Gas Safety Certificates in Chatham

Gas Safety Certificates for Chatham Landlords

As a landlord in Chatham, your legal obligations around gas safety are clear and non-negotiable. Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, you must arrange an annual gas safety check on every gas appliance, flue, and pipework in each of your rental properties. This inspection must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and the resulting gas safety record — commonly known as a CP12 certificate — must be provided to your tenants within 28 days of the check.

Failing to comply carries serious consequences. The Health and Safety Executive can prosecute landlords who do not maintain current gas safety certificates, and penalties can include substantial fines and, in cases of serious negligence, imprisonment. Beyond the legal penalties, a gas incident in an uncertified property leaves you personally liable.

Our gas safety inspection service for Chatham landlords includes:

• Full inspection of all gas appliances — boilers, gas fires, gas cookers, and gas water heaters
• Flue and chimney checks — testing that flue gases are venting safely to the outside
• Ventilation assessment — checking that rooms with gas appliances have adequate ventilation as required by regulations
• Gas pipework inspection — visual check of accessible gas pipework for leaks, corrosion, or damage
• Appliance operation testing — checking each appliance fires correctly, the flame is stable, and safety controls function properly
• CP12 certificate issued on the day — your gas safety record is completed and provided immediately after the inspection

We also offer a reminder service for Chatham landlords, contacting you in advance of your certificate expiry date so you never miss your annual inspection deadline.

How a Gas Safety Check Works

Step 1: Book Your Inspection Call us on 01634 979 595 to arrange a convenient date. We can liaise directly with your tenant if needed to arrange access.

Step 2: On-Site Inspection Our Gas Safe registered engineer inspects every gas appliance, flue, and accessible pipework in the property. This typically takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on the number of appliances.

Step 3: Certificate Issued If all appliances pass, your CP12 certificate is issued on the spot. If any appliance fails, we explain the fault, classify it according to the Gas Safe defect categories (At Risk, Immediately Dangerous, or Not to Current Standard), and advise on the necessary remedial work.

Step 4: Remedial Work (if needed) If repairs are required, we can usually carry these out promptly, often on the same visit for minor issues, allowing the certificate to be issued without delay.

Gas Safety in Chatham's Rental Properties

Chatham's rental market is substantial and diverse. The Victorian terraces around the town centre house a mix of single-occupancy lets and houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). The flats and apartments at Chatham Maritime cater to young professionals and key workers. Further from the centre, family homes in Luton and Wayfield are let to longer-term tenants. Each of these property types has its own gas safety considerations.

HMOs in Chatham require particular attention because they often contain multiple gas appliances — a boiler serving the central heating, individual gas fires in some rooms, and gas cookers in shared or separate kitchens. Each appliance must be inspected, and HMO licensing conditions in Medway specifically require a current gas safety certificate as a condition of the licence.

Older terraced properties in the ME4 area may have gas appliances that were installed decades ago. While age alone does not make an appliance unsafe, older boilers and gas fires are more likely to develop faults that affect safety, such as blocked flues, deteriorating seals, and failing safety cut-off mechanisms. Our engineers inspect every appliance thoroughly regardless of age and report honestly on its condition.

The newer properties at Chatham Maritime typically have modern combi boilers as the sole gas appliance, making the inspection relatively straightforward. However, these properties still require an annual certificate, and the inspection ensures that the flue terminal is unobstructed and the boiler's safety systems are functioning correctly.