As a letting agent, the safety should always come first – but how do you choose the right Gas Safe registered engineer?
Having dealt with many letting agencies over the years, I know it’s always a concern when finding a new heating engineer, as they need to be fully qualified for the job AND provide all the certification you need.
It’s particularly worrying that there are some unscrupulous engineers who will be happy to carry out work unregistered, as this contravenes health and safety laws and you could be prosecuted.
So, what can you do? Below, I’m going to give you some tips on what to look out for when choosing a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Check the Gas Safe register
If you’re looking for a new heating engineer, I’d recommend first checking the Gas Safe register. What’s great about this website is you can tick all the boxes of the work you are looking to be done, and it will only return engineers who are qualified for these works.
However, if you do have a preferred engineer already on your books or know a company that’s been recommended to you, do not skip my next point:
Ensure they are fully qualified
Some people assumed that just because an engineer is Gas Safe registered, everything is fine and dandy. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and simply being registered is not enough.
Each engineer should carry a card to prove what qualifications he can cover, so check the back of his/her card which stipulates what they are licensed for. You should be looking for qualifications in gas pipework, central heating and boiler installations, cookers and fires.
The above will cover most properties, however if the property is a mobile home or is not supplied by mains gas then check your engineer also a qualification for dealing with LPG.
Ask to see their Gas Safe certificate
As a letting agent, you want to make sure everything you do is above board and legal, so it’s always wise to make sure you ask for copies of a company’s Gas Safe certificate.
This gets renewed every March, so you should ask to see a copy of their certificate on an annual basis, even if it’s a company that’s been on your books for a while.
TIP: Another good way to safeguard yourself is to ask for photocopies of each engineer’s Gas Safe card.
Keep your paperwork in order
As you’ll be aware, each property you manage needs a CP12 certificate each year. So, it’s wise to ensure you keep all your paperwork up to date, have copies of the correct certificates, and that all tenants receive their copies.
Remember, these certificates must be kept for two years, and they must be signed and dated. All CP12 certificates have codes and cannot be back-dated. If an engineer tries this, he can and WILL be caught out.
TIP: Reputable engineers will keep good records and should be able to provide you with copies of everything you need should you request them in future.
Conclusion
Making sure all the properties on your books is an important concern for any letting agency, so choosing the right Gas Safe registered engineer should be a top priority. But how? Check out my tips above. Here’s a brief summary:
- Check the Gas Safe Register
- Ensure they are fully qualified
- Ask to see their Gas Safe certificate
- Keep your paperwork in order
Do you always carry out these checks?
