Information on Household Gas Safety

A total of 15 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with domestic gas appliances in the year 2008/2009, mainly a result of gas appliances being fitted badly or not being serviced properly.

All landlords have a statutory obligation under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to maintain gas appliances in their property. They are required by law to arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to check all flues and gas appliances within 12 months of their installation and at least once in every 12-month period thereafter. A record must be kept of all checks.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and local authorities are responsible for enforcing the Regulations in both domestic and commercial premises.

The HSE has launched a new website, which enables landlords to find in one place all the information they need to meet their legal duties on domestic gas safety.

The information is arranged in easy-to-use sections, which include annual gas safety checks, record keeping, repair and maintenance and answers to frequently asked questions.

A landlord from Oxfordshire was recently prosecuted and fined £8,000 for failing to ensure gas appliances in his rental property were safe and fit for purpose. In another case, a landlord from Cambridgeshire who failed to fulfil his duties and presented false gas safety records was jailed for 16 months.

It is estimated that there are over six million rental properties in the UK with an estimated 14 million people living in them. It is essential that landlords ensure that all work on gas appliances in their premises is carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A list by area of certified businesses is available via the new website.

The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.