Gas safety certificates explained

As a homeowner, there is no legal requirement for you to have an up-to-date gas safe certificate. Such legislation applies specifically to landlords, who must ensure that their property possesses the correct documentation and proof that all appliances are gas safe, and serves to protect tenants from unsafe environments.

With that said, there are advantages to having a gas safety certificate for your property. For example, when selling your house it is possible that potential buyers may ask for proof of your system’s safety, which can be quickly shown with a certificate. Although it is unlikely that this would affect a sale, there is always a chance that it could reduce interest in your property. Given that many boiler manufacturers require annual checks to ensure warranties remain valid, it doesn’t take a great deal of effort to get a certificate for your personal records.

If you don’t currently have a gas safety certificate, you’ll need to arrange a check-up of your boiler and gas appliances with a Gas Safe registered engineer. Most boilers require an annual check to ensure their warranty remains intact, so if this is already scheduled you can save money by waiting until that time. Otherwise, you can arrange a one-off service and can still obtain a certificate.

When your engineer performs the check, you can request a certificate to be provided once the work has been properly carried out. We recommend requesting this ahead of time to ensure the engineer is prepared to provide the LGSR.

Although not an essential or legal requirement as a homeowner, having a gas safety certificate provides you with the necessary documentation to show your system’s efficacy, which can be helpful for the sale of a property, for proof of warranty, or for your peace of mind.

If you’re considering letting the property, then having this certificate ahead of time is a must, making it beneficial to consistently renew your certificate.