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 you just rent 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, Willingdon,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 arrives, gives the obvious things a quick 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's far from the standard you can expect from Exclusive Trades.
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 professional Gas Safety Inspection is far more than a quick look around. During the visit, the engineer will 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 the gas meter AND at the gas appliances themselves.
- 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.
- ... and much more!
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 we need before we can complete the certificate
To carry out the inspection properly, we 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, or inside a crowded cupboard, it will need to be cleared so we 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 professional 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 at Exclusive Trades we surpass these minimum requirements.
Exclusive Trades is not the cheapest company in Eastbourne, but for homeowners, landlords and letting agents who want the inspection done by a professional company, 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 52 pence 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?
There are two common reasons for a Gas Safety Certificate to be offered cheap.
1: Marketing-led pricing.Some companies use heavily discounted Gas Safety Certificates as a way to attract new customers in the hope they can then sell those new customers some expensive upgrades.
There is nothing wrong with the plumber making you aware of any specific upgrades that may be available for your property while carrying out the inspection.
The problem arises when they arrive in your home to do a Gas Safety Certificate, see your boiler is only a few years old, meaning they can't sell you on upgrading your boiler or anything else and their only goal now is to get out of your house and on to the next one where they might find a older boiler that needs upgrading.
A professional Gas Safety inspection should never feel rushed. Some of the tests are done over a set period of time and can't be rushed, the only way to rush them, is simply not to do them, which is something some companies do.
2: Agency or subcontracted models.In recent years there has been a surge in agencies that find work and then sub-contract that work to a Gas Safe Registered Plumber who then comes to your house to do the work.
A quick search online will reveal such companies offering Gas Safety Certificates from as little as £50, which may seem appealing at first, that is until you look at it logically!
If the company is charging you £50, ... they need to make their own profit and then they need to pay the Gas Safe Registered Plumber for a days work.
Another search online will show a plumber sub-contracting to another company (Where they have no marketing or admin costs), will typically start at £300 a day with many charging £450+ a day.
With this in mind, do you think the agency will hand the plumber a list of four properties and tell them, Take your time, there's no rush, safety is our number one priority, make sure these people will be safe in their home!
Or do you think they will hand the plumber a list of 10-12 jobs and point out they don't pay overtime?
HINT: Its the second one!
Now imagine for a moment you are the plumber doing this work. How motivated are you going to be to work to a high standard when your only reward for this would be unpaid overtime?
Can you see why a choosing a cheap company or an agency may not be the best choice if you want the work done correctly?
How do you know if your plumber is qualified?
A Gas Safety Record should only be issued by someone who is on the Gas Safe Register AND who has the relevant qualifications for your specific appliances and gas type. (Being Gas Safe Registered does not automatically mean your plumber will be qualified for every appliance.)
For example, a plumber may be Gas Safe Registered and be qualified to work on gas pipework, but not have any qualifications to work on any appliances. Gas cookers, fires and boilers each have their own training courses that need to be done before the Gas Safe Plumber can work on those appliances. You can check an plumber's registration and qualifications on the Gas Safe Register website.
Exclusive Trades holds the necessary qualifications to work on Gas Pipework conveying Natural Gas to Gas Boilers, Gas Water Heaters, Gas Cooking Appliances and Gas Fires. Due to the lack of demand, we do not hold the qualifications to work on LPG systems at this time.
Should homeowners get a gas safety inspection too?
Although a Landlord Gas Safety Record is aimed at rented properties, homeowners (in my personal opinion) should still book a gas safety inspection for their home.
A Gas Safety Inspection can give you reassurance that your gas appliances are working safely and will not pose a risk to the health or you or your loved ones.
This can be particularly important if you have recently moved home, inherited a property, have older appliances, or if you have not had anything checked for a while.
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, we 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.
Will you invoice me for this work once it's complete?
No, we will require payment before the certificate is issued.
You can pay for this service when you make the appointment or upon arrival at your property by Chip & Pin, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash and even BitCoin.
Why don't you send invoices?
You know how when you go to a supermarket, you have to pay for your goods before you take them home? — We operate on the same basis.
When you look at it logically, if a supermarket chain earning tens of millions of pounds a day requires immediate payment, is it fair to expect a small tradesman company be any different?
How much does a Gas Safety Certificate cost with Exclusive Trades?
The service is a fixed price of £187 for a professional Gas Safety Inspection / Certificate in Eastbourne and selected Eastbourne areas.
What areas do you cover?
We work in Eastbourne, Langney, Langney Point, Shinewater, Hampden Park, Willingdon Trees, Willingdon, Ratton and Meads.
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. We use an app on an iPad and can usually email the Gas Safety Record straight away once the inspection is complete.
What should I do if I smell gas?
If you can smell gas in your home you should turn it off at the gas meter, open all dors and windows and tell everyone to exit the building, including any pets. Once you are outside the property, call the gas emergecy number 0800 111 999 and report it immediatley.
If you remian in the property there is a risk of a gas explosion!What should I do if my Carbon Monoxide Alarm goes off?
If your Carbon Monoxide Alarm goes off, turn of the gas supply, open all doors and windows and tell everyone to exit the building, including any pets. Once you are outside the property, call the gas emergecy number 0800 111 999 and report it immediatley.
If anyone is feeling unwell, dizzy, or nauseous, seek medial assistance as soon as possible.
If you remian in the property you run the risk of being overcome by Carbon Monoxide, which can be fatal!Book a Gas Safety Certificate in Eastbourne
If you would like a professional fixed price Gas Safety Inspection / Certificate for a property in Eastbourne, Langney, Langney Point, Shinewater, Hampden Park, Willingdon Trees, Willingdon, Ratton or Meads, contact Exclusive Trades now.
Fixed price: £187. This is for people who want the inspection carried out properly and not rushed just to get a certificate.
Quotes from Google Reviews.