Posts with tag: gas safety

Warnings for landlords after gas safety survey

Published On: March 14, 2014 at 9:42 am

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Categories: Property News

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The results of a recent gas safety survey have been branded as, ‘shocking’ by the director of a leading charity organisation.

Findings

1, 387 tenants in the private renting sector were questioned for the investigation, which was carried out by YouGov.

The survey was conducted on behalf of housing charity Shelter Scotland and Scottish Gas revealed an alarmingly high 43% of renters said that their landlord or agent had failed to carry out a gas safety check in the last five years. 7% of tenants said they had experienced a gas leak within in their property during this timeframe.[1]

Shocking

Shelter Scotland director Graeme Brown was disgusted with the results of the survey. Brown said that it was, ‘shocking to think that in thousands of households across Scotland, there are disasters waiting to happen because a simple safety check has not taken place.’ He added that this, ‘is an even bigger concern,’ for households with children and that, ‘renters have a right to know that the property they are living in is safe.’[1]

Mr Brown also said that it is, ‘absolutely vital’ that tenants know they should get a proper gas safety check annually. Just as importantly, Brown said, is that, ‘landlords need to know that gas safety is not optional,’ and that, ‘failing to get a gas safety check can and does put lives at risk.’[1]

 

Checks

Shelter Scotland and Scottish Gas have joined together to try and improve efficiency in housing within the rented sector. Paul Dailly, a Scottish Gas engineer, said that there are measures that tenants can undertake to improve their safety. Dailly said, ‘There are vital checks people can do to keep themselves and their families safe.

“Looking for signs of staining, sooting or discolouration on, or around, your gas boiler, fire or water heater; keeping vents in doors, walls or windows clear; making sure your chimney isn’t blocked and checking pilot lights and other gas flames to ensure they burn blue are all simple tests that can be done to help protect your home and everyone in it.’[1]

[1] http://news.stv.tv/scotland/268072-warnings-for-private-landlords-after-shocking-gas-safety-survey/

 

 

Landlords Warned about Gas Safety

Published On: November 20, 2012 at 11:28 am

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Categories: Landlord News

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Thousands suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning every year, due to dangerous gas boilers, cookers, and fires. In many cases, the issues could be corrected through simple maintenance of appliances.

Frequently there are landlords who attempt to make cutbacks by not regularly having their gas appliances serviced. In an effort to promote the importance of safety in this area, GasSafe is endorsing Gas Safety Week, from 10th-17th September 2012.

Landlords Warned about Gas Safety

Landlords Warned about Gas Safety

GasSafe is the authorised body that educates and approves qualified gas engineers.

A GasSafe spokesman says: “Badly fitted and poorly serviced appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions as well as carbon monoxide poisoning. Using an illegal gas fitter can put lives at risk, only a GasSafe registered engineer should carry out gas work.”1

Within the last month, three landlords have faced action for breaking gas safety regulations.

Magistrates in Sheffield heart that Waheed Ahmid and his wife Farhat Basharat rented out a house with numeral serious gas faults.

An engineer made the boiler, cooker, and gas fire in the lounge and dining room of the property inactive, as they were “immediately dangerous.”1 The house was also found to have traces of carbon monoxide fumes.

The couple were both given three-month jail terms and are suspended for 12 months. Ahmid must also complete 150 hours of community service and pay £2,500 in costs, and Basharat will serve 200 hours of community service, and pay £5,000 costs.

Another case saw landlord David MacDonald obliged to spend six months in prison, suspension for two years, 200 hours of community service, and costs of £8,211. A family had rented his flat and suffered carbon monoxide poisoning as a consequence of a faulty gas boiler that hadn’t been serviced in two years.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector, Kevin Shorten, says: “Carbon monoxide can kill quickly without warning, and approximately 20 people die each year as a result of poisoning from gas appliances and flues that haven’t been properly installed, maintained, or that are poorly ventilated. Had a neighbour’s carbon monoxide alarm not sounded, the family could well be among that number.”1

1 http://www.accommodationforstudents.com/view_landlord_guides.asp?id=250