How to be gas safe when buying or selling a home

We know moving home can be a stressful time with lots to consider, but safety should be top of the list to ensure you don’t put yourself, or your family, in danger. Heating issues may not be your only problem if your new home’s gas appliances are faulty.

Unsafe appliances can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, gas leaks, fires and explosions, which is why we’d recommend that you get your gas appliances safety checked before you move in.

Remember, only Gas Safe registered engineers can legally undertake gas work at a property, whether it’s on appliances, flues or pipework.

What is a gas safety certificate?

simply put, a gas safety certificate is a common way to talk about building regulation compliance certificates. In England and Wales, local authorities must always be informed when a heat producing appliance (except cookers) is installed in a property, so a building regulations compliance certificate can be issued.

What is a gas safety record?

This is a record of gas safety checks and gas appliance services detailed by the Gas Safe registered engineer that completed the work. Requirements to provide these vary depending on whether you own or rent the property. Learn more about gas safety records with our dedicated resource.

Buying a gas safe home

Although not legally required, it’s good practice for the seller to provide a building regulation compliance certificate. However, always check the issue date as it could be several years old, it also doesn't represent the existing condition of the gas appliance. Homebuyer report or structural survey also might not confirm if the gas appliances in your new property are working safety by default, and you’ll need to check.

If there is any doubt on the safety of the safety of the gas appliances, from either the building regulation certificates, homebuyer or structural survey, always get a Gas Safe registered engineer to complete a safety check and service of the properties gas appliances and flue.

What action should you take?

You’ll want to obtain a building regulation compliance certificate when buying a house. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Ask the current owners for a building regulation compliance certificate and any gas safety records for all gas appliances in the property.
• If they can’t provide a record, or it’s been over 12 months since the last check, get in touch with a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out a gas safety check before you move in.

Selling a gas safe home

Do I need a gas safety certificate to sell my house?

No, you are not legally required to provide a building regulations compliance certificate when selling your home however it is a legal requirement in England and Wales to have one for heat producing gas appliance that have been installed (except for cookers).

It is however good practise to provide a gas safety record or history of gas safety checks and servicing during the sale of your home can provide potential buyers confidence that you, the seller, have looked after the property and that it is in a good state of repair.

However, a building regulations compliance certificate differs from a Gas Safety Record.

I’ve lost my building regulations compliance certificate.

Need a replacement certificate? If the installation was notified by a Gas Safe registered engineer, then you can Order a duplicate certificate through Gas Safe Register.

Click the image below to see the full size infographic.

Useful links

• Gas boiler guide
• Gas fire guide
• Gas cooker and hob guide