Being a tenant means your landlord is responsible for the safety of gas appliances in your home. But when was the last time you saw your landlord’s gas safety record? If your gas appliances haven’t been safety checked within the last year, you could be at risk. Check to see if your property is gas safe now.
Badly fitted and poorly maintained gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
You can't see it, taste it or smell it but CO can kill quickly and without warning. According to HSE statistics, around seven people die each year from CO poisoning. This is caused by gas appliances and flues that haven’t been properly installed, taken care of, or are poorly ventilated. Landlords have a responsibility to make sure the gas appliances and flues in rented homes are safety checked every 12 months.
If you don’t have a record that the gas appliances in your rented home have been safety checked, ask your landlord for a copy. You are entitled to have written notification within 28 days of the safety check being done.
When it comes to gas work you must use a Gas Safe registered engineer to fitting, fixing and servicing appliances. The same goes for the landlord gas safety record on gas appliances. Make sure you always check the engineer’s Gas Safe Register ID card.
Follow Gas Safe Register’s top tips
- Always use a Gas Safe registered engineer when having gas work done in your home. You can check that an engineer is registered by calling Gas Safe Register on 0800 408 5500 or visit Gas Safe Register.
- Your landlord should get your gas appliances safety checked at least once a year. This includes your gas boiler, gas cooker and gas fire. Sign up at www.StayGasSafe.co.uk for a free reminder when it is due.
- Check for warning signs that your gas appliances aren’t working correctly, like a lazy yellow flame instead of a crisp blue one, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room.
- Know the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.
Safety for landlords
Running a property can be a stressful business. But are you aware of your legal gas safety duties as a landlord? Every year, landlords are conned by illegal gas workers who perform poor gas work, causing serious illness and death of tenants. And if it’s your property, it’s your responsibility. Find out what your gas safety duties are.
So what can you do?
Landlords looking for additional support and advice may want to look at the variety of schemes on offer, including the London Rental Standard, which can be of great help in explaining how a landlord can do the right thing and ensure they are keeping on the right side of the law and ensuring their properties, and their tenants, are gas safe.
You can also sign up for a free reminder service with Gas Safe Register. Give them the date of when your appliances are due to be checked and they’ll drop you a single email each year to remind you. For more gas safety advice visit the Gas Safe Register or call 0800 408 5500.