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Gas Safety Certificate For Landlords

Written by on 22 Feb 2011

Last week I got an annual Gas Safety Certificate sorted out for one of my rental properties. Then I realised I’ve barely touched on the subject of Gas Safety Certificates on my blog, consequently I decided to quickly put together this guide sheet. It’s probably an extremely mundane and boring issue for experienced landlords because a lot of this information is now common sense (or at least should be); it’s something that should be done religiously.

Having said that, i’m still continually reminded of how many landlords are still aware of their Landlord legal responsibilities / obligations. The Gas Safety Certificate in particular is a big deal so it’s imperative for all landlords and tenants to be aware of the issue.

Gas Safety Certificate Content

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A Gas safety Certificate, also commonly referred to as a Gas safety Record, is a document that confirms a Gas Safety check has been performed on gas appliances by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer in the property you are letting.

The Gas Safety Certificate looks like this:

Gas Safety Certificate

This document will confirm that gas appliances are safe to use.

Which Gas Appliances should be checked?

Any gas appliance that the landlord supplies with the property MUST be safety checked. This includes appliances such as gas ovens, gas ovens, and hand held appliances that use gas.

If the tenant brings their own gas appliance into the property, it is not the landlords responsibility to ensure they are gas safe.

Do I need a Gas Safety Certificate?

Yes, it is the law.

The Gas Safety Regulations 1998 place a statutory duty on all landlords of residential property to ensure that all gas appliances, pipe work and flues are maintained in a safe condition.

How often do I need a Gas Safety Check?

Gas Safety Certificate’s last for 12 months, so a safety check on all gas appliances need to be done annually.

You do not need a Gas Safety Check if you have new tenants moving in, just as long as ALL appliances supplied by the landlord has been checked with in 12 months.

What do I do with the Gas Safety Certificate?

You should keep the original copy of the certificate for yourself. You must also give your tenant a copy of these gas safety records within 28 days of the checks being done, or give a copy of the gas safety record to a new tenant before they move in.

Do I need a Gas Safety Certificate for each rental property I own?

Yes. You need a Gas Safety Certificate per rental property. So if you have a portfolio of 12 properties, you will need a separate Gas Safety Certificate’s for each property.

How do I get a Gas Safety Certificate?

A Gas Safe registered engineer can do the gas safety checks and provide you with a Gas Safety Certificate.

To find a gas engineer in your area you can call 0800 408 5500.

Where can I order a Gas Safety Certificate online?

Letting A Property offers a nationwide Gas Safety Certification and Boiler service for landlords from £69 (VAT included)

Can my regular Gas man give me a Gas Safety Certificate?

Not necessarily. The gas man must be a Gas Safe registered engineer.

What is a Gas Safe registered engineer?

A Gas Safe registered engineer has been checked to make sure they are competent and qualified to work safely and legally with gas.

Every gas engineer carries a Gas Safe Register ID card with their own unique licence number, showing the type of gas work they are qualified to do. Before any gas work is carried out, always make sure you ask to see their Gas Safe Register ID card.

Here is an example of a Gas Safe Register ID card:

Gas Safe Register ID card

How much does a Gas Safety Certificate cost?

It can vary, depending on how many gas appliances need checking, and also location.

Typically, prices range from £35-£80, from my experience. My most recent gas safety check cost £50. The property is based on the outskirts of London, and appliances checked was a gas boiler and gas oven/cooker.

It’s always best to shop around. I received an initial quote for £80, which was evidently a bit pricey.

To put it nicely, I know a lot of landlords like to keep their hands firmly in their pockets. However, this is one expense which I would highly recommend not to avoid because the consequences are just far too great.

What will happen if I don’t have a Gas Safety Certificate?

As mentioned, the Gas Safety Check is a legal requirement, so failing to provide a tenant with a “safe” property can lead to prosecution in the form of imprisonment.

More information

For a load more information on Gas Safety, Gas Safety Certificates and Gas Safe Registered Engineers, go to the Gas Safe Register Website

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24 Comments - join the conversation...

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Lisa2011-02-23 10:43:33 The first time I had one of these done it cost me £1500. First of all the seal on the boiler had broken and because the part was obsolete, I had to buy a new boiler. Luckily, I have a gas engineer friend and got one cheap. Next I had it tested again and we found there was a gas escape. Floorboards in two rooms ripped up later, we realised that the escape was in the pipework coming through two neighbouring flats! We decided to replace the gas main coming into the property from outside rather than rip apart two other properties! I don't think this is the norm mind you but it's worth bearing in mind that if you buy a property for the purpose of renting, it might be worth getting a gas engineer to look before you buy! 1
The Landlord Avatar
The Landlord2011-02-23 16:11:44 Hey Lisa,

OUCH!! £1500 is a lot of money on maintenance when you're not expecting to pay it! However, in the long run, you're potentially saving yourself from prosecution! So it's money well invested!

But definitely great advice to get a qualified Gas engineer to check a any property before buying! 2
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Jan2011-03-16 12:07:09 Hi, I want to move out of my rented place. I have 6 month agreement only been there 9weeks. Contracts said, no noise after 11pm no smoking in building and no dogs. I am kept up friday and sat night my loud squeeling, laughing and music. Dog barking and my flat smells of cigarett smoke. I have a A4 piece of paper with all things that are broken, including the hot taps so hard to turn on and when on the tap heads get so hot, i need a over mit to turn them off, all of the doors dont shut. No maintenance has been offered even though the landlord is responsible for all maintenance (as stated in contract)and I have spoken to him directly. He said we could end out lease early and i have found somewhere else and now he says we have to find new tennants if we want to move, which we are trying to do. I have just realised that the gas safety certificate is now well expired. Do any of there problems give me legal reasons to move out early.
Really need advise. 3
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Fleur2011-06-15 20:59:34 First, a thank you - as a live-in landlady, I'm just about to rent out my self-contained 'lower-ground' flat, and am so grateful for all the information I've learned here. Comprehensive, clear AND entertaining - on tenancies??!! - hope you get a book deal or something. You deserve one.

Then, my question.
My flat contains the gas meter but no direct gas supply, so no gas appliances. Do you think I still need a Gas Safety Certificate?

If you know the answer to this, then you're even more brilliant. 4
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gary leighton2011-07-28 21:07:48 I have some property in London and I paid £40 for my gas safety certificate from WWW.gassafetycertificate.UK.com.
That was for 2 appliances , they also do my servicing and are nice to deal with. 5
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stone2011-08-03 10:42:51 do i need a new certificate if i install a new gas boiler or will the old one do 6
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Gary2011-08-03 15:25:54 The gas safety regulations state that landlords must have their gas appliances checked and maintained annually.

The CP12 Certificate is evidence of this and you will need a certificate which lists all the appliances including the new boiler. The installer will have.notified the install to gas safe , but this will only get you cert stating it complies with building regs. Therefore you will need a new gas cert. 7
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j sinar2011-09-03 08:21:18 I live in a rented bungalow and a recent gas safety check revealed that the lounge gas fire is unsafe as the exterior flue is less than 4 metres from the fire. The gas safety plumber has disconnected the appliance and issued a failure notice. How long does the landlord have to rectify the defect? I have been in the property for 1 year and never had a copy of the safety check at the start of the tenancy and the landlord has refused to give me a copy. Also the letting agents have suggested that I dont "rock the boat" about this as the lease will be up for renewal in 6 months. 8
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cleo2011-09-20 19:17:44 im single mother, im parcial blind and my son is 12 my daughter is 18 she has lupus, and her body is always cold, in the summer now with the winter coming its gets bit worse, my boiler broke and my landlord said that he will not repair it, bcos as the rent is £950, and the council only pays him £900, every month, but the council pays 13 month every year so he gets he money anyway, my trouble is i have no gas certificate for over 2 years now and the previous years was always hes friends who thats the check, my daughters boyfriend works for britsh gas a had a llok and he said that he will not touch the boiler bcos by him its very very old and not worth to repair, but the landlord said he wont do it, what can i do...pls help xx 9
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Benji2011-09-20 21:36:09 Gas Safety certs
-What a smashing little money earner.

Who advised that a gas safety check was necessary every 12 months?

It's a bit like M.P's deciding on their own expenses.

The cowboy landlords ignore it anyway.

With the massive advances in gas engineering and safety since the awfull deaths 25 years ago, isn't it about time for a review?

What about it Landlord? Start a campaign for a review. F*****g hell! the Daily Heil would come in their pants, the Gruandian would have kittens and you'd be a national hero for common sense (except amongst gas safe engineers). 10
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Benji2011-09-20 21:56:19 Cleo,
This is not the best place for advice.
Get in touch with your local council's environmental health department, they will help you. 11
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cleo2011-09-21 18:13:23 thanks Benji, i called the council this morning and they came to my house already, they said that the landlord has to repair the boiler or if its need to be change he has to do soons possible, thank you so much..xxx 12
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Ian2011-10-03 21:39:17 I am a gas safe engineer. All gas appliances old and new should be checked and preferably serviced annually. Even the manufactures of these appliances recommend this. Hence the annual safety check. The three most vulnerable types of people likely to suffer CO poisoning are, Old People, Tenants, Students (usually tenants). The biggest cause of problems with gas appliances is lack of servicing. 13
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andy thompson2011-10-24 17:38:35 hi people
ive been here now for 5 years renting off a right tight twat of a landlord rent always been paid on time as well have a wife with 3 children my landord had 13 house and not one has a gas saftey cert why is he getting away with this he seems to think you only look at boliers when there broken ...the man is had work got a carp meter and put on wall i did has a small leak he sent sombody round to clue it ?????????/help 14
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andy thompson2011-10-24 18:03:42 no rcd no gas checks no fuck all i do all the repairs only asking for a bit whats gas check cost hmmmmmmm £80 whoop whoop if anything hapeens to my family you have had it i do everything he does fuck 15
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gary2011-10-24 18:52:28 Report him to the gas safe register. That should make him get
the work carried out legally, otherwise he will be fined or imprisoned.

There is.no excuse for failing to ensure that tenants are safe. 16
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gemma smith2011-12-14 20:18:25 need advice just move out of my mums house into a flat threw a letting agent asked for the gas safety record and was brushed off by him kept asking for it and nothing eventually when i recived no bill i phoned a gas company as he also wouldnt tell me who my gas supplier was! turns out i dont have a gas supplier im getting free gas so should be happy according to him and he hasnt got a gas safety certificate as its never been checked bering in mind the apartments have been standing for 4years!! letting agent wont sort this out n when i phone the national grid and other ppl im told its down to the agent to sort! who can i report him to? or any advice please would be apreshiated as im only 23 its the 1st time ive moved out and havnt got a clue and keep gettin fobed off and corbon monixide poisoning is worrying me as no appliences have eva been checked! 17
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cardifflandlord2011-12-15 07:44:08 Gemma,

If you are that worried then buy yourself a Carbon Monoxide detector from Tesco next time you are there (or ASDA etc). They are not very expensive and will provide you with piece of mind. At least then you will be much safer even though the low life scum landlord and letting agents are failing to do their job.

Also contact the Gas Safe register to report your landlord.

The only other way is to put everything in writing and send it to your agent/landlord. Keep accurate dates of communication so that if you decide to move out you have been seen to have been reasonable by the courts (if it ever goes that far). 18
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Benji2011-12-15 13:51:52 Gemma,
Are you sure you have any gas supplied into the property?
Many flats just have electric for cooking, hot water and heating.
Sorry if it seems a silly question but a lot of tenants dont know when they first move in.

If there is gas supplied to your flat then insist on a gas safety check being done.

But dont lose any sleep over it.

You say the flats were built 4 years ago. Therefore any gas appliances fitted will have been modern and inspected to say they were correctly fitted.

If your neighbours have bought their flat, chances are they wont have had it inspected. Reason being because it is not necessary.

At this point, any gas safe engineers will be wetting themselves 'cos the whole scheme is a lovely little earner for them. Truth is, the law makes no distinction between a crappy old 40 year boiler and a newly fitted modern one. 19
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Sandie2011-12-15 17:52:44 The pressure between gas meter and boiler are different but nothing is being done is it safe 20
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Armin2011-12-15 20:54:17 Sandie, you might be best off to ask that on a forum frequented by DIYers and gas engineers. Try: http://www.diynot.com/ 21
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Jeremy2011-12-15 21:05:49 Hello everyone,

My eye fell on this the other day:
http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/flues_in_voids.aspx

It's a new regulation to ensure flues can be visually inspected along their whole length as part of the annual check.

Probably applies most to owners of whole flat blocks but could also apply if you're put boxing over a flue of any house of flat for decorative reasons. 22
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Armin2011-12-15 21:19:03 "The boiler flues that this information relates to are connected to room-sealed fan assisted boilers."

So maybe it does not affect as many people as one might think. 23
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cardifflandlord2011-12-17 07:57:44 @Sandy

"The pressure between gas meter and boiler are different but nothing is being done is it safe" -

Sorry - don't understand the question????? Are you saying there is a gas leak? If so or you suspect there is call the Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111999. When they come out tell them about the lack of gas safety certificate! 24

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