Posts with tag: gas safety

Thousands of Amateur Landlords are Putting Tenants’ Lives at Risk

Published On: May 18, 2016 at 9:34 am

Tags: gas safety,landlord responsibilities,smoke alarms,tenants

Many amateur landlords in the UK are putting their tenants’ lives at risk by avoiding their responsibilities over gas safety, according to a new study.

The survey of 1,000 part-time landlords and 500 tenants of amateur landlords by Atomik Research, on behalf of British Gas, found that 20% of amateur landlords do not conduct

Thousands of Amateur Landlords are Putting Tenants’ Lives at Risk

compulsory annual gas safety checks, while over a third are not even aware that gas safety is a legal requirement.

Landlords that do not adhere to the law on gas safety could face hefty fines if they are caught.

Gas safety checks, which must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, pick up a range of problems, including faulty boilers, and are vital in helping to prevent gas leaks, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Landlords must also be aware that they are required by law to fit smoke alarms on each floor of their rental property, and carbon monoxide alarms in rooms with solid fuel burning appliances.

The Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group, Barry Sheerman MP, says: “It is shocking that 38% of landlords in the non-traditional rental sector – which includes holiday lets, Airbnb accommodation and lodgers – do not know that they are legally obliged to have a safety check conducted on all gas appliances in their premises.

“I urge all landlords to have their gas appliances serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer on an annual basis, to ensure that they are in safe and functioning order, and that holidaymakers and others staying in their properties are safe from CO [carbon monoxide] poisoning.”¹

British Gas engineer Sheena Anker insists that it is vital that amateur landlords to ensure their tenants are kept safe and to stick to the law: “Although they may only rent out a room or property for a few weeks each year, it’s crucial for part-time landlords to ensure that their tenants are kept safe, and to stay on the right side of the law.

“I’ve visited properties and seen unsafe appliances which either haven’t been serviced in years or have been installed by illegal gas fitters. Worryingly, tenants are often oblivious to the danger they are in. To stay safe, tenants should ask landlords for a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate, following a check from a Gas Safe registered engineer.”¹

For all of your responsibilities as a landlord, check this comprehensive Gas Safe Register-approved guide: https://www.justlandlords.co.uk/news/landlords-guide-gas-safety/

¹https://www.britishgas.co.uk/media/r/1409/lives_put_at_risk_as_part-time_landlords_overlook

Landlord Handed Prison Sentence for Ignoring Gas Safety

Published On: April 26, 2016 at 8:35 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: gas safety,landlord law,landlord responsibilities,rogue landlords

A landlord has been handed a suspended prison sentence after he ignored repeated warnings about arranging an annual gas safety check at his property.

Landlord Handed Prison Sentence for Ignoring Gas Safety

The six-month sentence was suspended for 12 months, during which time he will be electronically tagged and must abide by a curfew between 7pm and 7am for the first three months.

Tariq Ali was given numerous opportunities by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to arrange an inspection at a property he owned in Accrington, after the previous Gas Safety Record expired in October 2012.

Landlords are legally required to have gas appliances checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer at least once a year. However, Ali failed to comply with the law.

Your responsibilities as a landlord can be found in this comprehensive guide from the Gas Safe Register: https://www.justlandlords.co.uk/news/landlords-guide-gas-safety/

Ali was found guilty following a trial at Trafford Magistrates’ Court of single breaches of Regulation 36(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and Section 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The charges relate to failing to have the gas appliances checked annually and failing to comply with an improvement notice.

Ali must also pay £20,000 towards HSE costs.

The court heard how Ali first came to the attention of the Gas Safe Register in 2011, after gas appliances at several of his properties were considered at risk or immediately dangerous.

The HSE reports that on average, over eight people are killed and almost 330 people are injured every year by carbon monoxide poisoning from gas appliances and fires and explosions caused by faulty gas installations.

It is vital that you take your responsibility as a landlord very seriously and remember to follow the law.

Fake Gas Safety engineer given suspended sentence

Published On: April 8, 2016 at 9:15 am

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: Buy-to-Let,gas safety,Gas Safety engineer,landlords,rogue gas fitter

A rogue gas fitter has been given a suspended jail sentence after illegally installing a gas boiler in a privately rented property.

What’s more, Mr Christian Winter undertook landlord’s gas safety checks that he had no authority to carry out.

Unsurprisingly, the boiler installed by Winter was later found to be extremely dangerous.

Incompetent

Mr Winter, trading as CJS Winter Plumbing & Heating Services of Ashburton in Devon, installed the boiler at a property in Kingerkerswell.

He then proceeded to undertake landlord’s gas safety checks at the property, despite having no competency in gaswork, or being registered on the Gas Safe Register. Winter also conned the landlord of the property by using a fake Gas Safe Register registration number on all of the records he produced.

Exeter Crown Court heard that Mr Winter’s illegal gaswork became apparent when the boiler he installed was inspected by properly registered member of Gas Safe.

Fake Gas Safety engineer given suspended sentence

Faults

On inspection, the registered engineer found various faults with the installation and subsequently classed the equipment as dangerous.

Further investigation from the Health and Safety Executive revealed Winter had used fraudulent Gas Safe details to con the landlord. When the landlord was eventually informed of the problem, she challenged Winter but still, he continued to lie about his supposed qualifications.

Breaches

In court, Winter pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 3(3) and 3(7) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

As such, Mr Winter was given a suspended prison sentence of 12 months, ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and told to pay costs of £3,327.80.

Landlord Fined £265 for Faulty Gas Appliance

Published On: October 22, 2015 at 2:07 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: gas safety,HMO landlords,HMO regulations

Landlord Fined £265 for Faulty Gas Appliance

A landlord has been fined just £265 after a faulty gas appliance was discovered to be in use in his rental property.

Ashby Bedeau rented the home in Bedford. In February this year, his tenants became unwell and contacted the gas helpline.

When an engineer arrived, he stopped the property’s gas supply, as carbon monoxide was found in the home. He advised the renters to go to hospital.

Subsequently, it was discovered that the gas hob was defective, causing British Gas to cap off the hob as immediately dangerous.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which brought the case against Bedeau, told Luton Magistrates’ Court that the gas hob, gas cooker and boiler were under contract from a gas provider

However, the landlord did not have the hob gas safety checked in January 2015, as is required by law.

The HSE informed the court that landlords must ensure that all gas appliances are not only checked for safety, but are maintained to a safe standard.

Bedeau, of Bedford, admitted breaching Regulation 36(2)(a) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and was fined £265 with costs of £845.

Landlords warned over gas safety

Published On: August 11, 2015 at 12:48 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: gas safety,gas safety certificate,landlords

With new pension freedoms leading a number of over 50’s becoming buy-to-let landlords, a new report serves as a warning for many to keep on top of their permitted safety requirements.

Encouragingly, the survey from Saga Landlord Insurance shows that eight out of ten over 50 year old landlords have the mandatory Gas Safety Certificate. However, there are concerns that some landlords may be unaware of the legal requirements facing them in their role.

Gas Safety

A Gas Safety certificate can be obtained by a gas safe registered engineer assessing and validating the safety of appliance in a rental property, alongside checking that a system is working properly. The cost for this certificate varies depending on the number of gas appliances that need checking in the property. However, the cost is normally between £60-£100.

Landlords must note that a Gas Safety certificate must be obtained for each property in their portfolio, with each being reviewed on an annual basis. Should a property fail an assessment, the landlord will receive a detailed report from the engineer and will then have to employ somebody to carry out the necessary work on the property to bring it up to the relevant safety requirements.

Upon moving in to a property, each new tenant should be given a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate, and within 28 days of the annual check. Landlords are urged to keep a copy of the certificate for at least 2 years.

Landlords warned over gas safety

As the certificate is a legal requirement, landlords found to have flaunted this regulation could face prosecution or be liable to pay the penalty of £6,000. In addition, landlords may be forced to serve up to 6 months in prison.

Costly

Sue Green, Head of Home and Landlord Insurance at Saga said, ‘being a landlord comes with an array of administrative jobs which need to be completed, and in some cases, failing to do so could cost you dearly. The key is to thoroughly research exactly what the requirements are, and ensure you keep up-to-date with any developments that might change the situation.’[1]

‘The safety of tenants must always come first, and part of this is ensuring that the boiler is running properly. Gas safety checks can pick up a range of problems including faulty boilers as well as helping to prevent gas leaks, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning,’ Green added.[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/landlords-urged-to-keep-on-top-of-safety-requirements.html

Is your Rental Property Gas Safe?

Published On: September 23, 2014 at 5:08 pm

Author: Em Morley

Categories: Landlord News

Tags: gas safety

Research by British Gas and Shelter has found that one in ten landlords cannot confirm that their tenants are living in a gas safe property.

The shocking study also discovered that 14% of landlords were not aware of their legal obligation to have their rental properties checked for has safety each year.

Is your Rental Property Gas Safe?

These figures arrive in time for Gas Safety Week, a time when they can be reminded that they must maintain gas safety. Only 90% of respondents said that their rental properties had an active gas safety certificate (CP12) and that the boiler was serviced annually. 7% stated most/some/none of their properties had the certificate and checks. This leaves 3% who cannot confirm that their tenants are not at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.P

It is a requirement by law that rental properties have a yearly gas safety check and certificate, and this is the responsibility of the landlord. If landlords do not stick to these regulations, they could be fined, and even imprisoned.

Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of Shelter, says: “Renters deserve to know that their homes are not just accidents waiting to happen. Landlords must carry out gas safety checks every year. Failing to do so is not just against the law; it is a danger to peoples’ lives, and that just can’t carry on.”¹

British Gas and Shelter are working together to ensure safety within private rented houses, and Gas Safety Week is highlighting the responsibilities of landlords.

Landlords are also encouraged to fit a carbon monoxide monitor in all of their rental properties.

Tenants are also reminded of their rights and their landlord’s obligation to conduct the checks.

British Gas engineer Ben Whitehouse, says: “There are many things that tenants can do to make sure their home is gas safe.

“Carbon monoxide is a silent killer and can leak from a range of household appliances. That’s why it’s so important to fit a carbon monoxide alarm.”1

Landlords can get more advice at:

http://www.britishgas.co.uk/products-and-services/landlords/gas-safety-certificate.html

¹http://england.shelter.org.uk/news/september_2014/a_tenth_of_landlords_unable_to_confirm_their_tenants_are_gas_safe