A gas-safe guide to moving home

Moving home is one of the most stressful things you will ever do. There is lots to consider and 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.

Only Gas Safe registered engineers can legally undertake gas work at a property, whether it’s on appliances, flues or pipework. This means your homebuyer or structural surveys might not confirm if the gas appliances in your new property are working as they should be by default and you’ll need to check.

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

What action should you take?

You’ll want to obtain a gas safety record (sometimes known as a gas safety certificate) when buying a house. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Ask the current owners for a gas safety record or certificate for all 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.

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

While it’s not a legal requirement to have a gas safety certificate when selling your house, it’s recommended that any homeowner with gas appliances has a check every 12 months just for their own safety.

It’s highly likely potential buyers will ask for previous safety records and certificates. They may ask a seller to carry out a check as a condition of the sale, or have one carried out on their behalf to ensure there are no expensive fixes or alterations required.

What about Building Regulations?

Under the Building Regulations in England and Wales, local authorities must be notified when any heat producing appliance has been installed at a property. A Building Regulations Compliance Certificate is then issued, and it’s this certificate that you’ll need to give to the new owners. However, this differs from a Gas Safety Record.

I’ve lost my Building Regulations certificate.

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

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Worcester Bosch accredited installers

We are proud to be a Worcester Bosch accredited installer. This means we:

Are fully insured and Gas Safe-registered
Are experts in Worcester Bosch’s market leading boilers
Adhere to Worcester Bosch’s exacting standards
Can offer an extended guarantee of up to 12 years on Worcester Bosch boilers (dependent on model)
Are trusted to provide an prompt, honest and reliable service

Customer reviews

Heidi, homeowner

“Mr Heat was recommended to me by a friend. After a boiler breakdown I needed it repaired asap.
Martin was easy to contact. I left a message and he replied within 10 mins. I explained the problem, he ordered the part and came the next day to fit it. Martin also dropped me a text to say he was on his way beforehand.
Martin was polite and respectful of my property, efficient and tidy.
I highly recommend Mr Heat and will most definitely use him again for future services and repairs.”

Rob, homeowner

“Excellent from start to finish. Helpful from the first call. Came out straightaway, gave good, straightforward advice and sorted the problem promptly and with no fuss. Combi boiler had stopped working, so no heating or hot water. Identified the problem as the fan assembly, sourced the part and carried out the work within a day. Would have no hesitation in recommending Martin, who went above and beyond to ensure our heating was restored as quickly as possible.”

Martin O'Regan, homeowner

“Martin was polite, professional and did a thorough job of servicing our boiler and gas fire. His pricing is very competitive compared to other engineers. He was clean and tidy and we will definitely book him next time!
Despite being unable to attend the original appointment due to an emergency call out, he rebooked without needing to be chased which was appreciated. Thanks Mr Heat!”

Martin Vanhuizen, private landlord

“We’ve used Mr Heat for a few years now to carry out our Landlord’s Gas Certificates, and he has always been helpful & accomodating, even when dealing with uncooperative tenants, and having to travel good distances to get to the properties. Would we recommend him? Without a doubt.”

Jan Howes, letting agent

“We have used Mr Heat as our gas contractor for several years now. Martin is always prompt, reliable and honest and I would highly recommend him for any gas work. He is extremely trustworthy which is important to us as a successful letting agent – we have full faith in his capabilities and integrity.”

Glynis Knowles, Homeowner

“We have used Martin for a number of years to service our boiler. He is excellent. Nothing is too much trouble for him. If you have a problem he is quick to sort it out. Very trustworthy and reliable.”