• Registration of qualified gas engineers, enabling them to work on gas installations.
• Keeping a complete record of the registered gas safety engineers, including their names, qualifications, field of expertise, and contact details.
• Gas safe register uploads the credentials of the registered gas safety engineers on its official website.
• The Gas Safe register issues a license to qualified and registered gas engineers. The license is valid for one year and must be renewed before expiration.
• The ID card issued to such engineers contains all the required information about the engineer, including his photograph and the official logo of the Gas Safe Register. It also includes his contact details and the date of expiry of the license.
• The gas-safe register also registers the gas service-providing companies having at least one gas-safe registered engineer on their payroll.

The Gas Safety Regulations of 1998 also require that an annual gas safety inspection and the issuance of a gas safety certificate be conducted by a gas safety registered engineer. Any work done by an unregistered gas engineer will not be considered valid for the issuance of a gas safety certificate.

Gas Safety Certificate

A gas safety certificate, also known as a gas safety record (CP12) is mandatory for all rented properties, having one more gas appliance. It is a sort of confirmation that all the gas appliances and allied fittings have been checked and found compliant with the safety protocols and that these are safe for use. For the purpose of issuance of this certificate, the gas-safe registered engineer needs to conduct a complete inspection of all the gas appliances installed on the property. 

The gas safety engineer would record his findings, giving the current operational status of each gas appliance. All such details become part of the gas safety certificate. The name and location of each gas appliance are recorded with its status mentioned in front of it. Appliances which are considered unfit for use are further categorized in one of the following categories:

• Immediately Dangerous (ID) – the appliances rated as “ID” are considered unsafe for use. Such appliances might need to be replaced, if the fault is serious or otherwise, it can be used after proper repair. 
• At Risk (AR)—Any appliance labeled "AR" is also unsafe for use, but the level of risk might be less than the ones categorized as "ID.” Such appliances can be used after repair and maintenance. However, it is recommended not to use such appliances unless the fault is removed. 
• Not to Current Standards (NCS) – the appliances labeled "NCS" are considered fit for use but it is a sort of warning that they may be somewhat risky as they do not meet the current standards of safety. Such appliances should be replaced with new ones as early as possible to avoid any mishaps. 

Once, the faults are removed and all the gas appliances are considered safe, the engineer will issue the Gas Safety Certificate, which will remain valid for the next 12 months. The landlord will have to get it renewed before its expiration, by conducting a fresh gas safety inspection by a registered gas safety engineer. 

The Process of Obtaining A Gas Safety Certificate

The process of obtaining a valid gas certificate would ideally start any time within the last two months of the currency of the existing gas safety certificate. In the case of new properties, it needs to start immediately but well before renting it out. 

The process comprises various steps that need to be taken in a sequence:

• Finding the appropriate Gas Safe Registered Engineer

Once the renewal date of the current gas safety certificate approaches or a new property needs to get a gas safety certificate for the first time, the most important thing is to find a competent gas safety engineer in or around your locality. This can be done by visiting the official website of the gas safe register. Select an engineer who is competent enough to handle the job, considering the size of the property and quantity of the gas appliances. Before hiring the services of the engineer, you must check his credentials to ensure that his license is valid. 

• Fixing the Date of Inspection

Once the gas-safe registered engineer is selected, the next step is to fix a date for the inspection of your property. Being a landlord, it is your responsibility to coordinate with the tenant as well as the gas safety engineer to find a day and time that suits everyone. But in any case, it has to be the earliest possible date, well before the expiry of the current gas safety certificate. Once decided, the tenant must be notified, preferably in writing, about the date and time of the annual gas safety inspection. 

• Preparing for the Gas Safety Inspection

All the stakeholders, the landlord, the tenant, and the engineer need to prepare for a smooth and uninterrupted inspection of the gas appliances and allied fittings on the date of inspection. This includes the availability of the representative of the landlord and the tenant. Easy access to all appliances and fittings installed in the property, is also very important. The engineer also needs to be fully equipped with all the gadgets required for the perfect inspection. 

• Conducting the Gas Safety Inspection

On the day of inspection, the gas safety engineer will physically inspect the gas appliances to check whether there is any leakage, rusting, or damage to them or the allied pipework. He will also check the burners, cookers, and hobs to ensure that they are working as expected. This is a very important step, as an incomplete combustion of gas would result in the generation of carbon monoxide. Then he will also check the boiler to ensure there is no leakage and that the boiler is working properly. In case of any fault detected by the engineer in any of the appliances, the landlord will have to get it fixed, preferably on the spot or as soon as possible. 

• Issuance of Gas Safety Certificate

On successful completion of the annual gas safety inspection and removal of the faults, if detected by him, the engineer will issue a gas safety certificate, which will remain valid for the next year. This document can be issued digitally as well as in paper form. Landlords are responsible for giving a copy of this certificate to the current tenants within 48 hours and within 28 days to the new tenants. They are also required to safely keep this document for at least two years, as it is proof that the gas safe registered engineer has inspected the property. 

• Cost of the Gas Safety Certificate 

Currently, the issuance of a gas safety certificate would cost you anything between £40 to £100, depending on the size of the property and the scope of the inspection work. 

Conclusion

Gas safety is the prime concern of both the authorities and landlords and tenants. The 1998 gas safety regulations and their further amendments aim to ensure the safety of people and properties against any possible gas mishaps. The target of gas safety can only be achieved by strict adherence to these regulations by all landlords who intend to rent out their properties. 

Landlords have, therefore, been held responsible for obtaining a valid gas safety certificate after the successful completion of the annual gas safety inspection. Though the homeowners are not legally required to conduct any such formal annual inspection, they are expected to maintain the safety standards on the gas appliances installed on their property, as it is in their own interest.  

The landlords are also responsible for getting the current gas safety certificate renewed before the expiry date. Ideally, it should be done during the last two months prior to the expiration.