The Gas Safety Certificate: Knowing and understanding gas safety

Gas safety is a pivotal part of owning any type of gas appliance. Whether you’re a homeowner or a landlord, being responsible for a property means being responsible for making sure that any gas appliances are checked regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

But how much does a Gas Safety check typically cost? And what should you expect to happen when the engineer arrives at your property? This handy guide will explain the inspection process, the legalities behind owning a Gas Safety Certificate (depending on your circumstances), and how to organise one as soon as possible for your own gas appliances.

What is a Gas Safety inspection?

Gas safety is incredibly important. Without it, you’re not only putting your appliance at risk but yourself and the people living in your property, too.

Why is it so important? Well, natural gas is highly flammable, meaning it is at risk of exploding if not managed properly. If you have a gas leak inside or outside your home, any naked flame could ignite it, causing a potentially catastrophic explosion. 

This is why a Gas Safety check or inspection is carried out to make sure your appliances work correctly and safely. The check can’t just be carried out by anyone; it must be a Gas Safe registered engineer. This engineer will be a part of the Gas Safety register; the official body of gas businesses and engineers in the UK.

Gas Safe engineers are experts and will know exactly what to look for - saving time, resources, and even lives by carrying out critical checks on any gas appliances in your home. 

The following covers everything you need to know about Gas Safety Certificates.

1. What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

After following through with a Gas Safety check, your engineer should provide you with a Gas Safety Certificate (or record). This details specifically what has been inspected and any further issues there may be.

To reiterate, it’s not a legal requirement for a homeowner to have a Gas Safety Certificate. However, we recommend that you have all your gas appliances checked annually. 
The certificate you’ll receive upon the successful completion of your inspection will prove that the appliances have been checked and don’t pose a threat to you, your family or anyone living nearby! 

2. The Gas Safety check procedure

A Gas Safety check should be completed annually. Your engineer is trained to check a number of things when looking at your gas appliances.

1. Your appliance should be operating at the right pressure and the air supply to that appliance should be suitable.
2. The flue of your appliance is clear, so that waste gases can be disposed of safely.
3. The device itself is working as it should and is not a threat to anyone’s safety.

If you do not have a Gas Safety check of your appliances as and when you should, you could risk harmful gases escaping into your home. If these gases are breathed in, you and your family members will be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. This gas is invisible and odourless, but can have fatal effects if inhaled in large enough quantities.

3. How much is a Gas Safety check?

The Gas Safety check cost can vary depending on the engineer you use, the type and the number of appliances you have. However, depending on your circumstances, your energy supplier may provide free gas safety inspections. Check with your supplier for more details.

If you have more gas appliances to check, the price of the overall inspection may be more than if you had just the one gas appliance.

Who needs a Gas Safety Certificate?

1. Homeowners

As a homeowner, you are not legally required to hold a Gas Safety Certificate, but it is strongly recommended to have an annual check or service of your gas appliances to ensure they are working safely and efficiently. 

It is worth noting that some home insurance policies require Gas Safety certificates for policies to be valid, so it may well be worth checking with your provider to find out whether this is one of the clauses you are required to satisfy.

It's also important to remember that having an annual service is also required to ensure the validity of your boiler warranty.

2. Landlords

As a landlord, things are different. Because you are responsible for the wellbeing of your tenants, you do have a legal requirement to have an annual Gas Safety check and provide a certificate as proof.

The inspection should be done on all gas appliances in all of your properties, and you should receive a copy of the certificate to keep for your records, as well as providing a copy to your tenants.

Failure to do so may result in fines being issued, or, in the event of an accident occurring with a gas appliance, criminal charges being made.

Gas Safety Records

By law, a copy of the Landlord Gas Safety Record received after the annual service should be given to current tenants within 28 days of the service. This will also need to be provided to new tenants at the start of their tenancy.

Maintenance

It’s the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that all gas appliances, fittings, chimneys and flues are kept in good and safe condition at all times.

There are no specific requirements for landlords to keep maintenance records, but they will need to be able to show that pipework and appliances have been regularly maintained and required repairs have been completed.

Landlord Gas Safety Certificate – What’s the difference?

If you’re a landlord, it is required by law that you have a Gas Safety check and a certificate as proof. The inspection should be done on all gas appliances in each of your properties.

However, if the gas appliances inside the property are not owned by you, but the tenant, then the responsibility falls onto them. The record or certificate will show: a description of each tested appliance, the results of the check on each appliance, any actions or safety issues, and details of the engineer/landlord.

How much does a landlord Gas Safety Certificate cost?

For a single gas appliance, the cost of a certificate will set a landlord back around £60. For more than one gas appliance, the price will increase per item/per certificate.

Can I sue my landlord for no Gas Safety check?

If you’re a tenant, it is a legal requirement for your landlord to provide you with a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate before moving into a property. It would be wise to remind them that you must have a copy under the Gas Safety Regulations and that if not, legal action can be taken.

If you don’t receive a Gas Safety Certificate after your inspection, you should always ask for one as proof of the check.

If a landlord doesn’t have a Gas Safety Certificate for a property they are letting - they’re breaking the law. Furthermore, there’s a penalty for a tenant renting a property without having a Gas Safety check. To be safe, your landlord should schedule in checks annually to avoid getting hit with a penalty or committing a criminal offence.

Get covered with BOXT

Give yourself one less thing to worry about by getting your gas boiler’s annual checks taken care of with BOXT’s Home Cover packages. Our friendly team of Gas Safe registered engineers have the training and credentials needed to perform all the necessary inspections to make sure your gas boiler is working safely and efficiently.

Don’t put it off - It’s important to get a Gas Safety certificate

Gas Safety regulations are there for your safety and of those around you. Having a Gas Safety inspection for your gas appliances is essential. Whether you’re a homeowner, landlord, or tenant - it’s important that you understand the importance of having your appliances checked. 

If you have any questions about a Gas Safety Certificate or how to schedule an appointment with a Gas Safe registered engineer - drop us a message through our live chat and we’ll happily answer any questions you may have.