Gas Safety
- Landlords are legally obliged to ensure a gas safety registered engineer conducts a survey and certifies properties as safe; failure to do so is a criminal offence and could result in a tenant fatality and a landlord being imprisoned. Up to £5000 fines!
- Certificates must be retained for two years and
- displayed in HMOs as well as
- holiday lets and
- made available for tenant inspection prior to occupation.
- In addition, though not a legal requirement, landlords can for a small additional cost, service the boiler and system. What better way to evince due diligence?
- From 2013 flues must be accessible and capable of inspection to minimise the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning e.g. from a concealed underfloor flue.
- Any construction and boiler provision must comply with ACoP
- Mains and battery backup powered carbon monoxide detectors save lives.
- Boilers fitted in lofts are more difficult to access but as CO is lighter than air, any leak disperses into the atmosphere, not into the house.
- Danger signs include:
- orange and yellow flames
- Soot e.g. around a gas fire or boiler
- Sickness or flue-like symptoms.
See also
Published: 8 November 2013
Last Updated: 2 December 2021