Gas Safety Certifications
What is a Landlord (CP12) Gas Safety Certificate?
It is a legal requirement for all landlords to have a valid, in date landlord gas safety certificate for each of their rented properties. All gas appliances should be tested on a 12 monthly basis. This work must be completed by a qualified gas safe engineer. If poorly installed and maintained, gas appliances can be hazardous, which is why it’s critical they are checked annually. The penalty for renting a property without a gas safety check may include a substantial fine and/or imprisonment.
Gas safety check? CP12? What’s the difference?
CP12 stands for CORGI Proforma 12. Between 1991 and 2009, CORGI (Council for Registered Gas Installers) operated as the official regulatory body for UK gas safety. However, on 1st April 2009, the Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI and the document began being referred to as the Landlord Gas Safety Certificate or Gas Safety Record.
Who can issue a gas safety certificate?
Only engineers registered with Gas Safe can carry out gas safety inspections and issue CP12 certificates. You can check that a gas engineer is registered by searching for them on the Gas Safe website. They should also have a Gas Safe registration card, which you can ask to see. On the back, it will tell you which areas of gas they’re qualified to work in.
What does a gas safety check involve?
Gas safety checks should be carried out on any boilers, ovens, pipework, flues, chimneys and other fixtures and fittings that burn or exhaust gas. Aspects to be considered are:
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Are appliances operating at the correct pressure?
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Is proper burning of gas occurring?
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Are safety devices on appliances are working as they should?
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Is there adequate air supply to appliances?
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Are flues/chimneys clear so gases/fumes can be safely discharged?
Once the inspection has been carried out, our engineer will issue your CP12 certificate, which will contain the following information:
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Name, ID number and signature of the Gas Safe registered engineer
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Date of gas safety inspection
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Name and address of the landlord or letting agent
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Property address
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Location and info about each of the gas appliances and flues
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Any problems and the follow-up action required to resolve them
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Confirmation from the engineer that the check was completed properly, in compliance with legislation
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Date of the next scheduled gas safety check (usually 12 months from the date of issue)
If you have new tenants moving into a property, it’s recommended that you book a gas safety check before they do so. New tenants are entitled to receive a copy of the CP12 gas certificate before they move in. You are also required to provide a copy of the gas safety certificate for existing tenants, within 28 days of its issue.
How long does a gas safety check take?
Gas safety checks should take between 20 and 30 minutes to complete. The more gas appliances that need checking, the longer it’ll take. If any urgent repairs are required, it may take a longer.
To minimise the time it takes, ensure our gas engineer has access to all gas appliances. It is a good idea to check there is enough credit on any prepay gas meters.