Many people in the UK don’t actually realise that it is their responsibility to ensure that their Gas Safe certificate is up to date on their boilers. Failure to do so is a criminal offence and can carry with it some hefty fines.
There’s some grey area in whose responsibility it is to ensure the Gas Safe certificate is up to date between a tenant and a landlord on the rental market.
For good practice though, if you notice that your Gas Safe certificate has run out as a tenant, then you ought to inform your landlord straight away so they can rectify it. If you’re a homeowner though, responsibility falls squarely on your shoulders.
So, what do you need to do?
How To Know If Your Boiler Isn’t Registered With Gas Safe
Why register your new boiler?
Once you are happy with your new boiler installation, the boiler must be registered in order to start the warranty period. Your heating engineer should register the boiler for you once the installation is complete.
Approximately 1-3 weeks after installation, you will receive the building regulations compliance certificate and other paperwork, confirming the completed installation was carried out by a gas safe registered company.
It is important that your boiler is registered within 3 months of installation.
How often must a boiler be checked?
By law, a boiler is required to be checked and given a renewed Gas Safe certificate every 12 months.
Who can check your gas boiler?
It is vital that this check is carried out by a Gas Safe Registered Engineer to ensure the maintenance of your appliance. It is important to remember that a standard plumber may not be Gas Registered and is not qualified to service or undertake any work on a gas combi boiler.
If you are unsure if a plumber or engineer is registered with gas safe, you can check the Gas Safe Register website by searching their name or company, or you can simply ask them before you arrange an appointment.
It is illegal for an unregistered person to work on a domestic gas appliance without the appropriate certification.
Homeowners may be lucky, as the company providing your Gas and Electric, such as British Gas, may have the annual service as part of your tariff. An engineer will visit your home and carry out necessary checks.
How much does it cost to have my boiler checked and certificate awarded?
Unfortunately, there is some discrepancy here that may be frustrating to new homeowners.
Generally, registering on the Gas Safe Register for the first time will cost an individual around £347 plus VAT in order to have the initial inspection carried out and for you to be automatically added to the Gas Safe Register so you receive your yearly reminder to renew your Gas Safe certificate.
A renewal should cost on average around £60. This will be a yearly expense, but it’s much cheaper than having to pay the fines associated with using a boiler that does not have the proper Gas Safe certificate.
As a side note here just to be clear, it is usually the landlord’s job to pay these fees in rented accommodation as they are legally bound to ensure that the property is safe in relation to the safety of the appliance.
Failing to renew the Gas Safety certificate would be viewed as a breach of their legal obligation and thus they ought to pay for the cost of renewal/registration.
The tenant should not have to pay.
How do I renew my gas safe certificate?
If you are a homeowner (or a landlord for the first time) then you’ll be happy to hear that renewing your Gas Safe certificate is incredibly easy. It can be done online by going to the following link here or else simply typing ‘renew gas safe certificate’ into a search engine and finding the Gas Safe Register website and following the instructions online.
After you have registered with the Gas Safety Register, then an inspection will be carried out by a trained engineer who will ensure that your boiler is both functioning as it should, and functioning in a safe manner.
This will be a yearly occurrence from then on, to ensure that your boiler is still in working order in the future.
Is a boiler service the same as a gas safety check?
It is possible to get confused between the two, but in actual fact they are quite different.
A gas safety check isn’t just for boilers, it can include other gas appliances such as cookers and fires. It confirms that everything is working correctly, including flues and chimneys, the burning of gas, the air supply and boiler pressure.
In a boiler service, the engineer will ensure that the appliance runs safely and efficiently. Both of the inspections work hand in hand with each other, like a car service and MOT.
How about boiler cover?
Having boiler cover usually gives you peace of mind in case your appliance is faulty or breaks down. A boiler cover policy can cover you for boiler servicing, repairs on boilers, plumbing and drainage and central heating problems. The policy may also cover electrical wiring and pests in your home.
Boiler cover policies usually last for 1 year and need to be renewed annually. Depending on your provider, the cover may differ, limiting the time an engineer can spend on a repair, the age of a boiler, and the inability to make a new claim in the waiting period after you take out a new policy.
There are two main types of cover; boiler breakdown cover and full central heating breakdown cover. Boiler cover protects the boiler and it’s controls, whilst central heating breakdown cover covers the full system including radiators and plumbing. It is better to shop around for the best deal, as some covers may include a boiler service free of charge or for a small additional fee.
Your provider can refuse you cover if your boiler is too old or “beyond economical repair”. If this happens, it is time to change your boiler. In general, most types of boilers are covered by boiler cover, such as combi, gas and oil-powered.
Is it really essential that I register with the Gas Safety Register?
Absolutely. As we’ve already mentioned, failure to do so is a criminal offence. Not only could you face fines of up to £6000, but in some cases you might even be faced with a six-month prison sentence.
As you can see, it’s in your best interests to ensure that your Gas Safe certificate is in date.
For homeowners, failing to obtain the annual gas safety check could invalidate the warranty on your combi boiler as well as your house insurance.
Should I be worried?
If you have just moved into a house for the first time and haven’t yet made sure that the boiler has been registered with the Gas Safety Register, then there’s no reason to panic just yet.
It’s an easy thing to forget, the important thing is that you rectify it as soon as you are aware that the Gas Safe certificate is out of date, or that your boiler is not registered with the Gas Safety Register at all.
Responding to the issue quickly will show that it is an honest mistake, and you will not face any further consequences.
Hopefully, the above article has both reassured you and pointed you in the right direction should you require a Gas Safe certificate renewal. Just remember, registering with the Gas Safety Register and remembering your yearly renewal is an important part of being a homeowner or landlord, and knowingly neglecting to keep on top of it could land you in some trouble down the road.
So check your boiler now – and if you need to, register or renew as soon as possible!
What happens if I’m not registered?
The penalties for being unregistered can be pretty hefty. You may be fined up to £6000 and/or possibly be given 6 months in prison. Running a gas boiler that does not have a valid certificate is a criminal offence.
Homeowners most likely only face one fine or sentence, but landlords will receive penalties for each appliance that does not have a valid certificate. Tenants are equally liable and could easily be chaotic if overlooked.
Safety Check Advice for Workplaces
The annual upkeep of a boiler is not only essential for home, but in the workplace too.
The general guidance from the Health and Safety Executive, also known as the HSE, advise on regular safety checks to ensure the boiler installation fits the regulations, maintain the appliance and ensure there is no problem in any aspect of the boiler.
All employers need to comply to ensure the safety of their employees as failure to keep the boiler running in a sufficient way may risk a fire, explosion, gas leak or even Carbon Monoxide poisoning. This will also reduce the risk of business disruptions.
It is important a member of staff from the workplace does not attempt to check the boiler or carry any work out themselves, as it is very dangerous for someone to experiment with an appliance they are not familiar with.
It will immediately void the business insurance and cause unwanted disasters.
What insurance do I need for my limited company?
For most limited companies, Employers’ Liability Insurance is a legal requirement.
This will cover your employees and any other temporary staff member if they experience an accident whilst working on a job at work.
If there is at least one employee within the workplace, a valid Employers’ Liability Insurance Certificate is essential, and you may risk being fined up to £2500 per day without appropriate certification.
