Do you need a Gas Safety Certificate in Eastbourne?
If you receive payment in exchange for providing accomodation, (Whether it's a complete property, or your spare room to a friend?) you are considered a landlord and you will need an annual Gas Safety Inspection carried out by a Gas Safe registered plumber.
Exclusive Trades carries out professional fixed price gas safety inspections in Eastbourne for £187.
Gas Safety Certificates in Eastbourne and selected local areas
Exclusive Trades provides Gas Safety Certificates and Gas Safety Inspections in Eastbourne, including Langney, Langney Point, Shinewater, Hampden Park, Willingdon Trees, Ratton and Meads.
By only working in the Eastbourne area we are able to provide our clients with a punctual and efficient service.
The certificate is not the real product. The inspection is.
There are companies that advertise very cheap Gas Safety Certificates. A low price does not automatically mean a poor job, but it does raise a fair question: how much time is being allowed to check the property properly?
In the trade, rushed inspections are sometimes jokingly called Drive-by Gas Safety Checks
. They get their name bacuse the plumber is in and out quickly, gives the obvious things a glance, takes a quick reading, issues the certificate and moves on to the next job.
That may satisfy someone who only wants a certificate, but it is not how Exclusive Trades works.
At Exclusive Trades we charge a fixed price of £187 to ensure we have sufficient time to carry out a careful and thorough gas safety inspection.
With Exclusive Trades you are not paying for a certificate, you are paying for the work that goes in to it.
What should be checked during a Gas Safety Inspection?
The exact checks depend on the property, the appliance type and the installation, but a proper Gas Safety Inspection is far more than a quick look around. During the visit, the engineer may need to:
- Check that the gas supply to the property can be safely turned off.
- Test the gas installation for leaks from the test point at the gas meter.
- Check the operating pressure at relevant gas appliances, such as a gas cooker.
- Use suitable testing methods to check that a chimney or flue serving a gas fire is working correctly.
- Inspect appliances for obvious signs of leaks, damage, deterioration or unsafe operation.
- Check ventilation requirements where an appliance takes air from the room.
- Use combustion testing equipment where appropriate.
- Record the findings clearly on the Gas Safety Record.
A Gas Safety Inspection is not the same as a boiler service, although many people choose to have both carried out at the same appointment.
What I need before I can complete the certificate
To carry out the inspection properly, I need access to the gas meter, appliances and any relevant controls. Please check these points before the appointment:
- If your property has a pre-payment gas meter, it must have gas credit available.
- If your gas meter is buried at the back of a shed, under storage, or inside a crowded cupboard, it will need to be cleared so I can access it.
- If any gas appliance is broken or cannot be operated safely, it will need repairing before it can be tested. Repairs are not included in the fixed price Gas Safety Inspection.
What are the risks of treating it as “just a certificate”?
The purpose of a gas safety inspection is to check whether the gas installation and gas appliances are safe at the time of the inspection. The paperwork is the record of that inspection; it should not be treated as the only thing that matters.
If the pipework is not properly tested at the gas meter, a small gas leak could be missed. If appliances are not visually inspected, leaks, corrosion or deterioration may go unnoticed. If cooking appliances or flues are not checked properly, safety issues can be missed.
Carbon monoxide can affect people and pets. You cannot rely on smell because carbon monoxide has no smell, colour or taste. That is why a proper inspection, suitable carbon monoxide alarms and regular maintenance all matter.
Why does Exclusive Trades charge £187?
£187
Fixed price Gas Safety Inspection / Certificate in Eastbourne.
Carrying out a Gas Safety Inspection properly takes time. The legal requirements set the minimum standard, but I prefer to allow enough time to check the property carefully and explain anything that needs attention.
I am not trying to be the cheapest company in Eastbourne. My service is for homeowners, landlords and letting agents who want the inspection done properly, with clear communication and no corners cut. Over 12 months, £187 works out at less than 52p per day. Can you think of a better use for 52pence today?
*The fixed price covers the Gas Safety Inspection / Certificate. Boiler servicing, repairs, parts or remedial work are not included unless agreed separately.
Why are some Gas Safety Certificates so cheap?
Some businesses use low-priced Gas Safety Certificates as a way to win new customers. There is nothing wrong with a fair price, and a cheaper engineer may still carry out a proper inspection. The issue is whether enough time is being allowed for the job.
If a company is offering very low prices and booking several inspections back-to-back, you should ask what is actually included, how long the visit is expected to take, and whether all relevant appliances, flues, ventilation and pipework will be checked properly.
| Cheap certificate mindset | Proper safety inspection mindset |
|---|---|
| “I just need the paperwork.” | “I want the property checked properly.” |
| The certificate is treated as the product. | The inspection is the product; the certificate is the record. |
| Price is the main concern. | Safety, compliance and responsibility matter. |
| The visit may be rushed if the price is too low. | Enough time is allowed for proper checks and clear notes. |
How do you know whether an engineer is properly qualified?
A Gas Safety Record should only be issued by someone who is on the Gas Safe Register and has the relevant qualifications for your appliances and gas type. Being Gas Safe registered does not automatically mean an engineer is qualified for every appliance.
For example, an engineer may be qualified for pipework but not cookers, fires or boilers. A gas fire, boiler, cooker, water heater or LPG installation can each require the right category of competence. You can check an engineer’s registration and qualifications on the Gas Safe Register website.
Exclusive Trades works on suitable natural gas domestic installations in the Eastbourne area, including relevant boilers, cookers, fires, water heaters and pipework. I do not currently carry out LPG gas safety inspections at this time.
Should homeowners get a gas safety inspection too?
Although a landlord Gas Safety Record is aimed at rented properties, homeowners can still book a gas safety inspection. If you own and live in your property, a gas safety inspection can give you reassurance that your appliances, flues and pipework have been checked by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
This can be especially useful if you have recently moved home, inherited a property, have older appliances, have not had anything checked for a while, or simply want peace of mind.
What do landlords and letting agents need to give tenants?
HSE guidance says existing tenants must be given a copy of the gas safety check record within 28 days of the check being completed, and new tenants must be given a copy before they move in. Landlords must also keep the record for at least two years.
When Exclusive Trades carries out a Gas Safety Inspection, I use an app on an iPad so the certificate can usually be emailed straight away to you and, where appropriate, your tenant or letting agent.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Gas Safety Certificate if I rent out a room?
If you rent out a room or provide accommodation under a tenancy or licence, you may have landlord gas safety responsibilities. If in doubt, take advice and do not assume the rules only apply to full rental properties.
Is it called a Gas Safety Certificate, CP12 or Landlord Gas Safety Record?
Customers often search for Gas Safety Certificate or CP12. Gas Safe Register explains that the only documentation required by law is a Landlord Gas Safety Record, which details the checks carried out.
How much does a Gas Safety Certificate cost with Exclusive Trades?
The service is a fixed price of £187 for a proper Gas Safety Inspection / Certificate in Eastbourne and selected Eastbourne areas.
What areas do you cover?
I work in Eastbourne, Langney, Langney Point, Shinewater, Hampden Park, Willingdon Trees, Ratton and Meads. I generally avoid working as far out as Polegate.
Is a Gas Safety Inspection the same as a boiler service?
No. A Gas Safety Inspection and a boiler service are different jobs, although many customers choose to have both carried out together.
Can you email the certificate?
Yes. I use an app on an iPad and can usually email the Gas Safety Record straight away once the inspection is complete.
Book a Gas Safety Certificate in Eastbourne
If you would like a proper fixed price Gas Safety Inspection / Certificate for a property in Eastbourne, Langney, Langney Point, Shinewater, Hampden Park, Willingdon Trees, Ratton or Meads, contact Exclusive Trades now.
Fixed price: £187. This is for people who want the inspection carried out properly, not rushed just to get a piece of paper.
Not the cheapest. Not rushed. Done properly.