Millions of people use gas safely every day in their boilers, fireplaces and cookers, ensuring a supply of heating that keeps them warm on cold days, provides hot baths and showers, and cooks their food.
However, while most people do this from day to day with few or no problems, any gas appliance can go wrong. A common reason for this is if it was not installed by a Gas Safe accredited worker, which means an error might be made that renders it dangerous.
Alternatively, it could be that over time an appliance sustains wear and tear or is damaged by accident, which means that while it was once safe and working fine, it no longer is.
Landlord Responsibilities
If you are a landlord, you will need to bear these factors in mind if you are renting out properties with gas appliances. Not only should you be very keen to make sure your tenants are safe, but there is also the fact that, by law, you have to get the Gas Safe certificate renewed every year.
That means on an annual basis you need to have a trained and accredited inspector visit every property you rent out and check all the appliances to ensure they are safe. If any are not, this needs to be attended to urgently.
By carrying out this landlord safety check, you are not only fulfilling a legal obligation and protecting your tenants from risk, but also the property itself. In the worst-case scenario, a gas explosion could destroy the whole property. If you are then found not to have carried out the legally required check, a rejected insurance claim will be the least of your worries.
The Consequences Of Non-Compliance
Despite the enormous importance of ensuring your rented property is kept Gas Safe, not every landlord fulfils their duty. A rogue landlord may neglect the matter, but others may simply make the error of failing to remember to get this done.
It is with this in mind that an article in the Eastern Daily Press this month issued a reminder to landlords about what they need to do.
Writing for the paper, Catherine Hunt, an associate at property firm Arnold Keys, used the occasion of heavy snowfall in Norfolk to remind landlords of their need to stay up-to-date, noting that any who fail to do so risk fines and possible imprisonment, while buildings insurance can be invalidated.
Nor does it end there. She stated: “There are civil implications as well: not having an up-to-date Gas Safety Certificate, and not giving a copy to your tenant, could mean you cannot serve a Section 21 notice.”
Ms Hunt gave the example of a recent case where a section 21 eviction was ruled invalid in court even though a new boiler had been installed and checked by a Gas Safe-accredited engineer, as no certificate had been issued.
She continued: “Quite apart from keeping your tenant safe, obtaining a Gas Safety Certificate will also safeguard your property. The certificate will only be issued if the boiler is considered, from testing, to be safe.”
The Importance Of Staying On Top Of Things
The expert advised that “regular servicing and maintenance” is the key to ensuring boilers pass the test, as well as preventing the most unwanted situation of boilers breaking down in the middle of winter.
Ms Hunt concluded that it is not just the case that “gas safety is simply too important to be neglected”. but also that “undertaking the administration involved in ensuring your Gas Safety Certificate is correctly dated, up-to-date and copied to the tenant is vital to avoid problems at a later date.”
All this might seem alarming for landlords and you might want to check quickly that you have got your gas safe checks up-to-date. If not, the right thing to do is to act fast and get the inspection done as soon as you can.
At the same time, every landlord has a home of their own, so it may act as a reminder to check out any gas appliances you have in your own property to ensure they are safe too.
Age Does Not Always Equal Wisdom
Many people think they know more about gas safety than is actually the case. Research published in late January by Gas Safe revealed that only 16 per cent of grandparents were able to identify all the seven warning signs that something was amiss.
Highlighting the role commonly played by grandparents as babysitters, Gas Safe said this meant as many as 12 million grandparents could unwittingly be putting the safety of their grandchildren at risk.
Whether you are caring for tenants or grandchildren, make sure your gas appliances are safe today.