Private Landlord Registration
Gas Safety
If a rented property has any gas appliances in it (such as a gas central heating boiler, a gas fire, or a gas cooker) the landlord must by law have it inspected by a GASsafe registered tradesman every twelve months. There are serious penalties for not doing so.
By law the landlord must:
- Ensure installation pipe work, appliances and flues provided for tenants are maintained in a safe condition
- Ensure an annual safety check is carried out on each appliance and/or flue that is provided for tenants use
- Ensure maintenance and annual safety checks are carried out by a GASsafe registered installer
- Keep a record of each safety check for 2 years
- Issue a copy of the safety check to each existing tenant within 28 days of check being completed and to any new tenant before they move in
- Ensure all gas equipment (including any appliance left by a previous tenant) is safe or otherwise removed before re-letting
- If a managing agent is used to help the landlord in meeting their duties, make sure that the management contract clearly specifies who is to make arrangements for maintenance and safety checks to be carried out and for keeping records. However, the landlord maintains overall responsibility for ensuring duties are met, irrespective of whether a managing agent is employed.
- Ensure that anyone carrying out work on gas appliances/fittings and/or flues provided for tenants use has the required competence and that only GASsafe registered installers are used. You can check or find registered installers through the GASsafe website at www.gassaferegister.co.uk.
- A leaflet explaining some of the main requirements of landlords, under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, is available from Health and Safety Executive.
Breaching the gas safety laws puts lives at risk and can mean an unlimited fine and/or prison sentence. More detailed information is available from the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqlandlord.htm
