Landlords Gas Safety Certificate Cost

As a landlord, you have some sense of financial security in the property you manage. However, with the ownership comes responsibilities – the rules and regulations you should observe to adhere to the gas safety standards. Part of these rules include obtaining a Landlord Gas Safety Certificate. Fortunately, many landlords know of their responsibility in this.

However, what is confusing for most is how much they should be paying for the annual gas safety checks. With such price variations, it’s expected that you’d come to us in search of clarity in the matter.

And as such, we’ve compiled a short guide detailing everything you need to know about landlord gas safety certificates. The guide covers everything from average costs to discounts, frequency of safety gas checks, and what the certificate includes.

Landlords’ gas safety certificate – what is it?

It is essentially a report that lists the checks conducted annually for gas safety. Yes, landlords are required to have all gas appliances in their property regularly serviced to ensure they are safe and working efficiently. Also, the certificate is a requirement by the law under the Gas Safety Regulations 1998. This law takes precedence to all types of tenancy agreements. As a landlord, you cannot pass or dismiss the responsibility.

The certificate requires that all gas appliances, flues, and fittings provided for tenants be checked by Gas Safe engineers in the past year. The certificate is also called the CP12 Certificate (CORGI Proforma 12). The CORGI came up with the name in the years it was responsible for ensuring gas safety in properties in the UK.

Today, the Gas Safe Register is in charge of issuing the certificate. But even then, some people still call it the CP12 Certificate.

Now, once the gas safety inspection is done, you’ll be issued with your Landlords’ gas safety certificate. You are required to give your tenants a copy of the certificate within 28 days of issuance and every new tenant when they move into your property.

An even though you need a new gas safety certificate every 12 months, it’s essential to keep a record of the old certificates as well (at least two years old) to demonstrate compliance if the need to do so arises.

If your tenants purchase new gas appliances, you are only obligated to conduct a check for the pipework that feeds them. However, it’s courteous to include them in the annual check as well. Moreover, it’s wise to teach your tenants how they will turn off the gas at the mains and what they should do if there was a gas-related emergency. And lastly, you should tell them who the property gas supplier is.

NB: you will only get a legal landlords’ gas safety certificate when a registered Gas Safe engineer conducts the check.

What should a gas safety inspection look like?

Every gas safety check should include inspecting the appliance and equipment using gas. This consists of the gas boiler and gas supply. Also, the inspection should include;

• Checking the gas appliances for required tightness and safety as per the regulations
• Ensuring there’s enough ventilation in the rooms
• Checking the burner as well as gas pressures against recommended figures
• Inspect the flue flow for the expulsion of poisonous gases
• Monitoring working and standby gas pressure
• Inspect safety devices and ensure they are working as intended

How much does the landlords’ gas safety certificate cost?

A quick Google search will provide you with hundreds of results listing companies offering gas safety checks and a certificate for between £40 and £45. Unfortunately, these companies will also charge you extra for each appliance inspected and charge a premium for remedial work.

To protect yourself against such unexpected extra costs, we recommend that you research patiently and get multiple quotes along with a detailed breakdown of their service costs.

What affects the price of the landlords’ gas safety certificate?

As mentioned above, some companies charge extra fees for appliances not covered in their initial quote. And in some instances, remedial work is necessary to ensure the gas appliances conform to current rules and regulations. The remedial work adds to the extra costs.

Discounts for multiple properties

For landlords with many properties, getting the CP12 certificate can cost a fortune. Because of this, some registered Gas Safety engineers offer discounts for multiple properties. However, in most cases, you have to be proactive and inquire about it.

Are carbon dioxide detectors necessary?

This is a question many landlords have. Though it may seem like an optional device, it is a requirement during a gas safety inspection. The carbon monoxide detectors should be installed in all rooms, especially in those the tenants will be sleeping in and those that have fireplaces.

Is it illegal not to have a landlords’ gas safety certificate?

Yes, it is. As a landlord, the law dictates that a gas inspection should be conducted every 12 months. Without the inspection and the certificate, the property should not be let. And more to this, not adhering to the set rules and regulations is an offence under UK law. When found guilty of negligence or ignorance, the penalty includes imprisonment and or a fine.

The consequences that apply are as follows:

• Fines as high as £6,000.
• Imprisonment for six months.
• A court action from your tenant suing for civil damages.
• Invalid insurance.
• Manslaughter charges in case your tenant dies because of unsafe or poorly maintained gas systems or appliances.

Tenant gas safety responsibilities

On the other hand, tenants also have the responsibility for monitoring the gas systems. At the very least, tenants should know the gas safety rules when dealing with gas appliances. Tenants should use the gas systems if they know the systems haven’t been serviced for a while. They should also only use gas appliances for their intended purposes. For instance, they shouldn’t use a gas oven to heat a room. According to the law, appliance misuse is illegal, and the tenant will be held responsible for any damages sustained as a result.

The tenant should also allow Gas Safe engineers access to the property during inspections. And if there’s a gas malfunction of a gas emergency, the tenant should:

• Shut down the gas appliance immediately.
• Open the windows and doors.
• Shut off the gas supply from the mains.
• Leave the property.
• Call the National Gas Emergency number: 0800111999
• Contact the landlord explaining the situation.

And there you have it – your gas safety certificate questions answered. Now all that’s left is to act on the information. Get in touch with us for free gas safety check quotations. We offer three free quotations from registered Gas Safe engineers.