How to Get a Gas Certificate For Your London Property
If you own a home or rent out a property in London, you are probably aware that you must have a gas safety certificate. It is necessary to protect you and your tenants. It can seem overwhelming to understand what you need and how to do it.
The first step is to find a credible gas certificate provider. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations of 1998 govern gas installation and safety in the UK, and require that a minimum level of gas safety be maintained. The regulations require an annual inspection, a copy the certificate and evidence of maintenance. Failure to follow the regulations could result in fines up to £20,000 and legal action for tenants who discover you lie to them about gas appliance safety.
The most important point to remember is that your gas appliances need to be safe, or else your tenants or family members could suffer serious injury or even death. The good news is that with a little effort and a little bit of time, you can get a gas safety certificate that will keep your tenants safe and ensure that your pipes and flues are in top notch condition.
Reputable engineers are those who have been registered on the Gas Safe Register. They provide the best certificates for gas safety. The Gas Safe Register is the UK’s regulator of gas engineers and it can help you identify qualified people. After you find an engineer they will do all the hard work and inspect your boiler, gas heater, and water heater.
It should also be noted that a yearly inspection of your property is recommended, but even if you aren’t renting it out, it is worth considering. This will allow you to catch small leaks before they become major headaches. This is a great way to ensure that your boiler warranty remains in force.
It is worthwhile to take the time to obtain the appropriate certifications in order to show that your compliance is evident, even if you do not want to risk the expense of costly repairs. For example, some home insurance policies will require you to show that you have a gas safety certificate before you can take out a policy.
The most valuable thing about a gas safety certificate are not its test results but the results from an extensive inspection of gas pipes and flues. This should include checking your vents and other ancillary features, such as a flue cap. It is also wise to have a copy of the certificate on hand in case your tenant needs to check on the status of your gas installation.