GAS SAFETY CHECKS

LANDLORD, LETTING AGENTS & HOMEOWNERS

LANDLORD/HOMEOWNER: 

We will carry out a Landlord/Homeowner Gas Safety Check and provide the customer with two copies of the written and signed Landlord/Homeowner Gas Safety Record. Our Gas Safety Check is as defined in the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

GAS CERTIFICATES:

At present VSB Plumbing Services issue paper based landlord safety certificates CP12 and Warning notices CP14.

INVOICES:

Invoices are paper based. However a computer generated PDF invoice can be provided.

BOILER INSTALLATION & SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS (USER)

Please provide Make, model, serial number and GC number when communicating with VSB Plumbing Services if possible as this will help a great deal. It is important when arranging a service or repair that you provide the user manual and servicing manual to ensure service and repair is carried out to manufacturer's instructions. We can obtain most manuals (Subject to availability from the manufacturer) for a nominal fee or free if in PDF form.

LANDLORD SAFETY INSPECTION:

Landlord Gas Safety Inspection / Certificate CP12 has to be issued every 12 months annually by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer, as well as before a tenancy starts and on a tenant change. It is a legal document which gives information on the gas appliances and installation at the time of inspection and was working lawfully and within normal parameters.

It is a requirement that all gas appliances owned by the landlord are listed even new appliances. Once a Landlord Gas Safety Inspection / Certificate CP12 has been completed it has to given to the tenant within 28 days of issue or on the start of a tenancy.

As well as A Landlord Gas Safety Inspection / Certificate CP12 it is important to note that landlords have a duty of care towards there appliances to make sure they are regularly maintained and kept in good working order

Landlords, Letting Agents and Homeowners should be aware that a Gas Safety Check is not the same as having an appliance serviced.  

The Gas Safety Check is for gas safety purposes only in accordance with the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. Flues will be inspected visually and checked for satisfactory evacuation of products of combustion. A detailed internal inspection of the flue integrity, construction and lining will not be carried out.      

The Gas Safety Check examines the 4 main safety features for the gas appliances inspected: -      

• Effectiveness of any flue.       
• Supply of combustion air.      
• Operating pressure or heat input, or where necessary, both.  
• Operation so as to ensure the safe functioning of the appliance.   

Whether the property is privately owned or rented as a standard practice during the Gas Safety Check, we also test the soundness of the whole gas system, including the installation pipework, visual inspection of the gas pipework and meter installation in the inspected property.  Other gas engineers may not do so.

• The visual inspections are restricted to what can be accessed and seen without the removal of any materials such as carpets, wall coverings, floorboards, panels etc.         
• We will follow, where possible, the manufacturers operating data contained in the appliance installation instructions or on the name plate inside the appliance cover and we ask all customers to ensure these are available to us before undertaking any work. In the absence of manufacturers instructions we will as appropriate: -       
• Use generic instructions as advised from time to time by Gas Safe Register, and/or       
• Obtain a copy of the instructions from the manufacturer and charge the customer and/or       
• Call the manufacturer telephone help line to obtain the data required and charge the customer.      
• We may ask a customer to pay for a Landlord/Homeowner Gas Safety Record in advance of either the Gas Safety Check itself or in advance of the issue of the Record.         

In issuing Landlord/Homeowner Gas Safety Records, we are legally required to follow the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. This means that when we inspect a customers property, we may identify appliances that are unsafe. We are then legally required to issue a Landlord/Homeowner Gas Safety Record stating that appliances are Unsafe to Use and to issue a Warning Notice.     

Irrespective of whether appliances or installations are found to be safe or unsafe, our charges in relation to the Gas Safety Checks and Reports remain valid and payable in full.  

CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM

• There is no substitute for annual safety checks carried out by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer.  
• For the added safety of your tenants VSB Plumbing Services strongly recommend you fit an officially approved audible carbon monoxide alarm in every property and make certain it is tested monthly and that it complies with EN 50291. It must have a British or European approval mark on it, such as a Kitemark.  
• Carbon monoxide has no odour or visibility, so an audible alarm is the only way to detect harmful levels in the property.  
• If your tenants report that they are suffering from headaches, nausea, chest pains or dizziness, and feel better when away from the property, encourage them to report it to you  
• immediately and seek medical attention.  
• No to DIY  
• If you are letting or renting a property you should never attempt to install or repair a gas appliance yourself in an attempt to save money. This is breaking the law and putting live at serious risk. HSE gives gas safety a high priority and will take the appropriate action to ensure compliance with the regulations.  
• If your tenants suspect a gas appliance isn't working correctly, ask them to turn it off and report it to you immediately so you can contact a Gas Safe Registered Engineer for advice.  
• If ever in doubt, call the National Grid on 0800 111 999.  
• Always use a Gas Safe Registered Engineer. Be gas safe.