What is an Annual Gas Safety Check?

An annual gas safety check is a yearly inspection of all gas appliances in a home. If you use gas appliances – which most of us do – it’s a good idea to get them checked by a Gas Safe engineer (an engineer vetted by the Gas Safe Registry). After the check, you’ll receive a Gas Safe certificate that lasts for a year.

What’s included in a gas safety check?

Gas safety checks should cover any gas appliance in a house. This includes boilers, ovens, pipework, flues, chimneys and other fixtures and fittings that burn or exhaust gas.

What does a gas safety check involve?

With each annual inspection, a Gas Safe engineer will look to ensure the following:

• Appliances are working at the correct pressure.
• Appliances are burning gas properly.
• There’s adequate air supply to appliances.
• Flues and chimneys are clear so gases and fumes can safely discharge.
• Safety devices on appliances are working as they should.
• The installation is safe and suitable for the location.

Is a gas safety check the same as a boiler service?

No, a boiler service focuses specifically on the boiler and involves more precise checks for the boiler equipment. During a boiler service, an engineer will inspect and clean each boiler component. As a landlord, you do not legally need to arrange boiler servicing on top of a gas safety check. However, we certainly recommend both to reduce the risk of breakdowns.

Do I need an annual gas safety check?

This depends on whether you are a homeowner, a landlord, or a tenant. As a homeowner, having a gas safety check isn’t a legal requirement, but it is a good idea. All gas appliances pose the risk of producing carbon monoxide – a poisonous gas that can be fatal. Regular gas safety checks by a professional reduce the risk of carbon monoxide leaks by ensuring gas appliances are operating correctly.

Tenants also don’t need to organise a gas safety check – this is the landlord’s responsibility. If you are a tenant, you should request a copy of the Gas Safe certificate to ensure the property has received the proper checks. However, while a landlord is not responsible for any appliances they don’t own; or any appliances owned by tenants, the landlord is still responsible for any pipework or flues that connect to a tenant-owned appliance.

All landlords are legally required to organise an annual gas safety check for their rental properties (Gas Safety Installation and Use Regulations 1998). Failure to arrange a gas safety check could result in a hefty fine and up to six months of jail time. As a landlord, you need a gas safety certificate, otherwise known as an LGSR (Landlord Gas Safety Record), for each property.

What is a landlord gas safety certificate?

The certificate is a document that proves a property is gas safe. It should contain all of the relevant information, including the following:

• What appliances/pipework were tested, and where they’re located.
• The results of the safety checks carried out on the appliances/pipework.
• Any safety issues identified.
• Any remedial work or action required.
• Details of the landlord/letting agency and property address.
• Details of the Gas Safe engineer who completed the inspection, alongside the date of the check and their signature.

Previously, LGSR certificates were known as CP12 or CORGI Performa 12 certificates. This dates back to when CORGI was the main UK body for gas safety and all gas engineers had to be CORGI-registered. In 2009, the Gas Safety Register took over as the official industry body and the CP12 certificate was replaced with the landlord homeowner Gas Safety Record. Some engineers might still refer to the certificate as a CP12. Essentially, they serve the same purpose – to prove a Gas Safe registered engineer has checked a residential property’s gas appliances and flues.

There isn’t one standard gas safety certificate. The document differs from company to company. Regardless, the document must always be issued and renewed once a year by an authorised Gas Safe engineer.

Who can perform gas safety certificate checks?

Only Gas Safe engineers, authorised by the Gas Safe register, can carry out a check. You should refer to the official Gas Safe Registry to find a vetted engineer. Search the engineer’s name to make sure they can legally work on your appliances. You can also ask to check the engineer’s ID. The information on their card will confirm if they’re qualified to inspect your gas appliances. A genuine ID should include:

• The gas engineer’s photo.
• The ID’s start and expiry dates.
• A Gas Safe Register licence number.
• A security hologram.
• Details of the engineer’s employment.
• Qualifications and their issue dates, and the dates they expire.

A legitimate Gas Safe engineer can also provide useful safety tips for your family or tenant, depending on the types of appliances in the house. Safe practices will help reduce the risk of hazards.

How long does a gas safety check take?

A gas safety check usually takes around 30 minutes, but it could take up to an hour. Make sure the boiler and any airing cupboards are clear of clutter, as this could delay the engineer and affect their work.

How much does a gas safety check cost?

The price of a gas safety check isn’t regulated, so it’s useful to receive several quotes and find the best deal out there. We did our own research and found quotes ranging from as little as £30 to almost £150. Some companies charge a set fee for one appliance, i.e. a gas boiler and then additional charges for multiple appliances.

As an extra tip, we recommend booking your annual gas safety check during summertime. Finding a Gas Safe engineer in winter is difficult unless you’ve booked well in advance. Engineers tend to be available more in the summer, and winter is often their busiest time. You’re also more likely to find discounts or a favourable package deal if you book during the warmer months.

Certain homeowners are eligible for a free gas safety check – check with your energy supplier if you think you could qualify.

If you have insurance, you might be able to get a free gas safety check. Landlord boiler cover may come with a gas safety check included. Boiler cover is a form of insurance that protects you financially should the boiler encounter a fault. The insurance typically covers repairs and maintenance, helping landlords avoid sudden costs.

What if remedial work is required?

Your gas engineer will issue you with your Landlord Gas Safety Record (LGSR) on completion of the inspection. You will still receive a Gas Safe certificate, even if there are safety concerns and necessary remedial work. Engineers tend to use the following codes in a gas safety certificate to show there’s a problem:

• Immediately Dangerous (ID) – An appliance is an immediate danger to any residents. You should resolve the fault as soon as possible. The engineer will likely disconnect the gas supply to any appliance deemed ID.
• At Risk (AR) – An appliance suffers from faults and could become more problematic over time. As with any ID appliance, the gas engineer will probably disconnect the gas supply until the appliance is repaired or replaced.
• Not to Current Standards (NCS) – An appliance is outdated but safe to use. You should seriously consider replacing the appliance as it may be deemed risky or encounter faults in the near future.

Once you take follow-up action to resolve the safety issues, you can supplement your gas safety record with the necessary updates. You must legally remedy any safety concerns raised by a Gas Safe engineer. If the engineer deems an appliance dangerous but can’t repair it on the day, no one should use it until it’s fixed. It is the landlord’s legal responsibility to ensure nobody uses the appliance until it’s repaired or replaced.

Get an annual gas safety check hassle-free with Hometree

All Hometree landlord insurance packages come with your annual gas safety check included. You won’t have to worry about organising your Gas Safe certificate or LGSR – Hometree deals with it on your behalf, and checks for these certificates come as standard. No claims in your first year? Your second-year price follows inflation but, since the inflation rate is 10.1% in the UK at the moment, our no price hike promise caps the rate at 5%.

With a 24/7 helpline, you’re never too far from help should your boiler encounter a fault. That’s not to mention unlimited call-outs and claims. After all, why should you be charged more if your boiler plays up? We’re happy to chat with you or your tenants, no matter the time of day, to help you find a swift resolution. Get a quote for Hometree’s landlord boiler cover insurance, so you and your tenants can enjoy the property trouble-free.