Gas Safety Certificate Replacement - How to Get One
You'll need a brand new gas safety certificate as soon as possible if yours has been lost, destroyed or stolen. It doesn't have to be a costly procedure.
Landlords are required to obtain a gas safety certificate (CP12) for each of their properties and renew it when the current one expires. In the event of a non-compliant, it could result in hefty fines.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate is an official document that is given to landlords and homeowners after an Gas Safe registered engineer has examined their home's gas appliances and installations. It is proof that the home's gas equipment is safe to use, and is important to have it for health and legal reasons.
Gas Safety Certificates are typically on a standardised form in black and yellow. They will contain the date, the engineer and the address, as well as any issues or repairs that were discovered. It will also include the gas appliances and their installation that were inspected and note whether they were able to pass or fail safety checks.
The certificate will show the appliances or installations that have been rated as AR (at risk) or ID (immediate threat) and will inform that they should be repaired or replaced immediately. The certificate will also include any appliances that are deemed NCS (not in compliance with current standards) and need to be replaced with better models as soon as possible.
Landlords who require a Gas Safety Certificate replacement should contact a gas safety professional as soon as they can. The earlier they get in touch, the more likely they are to receive their new certificate issued before the expiration date of their old certificate. If a landlord's Gas Safety Certificate expires, they could be at risk of being fined or even imprisoned, which is why it's best to have a new certificate in place before the previous one runs out.
Homeowners who want to sell their home must ensure that they have a valid Gas Safety Certificate before putting it on the market. This will help to put potential buyers' minds at ease about the security of the property's gas appliances and installations, and may also entice them to purchase the property.
A Gas Safety Certificate is not mandatory for homeowner-occupiers to have, but it's certainly recommended. It will give peace of mind and help to spot any issues early on, helping to keep your family safe and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Who is in need of a gas safety certificate?
Landlords are required to have their gas appliances inspected by a registered engineer each 12 months and must provide their tenants with a copy the certificate. This assures that the landlord has taken necessary steps to make the property safe for tenants and minimizes the chance of accidents resulting from poorly maintained appliances. Landlords who do not have a valid gas certificate may face fines or criminal charges. It is therefore important that they arrange for a replacement CP12 immediately.
The CP12 will not only verify that all appliances are safe to use however, it will also identify which are not suitable for use and, therefore, risky. Any appliances that are deemed unsafe to use will be identified with the code ID, AR or NCS, meaning they need to be replaced as soon as possible or face immediate danger. The engineer may also ask permission to remove any appliance that they believe to be unsafe, should they be required to do so.
Gas engineers, gas fitters, and installers must renew their CP12 each year to ensure they are working legally. If the landlord is found to be non-compliant, they may be charged with letting their property without a valid CP12.
A CP12 replacement is also needed if the original certificate has been lost or misplaced. If the original engineer is still on the Gas Safe Register, they should be able locate the report of the inspection and issue an additional CP12 certificate. If not the gas engineer can look up the Gas Safe Register using the address of the property as well as the date of inspection to find the correct record.
For those who are looking to sell their property having a valid gas safety certificate can help to increase the likelihood of a fast sale. Potential buyers will feel more secure knowing that the home was properly examined and all appliances are safe.
How do I get a gas safety certificate?
There are many ways that landlords can obtain a gas safety certification. You can use a service that specialises in providing them, or you can contact your local gas engineer and request for them to come out and inspect your appliances. You will receive a copy of their certificate after they have completed the inspection. It is also recommended to give your tenants a copy the certification, either within 28 days of the date of the inspection or at the time they start their tenure.
Make sure that the technicians performing these inspections are Gas Safe registered and are able to show you their ID card when they visit your house. They will make sure there aren't any leaks within the pipes, and that the flues and chimneys are not blocked to prevent dangerous carbon monoxide build-up. They will also make sure that the gas appliances function correctly and that the ventilation is not blocked.
Gas safety certificates are important documents for landlords, and should be kept for future use. It will help the landlord in many situations including property sales as well as evidence of warranty in the event of any mishap, and to save him from any legal hassles.
If the original document gets destroyed or lost for reasons of any kind, a duplicate must be arranged immediately to avoid legal issues. A duplicate could be physically copied or a digital copy, and should be kept in a secure place for safekeeping.
Gas safety certificates are not subject to any grace period, which is why it is important that you renew them prior to the expiration date. If you do not do this you could be facing hefty fines or even imprisonment.
Some landlords find it difficult to gain access to their homes to conduct the annual gas safety inspections. If you have a tenant who is reluctant to let you in, consider sending them a clearly written letter outlining the reasons why the checks are required. In most cases, this will prompt them to let you to in. If you don't have a Section 21 notice, you may begin the eviction process by delivering it to them.
What is the cost of a gas safety certificate cost ?
The cost of a gas certificate safety depends on a number of factors such as the type and amount of appliances present in the home and the location as well as the engineer's rate. Generally speaking, the greater the number of appliances that are in the house and the larger the house, the more costly the inspection will be. However, landlords are able to get discounts and offers on these services by shopping around and compare prices. It is also beneficial to consider getting quotes from several engineers before making a decision.
A gas safety certificate's main purpose is to confirm the safety of all gas appliances and pipes within a building. The engineer will perform a number of tests. These will include checking that gas appliances are fitted correctly, making sure there is adequate ventilation and testing the flues to ensure that harmful gases are not released into the building, and making sure that there aren't any dangerous leaks in pipes or appliances.
Landlords are required by law to arrange regular gas safety inspections for their rental properties. These checks are an important part of the landlord's responsibility and will ensure that tenants reside in a safe, comfortable house. A CP12 gas safety certificate, also known as a landlord gas safety record, is proof of these regular inspections and will provide the results of any tests conducted on each of the gas appliances that are in the property. The CP12 will detail any actions taken by the engineer in response and the name and registration of the engineer who performed the test.
It is recommended to have a gas safety inspection completed prior to the new tenants moving into the property. However it isn't always feasible. In these cases it is recommended that you schedule the inspection minimum of a week before the expiration date of the current inspection. This will help to avoid any additional charges that may be applied for a last-minute or emergency inspection.
You might also look into a service agreement that combines both gas safety inspections and boiler maintenance into one practical package. They're usually more expensive than scheduling these services separately, however they can save landlords money in the long term by cutting down on the annual maintenance costs.