Gas Safety Certificate Replacement - How to Get One
If your gas safety certificate has been lost or stolen, you'll need a new one as quickly as you can. This doesn't have to be a costly process.
Landlords must obtain gas safety certificates (CP12) for each of their properties and renew it after the current one expires. Failure to follow through could result in severe fines.
What is a Gas Safety Certificate?
A gas safety certificate is the official paperwork that is provided to homeowners and landlords after an Gas Safe registered engineer has examined their home's gas appliances and installations. It is crucial for both legal and health reasons.
A Gas Safety Certificate will usually be a standardised black and yellow form that will contain the date of the inspection, the engineer's details and the address of the property and information about any issues that were discovered or repairs made. It will also include the gas appliances and installations that were inspected and note whether they passed or failed safety checks.
The certificate will show whether any installations or appliances are rated as either AR (at risk) or ID (immediate threat) and will inform that they need to be fixed or changed immediately. The certificate will also list any appliances deemed NCS (not in compliance with current standards) and state that they should be replaced with newer models immediately.
Landlords who require a Gas Safety Certificate replacement should seek out a professional in gas safety as soon as they can. The sooner they contact a professional in gas safety, the more likely it is that they will be able get their new certificate before the old one expires. Gas Safety Certificates expire, and can result in fines or even imprisonment. It is recommended to obtain a new certificate before the expiration date of the previous one.
Before putting their home on the market homeowners who wish to sell their property should ensure that they have a Gas Safety Certificate. This will help to make buyers feel at ease regarding the safety of the home's gas appliances and installations and may also entice them to purchase the property.
It is not mandatory to carry a Gas Safety Certificate, but it is highly recommended. It will give peace of mind and aid to spot any issues early, which can help ensure the safety of your family and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Who is in need of an official certificate of gas safety?
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 ensures that the landlord has taken measures to keep their property safe for tenants and minimizes the chance of an accident or fire caused by poorly maintained gas appliances. Landlords without an approved gas certificate can be penalized with fines or even criminal charges. It is crucial that they arrange for the replacement of their CP12 immediately.
The CP12 will not only ensure that all appliances are safe to use, but it will also identify which are unfit for purpose and, therefore, risky. The CP12 will highlight any appliances that aren't fit to use. They will be identified with an ID code, AR, or NCS. This means that they need to be replaced immediately or risk immediate danger. The engineer will also ask permission to disconnect any appliances that they deem unsafe, should they be required to do so.
Gas engineers, gas fitters and installers have to renew their CP12 every year to continue working legally. In reality, if a non-compliant landlord is discovered and charged with a crime, they could be prosecuted for letting their property out without a valid CP12.
If the original certificate is lost or missing, a replacement CP12 is required. If the engineer who issued the original certificate is still on the Gas Safe Register, they should be able to locate the document of the inspection and issue a duplicate CP12 certificate. If not, the gas engineer can search the Gas Safe Register using the property address and date of inspection to locate the correct record.
If you are planning to sell their home having the presence of a valid gas safety certification can increase the likelihood of a speedy sale. This is because potential buyers will be reassured that the property has been properly checked and that all gas appliances are safe.
How do you obtain a gas safety certification?
If you are a landlord, there are several ways to obtain an official gas safety certificate. You can either use a company that specializes in issuance of them or call your local gas engineer to visit and inspect your appliances. You will receive a copy their certificate once they've completed the inspection. You should also give your tenants a copy the certificate, either within 28-days of the inspection or when they begin their lease.
Check that the engineers performing these inspections are Gas Safe registered and can show you their ID when they visit your house. They will make sure there aren't any leaks in the pipes and that the flues and chimneys aren't blocked to prevent dangerous carbon monoxide build-up. They will also ensure that the gas appliances work correctly and that the ventilation is not blocked.
A gas safety certificate is a vital document for any landlord, and it must be kept in a safe place for future reference. The landlord may use it in many different situations for example, when selling the property, to prove that they have a warranty in the event of a disaster or to avoid legal issues.
To avoid legal issues, a duplicate of the original document should be made immediately in case it gets lost or destroyed. A duplicate can be either an actual copy or a digital copy and it should be kept in a secure place for safe keeping.
There is no grace period for obtaining the gas safety certificate, so you must renew your certificate prior to the expiry date. You could be fined or even jailed if you fail to renew your gas safety certificate.
Some landlords are having difficulty accessing their properties to conduct the annual gas safety inspections. If you have tenants who are unwilling to allow you access, consider sending them a strongly worded letter informing them why the inspections are required. This can often convince them to allow you in. If it is not the case, you may begin the process of eviction by serving them with a Section 21 notice.
How much does a gas safety certificate cost?
The cost of a gas certificate safety is based on a variety of factors that include the type and quantity of appliances present in the home, the location and the engineer's fee. Typically, the higher the amount of appliances in the house the more expensive the inspection will be. However, landlords are able to get discounts and offers on these services when they shop around and compare prices. It is also beneficial to consider getting estimates from several engineers prior to making an investment.
The main objective is to verify the safety of all gas appliances and pipes in a building. The engineer will perform several tests. These will include checking that gas appliances are installed correctly, making sure there is adequate ventilation and testing the flues to ensure that harmful gases are not being released into the property and ensuring that there are no dangerous leaks in the 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 ensure that tenants reside in a secure, comfortable residence. A CP12 certificate of gas safety, or landlord gas record, proves that regular inspections are completed. It will also detail the results of tests that were conducted on each gas appliance in the property. The CP12 will also list any actions the engineer took as a result of the inspection as well as the name and registration number of the engineer who carried out the test.
It is recommended that a gas safety check is required prior to any new tenants are allowed to move into the property, however it is not always possible. In these cases, it is best to to plan the inspection at least one week before the date when the current inspection expires. This will allow you to avoid any additional costs for an emergency or last-minute inspection.
You might also look into a service agreement which combines gas safety inspections and boiler maintenance into a single easy package. They are generally more expensive than organizing the two services separately, however they could save landlords money in the long in the long run by cutting down on the annual maintenance expenses.