Gas Safety Certificate: What It Is and Why You Need One

Back in 1998 a change was brought in as part of The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations that affected landlords and the rental market. It was brought into law that landlords as part of their obligations to their tenants would need to ensure that any gas appliances at the property were checked and approved safe for use on an annual basis.

This was brought in to mainly protect tenants as well as other people who might become affected from issues like, carbon monoxide poisoning, fire and even explosions.

As a landlord you have an obligation to make the property you are letting out safe and in line with the latest regulations set out by the government. Failure to abide by these obligations can have severe repercussions for yourself and your tenants. In order to fulfil these obligations, you need to have a qualified gas engineer inspect your gas appliances at your property and if all is safe and ok, they will issue you with a document called a Gas Safety Certificate.

Whether you rent just one property or have aspirations to rent many, you need to realise that a Gas Safety Certificate isn’t just a piece of paper, it’s a legal requirement. We have put this short guide together to give you all you need to know about the certificate, the process and the consequences if you don’t fulfil your landlord obligations to have one in place.

Read on to find all you need to know.

What is a Gas Safety Certificate?

A Gas Safety Certificate is an official document confirming that all gas appliances, fittings, and flues in a rental property have been inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer and deemed safe for use.

It ensures that gas boilers, ovens, fireplaces, and any other gas-powered appliances are functioning correctly, reducing the risk of carbon monoxide leaks, gas leaks, or even explosions.

Previously, it was issued to the landlord in the form of a paper form with a list of the appliances checked, their condition recorded, and the date of check shown. Now with the digitalisation of information, certificates now exist mainly in digital format and are stored in a centra database available to the public for a small fee.

As the landlord you also should be provided with a certificate, often in digital format from the engineer when they have completed the check and deemed the appliances safe and fit for use. The landlord should receive the document as soon as the check is completed and you then have an obligation to share with your tenant within 28 days.

Why is it important to have a Gas Safety Certificate?

Gas safety isn’t just about ticking boxes, it’s about protecting the lives of tenants and other persons in the proximity. Alongside the tenant who wishes to live in a safe property, the landlord would not want to be responsible for any loss of life or injury caused by their lack of attention or from being unaware of any faulty appliances. Whilst other incidents can occur, its important to minimise risks wherever possible and this helps accomplish that with the gas appliances at the property.

Faulty gas appliances can lead to serious health risks, including:

✔ Carbon monoxide poisoning – A silent killer that can cause dizziness, nausea, and even death.
✔ Gas leaks – A potential fire and explosion hazard.
✔ Legal penalties – Failing to comply can result in fines, invalid insurance claims, or even a prison sentence.

Who provides a Gas Safety Certificate?

Only Gas Safe registered engineers can carry out the necessary checks and issue a Gas Safety Certificate. When booking an inspection, make sure the engineer carries a Gas Safe ID card—this proves they are certified and qualified to inspect gas appliances safely.

It is vitally important that you ensure your gas safety check is completed by a correctly qualified person who has their credentials up to date. Gas safety engineers have period reviews and checks and must renew annually to ensure that they are compliant and authorised to work with gas.

It is worth noting that each year at renewal the gas engineer is issued with a new license number so if you were to be given the same number at a compliance check one year apart, then the license might no longer be valid.

The obligation is on the landlord to ensure their property is safe for rental so you must ensure your gas safety certificate is valid and completed by a registered and authorised engineer.

You can find a registered engineer via the Gas Safe Register (www.gassaferegister.co.uk).

What happens if you don’t have a Gas Safety Certificate?

If you rent out a property without a valid Gas Safety Certificate, you could face:

🚨 Fines of up to £6,000 per breach
🚨 Up to six months in prison
🚨 Legal action if a tenant is harmed due to unsafe gas appliances
🚨 Voided landlord insurance policies

Worst of all, you could be putting lives at risk.

The cost of a certificate, as well as being the right thing to do, is far less than any of the consequences that could happen from failure to arrange.

How often do you need a Gas Safety Check?

Landlords must arrange a gas safety check every 12 months and provide tenants with a copy of the certificate within 28 days of the inspection. For new tenants, a copy must be provided before they move in.

The gas safety check can be arranged up to two months before the expiry date of the previous certificate and it would still be valid for the full 12 months. For example, if your gas safety certificate was due to expire on 1st March. Then you could book a gas safe engineer to the property to inspect and issue a new certificate for the property anytime in January or February, and the next renewal date would still be the 1st March in the following year.

This helps ensure that landlords don’t leave it too late by trying to maximise the full twelve months only to struggle to find an available engineer in the final days of the certificate. Whilst you can have the check performed up to two months before the expiry date there is no allowance for performing the check later than the expiry so its important that you don't leave it too late.

Where can I check if the property has a Gas Safety Certificate?

The status of a property can be found on the Gas Safe Register as you can with checking if your engineer is authorised. Simply enter the property number and post code into the search and it will list the current certificates at the property. If you required a copy of the certificate, this can be downloaded for a small fee from the site.

Checks can be conducted by clicking on the link Gas Safety Certificates & Records - Gas Safe Register

If you are Moove landlord and use our digital services, you will be able to store certificates (and other documents) for your property online and receive helpful reminders when certificates are due to expire, ensuring that you stay up to date and more importantly compliant. Also if the rules change, then we will inform you with your new obligations to ensure you don’t get caught out. All saved documents are accessible by your tenants and we will inform them when new documents are uploaded so you don't have to.

Can I do anything further to ensure the safety of my Tenants?

Whilst a gas safety check will determine if the appliances are fit for purpose and can be used at the property, there is more you can do. Some gas safe engineers can also conduct servicing on gas appliances to ensure the appliances are also working to a high standard.

Whilst a check will last for 12 months, an appliance can fail at any time and an incident could still occur. Regular servicing alongside checks will help minimise the risk of that happening.

Alongside servicing its vital that the property has the proper smoke, fire and carbon monoxide alarms installed so if the worst was to happen, anyone in the property could be alerted immediately and leave the property until the proper checks have been carried out.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Why use Moove?

At Moove, we believe in empowering landlords and tenants with the right knowledge to manage their properties safely and efficiently. A Gas Safety Certificate is a non-negotiable part of renting out a home, so if you haven’t had your check yet, now’s the time to book it!

We can help landlords and tenants enjoy safe, compliant lettings by using our digital “MyMoove” account for self-management that easier. Or if you want to remove all the hassle of property management letting, then let us do it for you. Our fully managed service is a cost-effective way to earn money from property whilst staying compliant and minimising risk. We save landlords using traditional letting agents on average over 60% of their monthly charge whilst still offering all the services and more.

Our trades directory also has a growing list of gas safety engineers as well as other trades like electricians, all independently reviewed by other landlords to ensure you can use them with confidence.

Got questions about renting out your property or want to find out about our letting products? We’ve got the tools to help. Get in touch today at www.moove.house.

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