Posted by: Team GSC
Updated: Jul 01, 2022
Welcome to the second guide on our website, a step-by-step guide on how to get a valid Gas Safety Certificate in the United Kingdom. Now that you understand what a CP12 Certificate (LGSR) is, the next step is getting one, and this guide will help you get one. We hope you find this guide easy to understand. It is a free and helpful resource for Landlords who want to acquire or renew a gas safety certificate to rent out their property
According to the Gas Safety Regulations(Installation and Use) 1998, all landlords must have a valid Gas Safety Certificate to lease their property. This guide will cover all the points you need to know to acquire a valid Landlord's Gas Safety Record (LGSR), also called a Gas Safety Certificate. This guide will cover the following:
We made this guide easy to understand so anyone can read it and put it into practice. It can be overwhelming to schedule a gas safety certificate, but with these easy steps, you will be able to get it done in no time!
A Landlord's Gas Safety Record (LGSR), also called a Gas Safety Certificate, is a document that
provides proof that all gas appliances in a residential or commercial building have been declared
fit for use by a licensed gas safety engineer. The LGSR displays each gas appliance's operational
status, including the building's flue.
All landlords are legally bound to get their property checked for gas safety by a qualified and
registered gas engineer once a year. After reviewing all the appliances, the engineer will provide a
gas safety certificate to the landlord.
This certificate is valid for one year. Therefore, it is the landlords' responsibility to arrange the next
gas safety check before the expiration of this certificate to renew it on time. The landlords are bound to
show this certificate to the tenants while renting out the property.
If the landlord fails to obtain a valid gas safety certificate, they will have to face legal action that may
also include penalties. Hence, it is the prime responsibility of every landlord to ensure that a valid gas
safety certificate is always available to him.
Using gas for various purposes in a home is usually a safe activity. But it carries some potential risks, as well:
Gas is colorless and odorless; hence, it is not detectable. Since it is flammable, gas becomes dangerous in case of a leakage. Many gas appliances are installed in your home, such as cookers, heaters, boilers, etc. All these appliances burn gas. If the gas starts leaking from any appliance, it may result in fire or explosion.
Another big issue with gas is the emission of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide, commonly known as CO, is generated due to incomplete or faulty gas burning in any gas appliance. Like gas, CO is also colorless and odorless, hence undetectable, unless it starts affecting your health, such as dizziness, headache, and nausea. It may even result in death. That's why it is also referred to as a silent killer.
Gas safety is, therefore very important to mitigate these threats. A gas safety check is necessary whenever
a new appliance is installed, during servicing and maintenance, and, more importantly, during an annual gas
safety inspection.
An annual gas check is necessary to get a gas safety certificate, which is a legal responsibility of
landlords. Gas safety checks should only be done by a gas safety engineer who is listed on the official gas
safe register. Once satisfied with your home's gas pipework and gas appliances, the engineer will issue a
gas safety certificate for your property.
According to the Gas Safety Regulations (Installation and Use) 1998 legislation, a landlord is the person who owns or has the legal right to control the property that is being rented out to tenants. The details of the definition can be accessed in provision 36 (1) of the legislation. The landlords and property owners are legally bound under the provisions of the Gas Safety Regulations to ensure the safety of their properties and tenants. Hence, they are required to ensure the following
Keep all the gas appliances, including flues and pipe works, well maintained and in optimum working condition.
Every gas appliance installed on their property must be inspected for annual gas safety checks.
Landlords are further required to record this annual gas safety inspection.
Landlords must make the safety records available for inspection by tenants upon request and provide copies to tenants within specific time frames.
It should also be kept in mind that the gas safety check is not a one-time exercise; it has to be done after every 12 months. The latest amendment in the law has provided flexibility in the annual renewal of gas safety checks. Now, the expiry date remains the same each year, provided the inspection is successfully carried out any time during the last two months before the current gas safety certificate expires. If the current certificate is going to expire on June 30, 2024, and you get it renewed on May 15, 2024,the next date of expiry will be June 30, 2025.
If the renewal is made after the expiry date, you will be declared a defaulter and may attract penalties and legal action. On the other hand, if it is done any time before the completion of 10 months of the current certificate, it will affect the expiration date of the new certificate. Hence, it must be ensured that it is done in the 11th or 12th month of the currency of the existing certificate.
Landlords leasing residential properties, such as homes, apartments, studio complexes, etc., must
obtain a valid residential gas safety certificate annually. A Residential or domestic gas safety
certificate is the most common type of gas safety certificate.
Landlords are legally bound to have this certificate to rent abuilding. Landlords are also bound to
show this certificate to the tenants before entering into an agreement with you. If you fail to
deliver this certificate, you may face legal action, which may involve huge penalties.
This certificate is valid for one year. However, it needs to be renewed before its expiry date. For this, you need to arrange a gas safety inspection of your property at least 30 days before the expiration of the current certificate.
As a landlord, your legal and moral responsibility is to care for your tenants' lives. For the
safety of your property and the lives of the residents of that property, you need to ensure that all
the gas installations are working perfectly and strictly per the prevailing laws.
Any incorrect installation or faulty equipment may result in severe mishaps. You must arrange annual
gas safety checks on the entire gas infrastructure and appliances. The tenants are responsible for
using these appliances with the maximum possible care. If any fault or leakage is observed, they
must notify the landlord immediately.
Properties used for various commercial activities are legally bound to obtain a valid gas safety certificate for commercial use . According to the Gas Safety(Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, all commercial properties must be inspected annually for the required gas safety certificate. Some examples of commercial properties are:
This certificate will be issued by a gas-safe engineer who is officially authorized and registered with a safe gas register. The gas safe engineer will perform complete gas safety checks and tests on all the gas installations in a commercial building.
The property rented out to tourists or visitors is also subject to regular gas safety checks if it
has gas appliances. An annual gas safety inspection is compulsory for such properties to get a valid
gas safety certificate.
As with other gas safety certificates, holiday homes must hire a qualified and registered gas-safe
engineer for annual gas safety checks on all the installed gas appliances. In addition, the engineer
will give you a gas safety certificate if your property has passed the tests and inspection.
As a holiday homeowner, you are responsible for keeping the gas appliances in perfect working condition.
Regularly servicing and maintaining these appliances will avoid potential risks such as gas leakage, fire,
or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Any minor fault should immediately be removed. If a gas appliance malfunctions, you should not wait for the
annual inspection to fix it. However, you may have to call the gas engineer immediately to get it repaired
or replaced, as may be required.
Tourists and holidaymakers often like to use Caravans or motorhomes. Some also want to use tourers,
which are tied to another vehicle. These are designed for touring purposes and are called leisure
accommodation vehicles (LAVs).
These are fitted with different facilities, including gas appliances such as gas fires and cookers.
These gas appliances use LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). Since gas appliances are fitted in these
caravans, the relevant law governing the use of gas and gas appliances also applies to these tourist
vans.
Caravan owners are required to get a gas safety certificate. The gas safety certificates for caravans are valid for one year and must be renewed annually after the required gas safety checks. Here are some key points that need your attention:
Just like caravans, boats also use LPG for cooking and heating purposes. Specially designed gas
appliances are fitted in the boats that work on LPG. These include gas cookers for boats, gas water
heaters and combi boilers for boats, and instant water heaters. Bottled LPG is used to operate these
appliances on board a boat.
Since gas and gas appliances are used on boats for different purposes, the rules and regulations
governing the use of gas also apply to them. Accordingly, boats must get the appliances regularly
serviced and maintained by a registered gas-safe engineer.
An annual gas safety check is also applicable on boats. They must get it done annually by a qualified registered engineer and get a gas safety certificate. In addition, they are required by law to keep this inspection and maintenance record on hand.
Key points to note while using gas onboard a boat:
Universities, schools, and academies may have a gas supply, natural gas supply, and LPG cylinders on
their premises. Whether an educational institute uses LPG or direct gas supply through pipelines,
they are legally bound to follow the laws governing the use of gas.
Like any other commercial building, they must get a gas safety certificate after checking their gas
appliances for gas safety. A registered gas engineer must do these gas safety checks. Regular
servicing and maintenance of all gas installations in a school or university must be done to ensure
the safety of students and the property.
Such educational institutes typically use gas appliances for heating purposes. However, cookers and boilers may also be used at some schoolsor universities, so the school management is responsible for keeping these appliances in perfect condition.
Things to remember by management/landlords:
The Gas Safety Regulations (Installation and Use) 1998 mandates that gas safety certificates must only be issued by qualified individuals or companies approved by the Health and Safety Executive (Gas Safe Register). Any such activity done by an unregistered engineer will not be valid to protect you under the relevant law. Therefore, you must hire a registered gas engineer to avoid a complicated legal situation that may result in penalties.
The Gas Safe Register is the official organization in the UK to deal with all gas-related matters. They register qualified gas engineers and issue licenses for gas installations in homes and other commercial buildings. Complete details about these registered engineers are then made available on the official website of the gas safe register.
Whenever you need to book a gas safety inspection, do the following:
Choose gas safety certificate providers that offer convenience. Look for providers that offer Instant quotes, easy online order placement, online certificate tracking, and 24/7 customer support. These features allow landlords and property owners to get gas certificates quickly and without hassle.
Not all registered engineers are experts in all types of gas certificates. For example, some registered engineers are experienced in residential properties, while others may be experienced in commercial properties, boats, or caravans. Ensure a thorough inspection by verifying their specific expertise and selecting an engineer seasoned in evaluating your property type.
Once you have decided on the gas safety engineer, the next step is to check his credentials. Know the following before you check credentials:
The cost you must bear for an annual gas safety inspection is variable. It depends on the volume and
scope of work. It also depends on the gas engineer you select for the job. All engineers may not
have the same price. Another factor that influences the cost of inspection is your locality. Cost
may be considerably higher in big cities like London than in other localities.
Similarly, the cost may be higher for heavy gas appliances than everyday home gas appliances. So, it
would be best to consider all such factors before you finalize the deal with your selected gas
safety engineer.
The breakup of the cost quoted by the engineer also needs your attention. The separation will show item-wise cost. You must thoroughly go through the division. Try to understand the scope of each job and see if the quoted price is reasonable. If you feel it is exaggerated, you may discuss it with the engineer.
First of all, you should be well aware of the date of expiry of your current gas safety certificate. Plan yearly inspection at a reasonable date but at least 30 days before the expiry of the existing certificate.
A landlord must plan the annual gas safety check in consultation with the tenants. It might be tricky for the landlords, as they will have to align the availability of the tenants and engineers for a planned annual gas safety check.
Here is what a good landlord must do:
Once the annual gas safety check is planned per the engineer's availability and in consultation with the
tenant, the next step is even more important. It may involve some legal rights of the tenant. A landlord is
not legally allowed to enter his rented-out property without informing the tenant at least 24 hours before
the planned visit or as per the terms of the rent contract.
So, the landlord must arrange access to the engineer in the tenant's home well before the planned
inspection. As mentioned above, a letter must be sent to the tenant. The landlord needs to coordinate free
and easy access for the engineer on the property so that the gas safety check may be completed smoothly.
Similarly, the landlord must arrange easy and trouble-free access for the engineer to all the appliances and
pipework in coordination with the tenant. The tenant must also cooperate with the landlord and facilitate
the engineer to complete his task.
Finally, prepare your home for a smooth, uninterrupted gas safety inspection. All gas appliances must be easily accessible. Remove any unnecessary items around these appliances so the engineer can do his job without hindrance. Usually, completing his job should take around 60 to 90 minutes. If any gas appliance repair or replacement is required, get it done immediately.
An annual gas safety check comprehensively examines every gas appliance and pipework in aproperty, including boilers and flues. The Engineer will perform the following checks during the examination:
Visually Inspect Gas Installations And Appliances:
The engineer will visually inspect gas installations and appliances, including boilers and flues. They will check every appliance for apparent wear and tear, corrosion, rusting, or other deterioration that may threaten explosion or leakage.
Check The Gas Burner Pressure:
This is another very important factor that needs special attention from the engineer. All gas appliances are designed to perform at a specified gas pressure. The burners perform perfectly if the pressure is within the desired range—anything over or less than the allowed pressure will cause the equipment to malfunction. Hence, the engineer will ensure that all the burners are working with the correct pressure.
Check The Gas Is Burning Correctly:
This is important to avoid the emission of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is generated as a result of incomplete combustion. Burning gas perfectly is also important to avoid unnecessary emission of harmful smoke. Ideally, the gas should not emit any smoke, but if it is not burning perfectly, it may generate smoke, which may be quite a serious problem. The engineer will closely examine this critical issue during the annual inspection.
Checking for Gas Leakages:
Gas leakage is one of the most serious threats to any property. It may result in explosion, fire and some very serious health problems. Leakage can occur mostly at the joints and connections. Hence, the engineer will have to closely examine all the joints in the pipe work and the connecting points of the gas appliances with the main supply pipe. Joints and connections must be tight enough to prevent any gas leakage. Sometimes, gas may also start leaking from a faulty gas appliance. That also needs to be attended by the Engineer.
Examine The Ventilation System:
Proper ventilation is very important for safety against gas hazards—burning gas results in oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide emission. As a natural phenomenon, the balance of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide is automatically maintained in the atmosphere. Hence, there should be ample fresh air around the gas appliances. Simultaneously, the harmful gases generated must also be vented out freely. That's why the ventilation system needs to be thoroughly examined by the engineer.
Check The Safety Devices:
Check whether the gas leakage, smoke, or carbon monoxide detectors are working. These are meant to generate timely alerts to avoid any mishap. So, the working of these devices must also be checked by the engineer if installed on the premises.
Check boiler performance:
Next, the engineer will inspect the boiler including the pressure vessel. Although this is more thoroughly done during boiler servicing, the engineer will also examine this important aspect closely during the annual gas safety check.
Checking Flues And Chimneys For Any Blockage:
The engineer will ensure that these are clear so gases and fumes can safely be discharged.
Fix Minor Issues:
The engineer will also fix minor issues on the spot, but for any major disorders, the landlord might have to hire the services of a registered engineer separately.
The engineer will give his findings after performing complete safety checks. He will mention on the certificate which appliances are not safe for use. They usually categorize the appliances as follows:
Immediately dangerous, marked as ID
IAt risk, marked as IR
Not to current standards, marked as NAC
The property will fail the gas safety inspection if most appliances are declared in the first two categories. The appliances marked ID or IR must be replaced or repaired immediately to pass the gas safety inspection. The appliances rated as NAC are fit for use but must be replaced with new ones as soon as possible.
The registered gas-safe engineer will issue a gas safety certificate after completing safety checks. This certificate will remain valid for 12 months. It needs to be renewed annually, for which you will have to arrange annual safety checks on all gas appliances. The law requires that the Landlord's Gas Safety Record (Gas Certificate) must have the following information:
A gas safety inspection will fail if most appliances are declared unfit for home use. There are many reasons why an appliance may fail to pass the inspection. Most common are summarized here.
You need to arrange on-the-spot repair work in case of any of the issues mentioned above. Otherwise, you may fail the gas safety inspection.
The ultimate purpose of this entire exercise is to ensure safety against potential risks and threats
associated with using gas. So, the prime objective must be to fix any such issue immediately and,
more preferably, on the spot. One of the most serious issues that warrants instant attention is
leakage. Gas leakage may prove fatal hence, it must be fixed on the spot. Generally, it should not
be difficult for the gas safety engineer.
Another serious issue might be the generation of carbon monoxide. This problem also needs to be
sorted out immediately. Similarly, if a gas appliance develops a major fault that may result in an
explosion or fire, or any other mishap, it needs to be immediately turned off and should not be used
until it is repaired or replaced. Blockage removal from the flues and chimneys is yet another
important task that must be done on the spot. In short, the engineer and landlord need to resolve
any such issue that poses immediate safety concerns and must be fixed as soon as possible.
For any major fault, the landlord needs to resolve them on an immediate basis. This may include major repair work on any gas appliances. It may also include replacement of any such appliances that cannot be repaired. Similarly, you may need to repair the corroded part of the gas pipe work. That may include complete replacement of the damaged portion of the pipe work or even the entire supply line, depending on the overall condition of the pipes. That needs to be done immediately, as once this repair work is completed, you will have to reschedule the annual gas safety check.
You must arrange instant removal of the objections raised by the gas engineer during his annual
inspection of your property. For example, if there's a gas leakage, it can be fixed on the spot.
However, there may be some faults that may need some extra time to fix. In that case, your gas
safety record will declare your property as "failed."
Nothing to worry about. Get the services of a registered gas-safe engineer to resolve these issues.
If an appliance is malfunctioning, fix or replace it if required. If flues and chimneys are blocked,
clear them. If an appliance is not installed correctly, ask the engineer to reinstall it as per
standard.
Once you are done with fault removal, it's time to reschedule the annual inspection. You should contact the
same gas engineer who visited previously. Invite him for re-inspection on a suitable date and time. Get your
property ready for review.
The engineer will again check all the appliances, especially those that need rectification. Once he is
satisfied with the performance of all devices, he will give you the gas safety certificate for the following
year.
Ideally, you must get the faults removed or repaired on the spot during an inspection. The
inspecting engineer may help you fix most of the faults during the inspection. However, some issues
may be somewhat serious or require more time to fix the problem. You may also need some more time to
replace the unrepairable appliances.
In this case, your property may fail the safety inspection for now. For example, the engineer may
turn off unsafe appliances until they are replaced or repaired. In this situation, you will have to
arrange a re-inspection of your property at a later date.
You will have to get the problems fixed urgently. Remember, a gas safety engineer should always do all
gas-related jobs. Hire one to get these issues resolved. Arrange replacement of unrepairable gas appliances
at the earliest possible.
You may arrange a re-inspection once all the problems and faults are removed. It is advisable to get the
re-inspection done by the same engineer who performed the previous inspection. Hopefully, your property will
not fail a gas safety inspection this time.
Gas safety certificates are issued with a validity of 1 year. This applies to all gas safety
certificates, whether a landlord, homeowner, commercial property, or any other certification.
Under the law, it is mandatory to get it renewed every year. For this, you need to get the property
inspected by a registered gas safety engineer.
Key points to note:
When you need to renew the certificate
All gas safety certificates are valid for one year. It needs to be renewed before its expiry date. If you get it renewed within the expiry date, the next renewal date will remain the same for next year. However, if the expiry date is December 31, 2022, and you get it renewed anytime during December 2022, the next expiry date will be December 31, 2023.
Consequences of failing to renew
Failing to renew the gas safety certificate before it expires may have effects. It may result in penalties, apart from the other legal implications. For example, you may not be able to rent out your property.
Process of renewal
Select the relevant registered gas-safe engineer. Schedule his visit for a mutually agreed date but at least 30 days before the current certificate's expiry date. Prepare your home for an uninterrupted gas safety inspection.
The area of inspection must remain clear and easily accessible to the engineer. Remove and fix any faults
detected by the engineer. He may help you to do that. Once he has inspected all appliances, he will give you
the required certificate, also called gas safety records.
The expiry date of the new certificate is mentioned at the bottom of the certificate. Mark this date in your
calendar, and don't forget to renew it within time.
As per the Gas Safety Regulations, the landlords are bound to conduct annual gas safety checks and
get the gas safety certificate renewed for a further 12 months. But at the same time, it is also
important to do a random inspection of all the gas appliances after a reasonable interval. That will
ensure the safe and flawless performance of the appliances.
However, the main thing to remember is the expiry date of the current gas safety certificate. The
landlord needs to get it renewed before the expiry date, preferably during the last two months of
validity of the current certificate. Make sure to make it a part of your due date diary, as well, so
that you do not forget to schedule the annual gas safety check well within the due date.
The landlords are required to document the annual gas safety checks. The registered gas safety engineer will record their findings, specifically mentioning the location and status of each gas appliance checked. The engineer will give this detailed record to the landlord either in digital form or a hard copy, which is commonly known as CP12. The landlord must ensure that it bears the identity and signature of the engineer. The landlord must also ensure the removal and documentation of the disorders pointed out by the engineer. Removal of faults is critical for the successful completion of the annual gas safety inspection.
The Gas Safety Order 1998 requires that the gas safety check record must be kept preserved for at least two years. Apart from being a legal responsibility, it is also in the interest of the landlord to keep this record with them even for more than two years, if possible. This may be quite handy in case of any mishap in the future. This record will be helpful to prove that the regular annual inspection of the gas appliances was conducted well within the deadlines. Hence, the landlord will get legal protection in case of any mishap or accident if it happens on their property. These records can be safely kept in digital form in addition to a hard copy of the same.
Under the provisions of the gas safety regulations, the landlord is legally required to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate to the tenants. Tenants have a legal right to demand a copy of this certificate from the landlord. It may be in digital form as well as in paper form. In both cases, the tenant and the landlord must ensure that it bears the credentials of the engineer who conducted the annual inspection. It is also important to note the date of issuance and expiry of the certificate, which is mentioned at the bottom of the gas safety certificate. Both the landlord and the tenant should preferably note the expiry date so that they may not miss out on the timely renewal.
Here are some of the common misconceptions about the gas safety certificates:
Gas is one of the essential items for all homes and commercial properties. It is used for many purposes, such as cooking, heating, boilers, etc. It is quite a safe energy source but has potential risks and threats. Authorities always strive to make it safe in homes and public places. In the UK, the Gas Safe Register is the organization responsible for regulating the use of gas and the installation of gas appliances. They have managed to register the gas engineers. These registered engineers are authorized to do the annual gas safety inspection and issue the much-required gas safety certificate.
All landlords must get this certificate for their properties. It will prove that this property's gas
installations have been checked for gas safety. This certificate is valid for 12 months and is required to
be renewed on an annual basis. As a landlord, your legal and moral obligation is to ensure your property's
and the tenants' safety. So, remember to get one immediately. And get it renewed on an
annual basis.
Gas Safety Certs is an award-winning gas safety certificates provider in the UK with a team of experienced
Gas Safe Registered engineers. Our focus is on providing cost-efficient and hassle-free certificates to
landlords. Contact Us today to get more details and book your gas safety certificate.
A gas safety certificate is a document that certifies that all gas installations on your property are checked for gas safety by a registered gas engineer.
Yes, if you are a tenant, and have recently rented property, contact your landlord and
Yes, if you are a landlord, by law, you need to have gas safety checks conducted every year at your property.
The cost of a Gas Safety Certificate can vary, depending on where you live and the number.
A Gas Safety Certificate ensures that a property is safe and secure in terms
Yes, if you are a tenant, and have recently rented property, contact your landlord and ask them to supply.
Yes, if you are a landlord, by law, you need to have gas safety checks conducted every year at your property.
The cost of a Gas Safety Certificate can vary, depending on where you live and the number
