The Various Names of Gas Safety Certificates

The Gas Safety Certificate is known by many names throughout Great Britain. You may hear it being referenced:

It is essential to note that all these terms refer to the one and the same document. The official term for this certificate is Landlord Gas Safety Record (LGSR) however, CP12 is the specific product code for residential gas certificates, so it is often used interchangeably.

In the same way, every category has its own gas safety certificate code; CP16 is the code for commercial gas certificates, CP42 is the code for commercial catering appliances, and so on.

Finally, the Homeowner Gas Safety Certificate and the British Homeowners Gas Safety Certificate are often used interchangeably with the LAGR. It must be noted that the law doesn't require homeowners to have a Gas Safety Certificate, but it is essential for them to keep their appliances in check.

What Is the Gas Safety Record?

The Gas Safety Record is the documentation provided by a registered engineer after the Gas Safety check has been conducted. It is the only documentation required by the law, and it contains details about the inspection the engineer performed.

The Gas safety Record is another name for the Gas Safety Register Certificate. It is also called the Landlord’s Gas Safety Record or the LGSR.

These details include:

• Name and address of the landlord.
• Information about the engineer who conducted the checks, including their name, registration number, and signature.
• The address of the property being inspected.
• Details about the location and condition of each appliance present on the property.
• The result of operational checks that were conducted on the appliances.
• The safety defects that were found and the mechanisms used to repair them.
• The date on which the Gas Safety check took place.

Why Do I Need A Gas Safety Certificate?

Gas is an essential resource, but it is also extremely dangerous. Accidents caused by gas can damage your property, cause injury, and may even result in fatalities.

On average, 60 people die from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in England and Wales. - NHS

Gas-related accidents result in great collateral damage and cause irreversible destruction. Miraculously if people survive, they usually have to face long-term health issues.

These accidents can take place through various means, but the two main causes of destruction are:

• Active explosions
• Carbon monoxide poisoning

The explosions can occur as a result of both gas leaks and fires. Research undertaken by the HSE shows that workplace gas explosions have doubled over the last five years.

34% of unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning that took place from 1995 to 2021 was caused by gas leaks.

Another alarming statistic shows that gas mains cause the bulk of fatalities in domestic and commercial fuel-related accidents.

The table given below by Ridgas shows that fatalities caused by gas-related accidents jumped to 0.08% in 2019/20 as compared to 0.03% in 2017/18. Similarly, incidents that caused injury due to CO positioning, exposure to unburn gas, and explosions also increased in 2019-2020.

As a landlord, you are responsible for ensuring that your property is safe for tenants.

According to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR), the 3 main gas-related responsibilities of a landlord are:

• Firstly, landlords must get an annual gas safety check and receive the Landlord Gas Safety Certificate.  This check must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer and must take place after 10 to 12 months of the previous check. All the appliances and the flues must be adequately checked to ensure that they are safe to use.
• Secondly, after the gas safety check, landlords must acquire a copy of your Landlord’s Gas Safety Record (LGSR), also called the Gas Safety Certificate , because this is the document you are required by law to give to your tenants. It contains details about the checks that have been conducted. You must provide your tenants with a copy of this certificate at the time of tenancy or within 28 days of the check.
• Lastly, landlords must maintain their appliances, pipework, flues, and chimneys. You can take a look at the gas appliances’ manufacturer guidelines to check when an appliance needs to be serviced. At the same time, it must be noted that boiler and flue service is not included in the annual check, so landlords must acquire maintenance services separately.

What Are My Gas Safety Responsibilities as A Tenant?

While the landlords are responsible for making sure their property is safe, tenants must also take certain steps to ensure their safety.

Ensure That the Landlord Gets A GSC Every Year

If you are a tenant, you should be aware that your landlord is required by the law to conduct gas safety checks on the property every year. You must make sure that they do so annually.

Report To HSE If the Landlord Does Not Get A GSC

If they don’t get the check, remind them that it is criminal negligence, and if they don’t schedule an inspection even after your reminder, you must inform the authorities (HSE) right away.

Ensure The Property Is Accessible for A Gas Safety Check

In addition, your responsibility as a tenant is to make sure the property is accessible for a gas safety check. and while the check takes place, you should ensure the following:

• Check the Gas Safe ID of the registered engineer.
• Provide information that the engineer may need to conduct the check
• Ensure that appliances marked unsafe for use by the engineer are not used until they are replaced or repaired.

After the check takes place, you should remember to take a copy of the Gas Safety Record from the landlord.

Can Landlords Delegate the Gas Safety responsibility to Their Tenants?

No, the gas safety of a property is the sole responsibility of the landlord. It cannot be transferred to the tenant.

Who is Responsible for The Gas Safety of Appliances Owned by The Tenant?

The tenant is responsible for obtaining a gas safety check and record for the appliances owned and used by them.

If you are planning to use your own gas appliance in a rented property, ensure the following:

• Notify your landlord of the appliances you will be bringing and fitting in the house before the tenancy agreement is finalized.
• Ask the landlord’s permission to install any new gas appliances during the tenancy.
• Ask the landlord to include the inspection of appliances owned by you in the annual gas safety check for a reasonable cost.

Will My Landlord Provide the Carbon Monoxide Alarm?

The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 mandate that landlords must install at least one working Carbon Monoxide alarm in any room where solid fuel is used in their rented property.

However, gas is not solid fuel, so renters must get a CO alarm if their property doesn’t come with it.

It isn’t very costly, and you can easily purchase this from any store. This investment can protect you from deadly Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Typically, you incur 30% extra cost with each new appliance.

Therefore, if your gas safety check cost is £34 with 1 appliance, £44.2 with two appliances, £54.2, ad so on.

If you own multiple properties and need Gas safety Certificates for them every year, it is safe to assume that you can negotiate a discounted gas safety check cost from the service provider, given you are choosing the same company for all of them.

You can receive approximately 15% discount on the total cost of the certification if you have more than 5 properties. You may be able to negotiate a higher discount rate if you have 10+ properties.

The Location of Your Property

How much does a Gas Safety Certificate cost also depends on the location of your property. The cost of a CP12 Certificate is higher in bigger cities and metropolises as compared to town and rural areas.

Gas Safety Certificate Costs Can Be 10% – 25% Higher in Bigger Cities

Therefore, the gas safety check cost a building in London with 2 appliances will be higher than the gas safety check cost of a building with 2 appliances in Lyndhurst or Painswick.

The cost of a CP12 certificate also depends on the service provider. Just like with any commodity or service, some companies charge more than others depending on their pricing model.

It is a common perception that local companies are more affordable compared to national corporations. However, it may not be true. There are many considerations that you need to think about before deciding on a service provider, these are:

• Survey the market and shortlist the gas safe registered companies providing gas safety certification in your area.
• Analyze their price against their service offerings – some local companies may quote a lower cost, but they don’t offer the same quality and range of services as national companies. Consider elements such as same-day gas safety check, gas safety certificate delivery within 24 hours, availability of online downloadable and printable certificates, the knowledge and experience of the staff, etc.
• Consider the business model of the company – are they a national company with local engineers? If so, they may be the best option as they offer premium services at affordable rates and quick turnaround time. National companies, such as Gas Safety Certs, that offer affordable gas safety checks across Great Britain by utilizing a large network of registered and experienced local engineers. Are the best choice.

The Speed of Service

Do you need the Gas safety Certificate on urgent basis? It may cost you more! Although most professional service providers deliver the certificate within 48 hours, they will charge you extra if you want the certificate even quicker.

Gas Safety Certificate Cost at Gas Safety Certs

Gas Safety Certs provides Gas Safety Register Certificates or CP12 certificates for as low as £34. If you are interested in availing our service, get an instant quote by filling an online form in under 5 minutes!

You can get Residential, Commercial and New Building Gas Safety Certificates from accredited engineers at Gas Safety Certs with 48 hours.