Gas Safety – What are your responsibilities as a Landlord?

As we wave goodbye to the summer, it’s the time of year when we begin to think about turning our heating back on. If you’re a landlord, it’s also a great time to safeguard your rental properties by getting your boilers serviced and testing your carbon monoxide alarms, particularly because next week is Gas Safety Week. From the 18^th to the 24^th of September organisations from across the UK will come together to raise awareness and help spread the gas safety message.

As a landlord, you will know about your legal responsibility to ensure the safety of your tenants; by law you must ensure that:

• You maintain, in a safe condition, all pipe-work, appliances and flues that are provided for tenants.
• All appliances and flues have an annual safety check.
• You carry out maintenance and annual safety checks by an engineer who is listed on the Gas Safety Register.
• Your tenant is provided with a Gas Safety Record within 28 days of completing the check, or to any new tenant before they move in.
• You keep a copy of the Gas Safety Record for two years.

Gas Safety Week also highlights the issue of carbon monoxide poisoning, which affects over a thousand people each year. Known as the ‘silent killer’, carbon monoxide is odourless and invisible yet fatal if people are exposed to it at high levels. In October 2015 the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations came into force. To avoid a fine of up to £5,000, all PRS Landlords must have a carbon monoxide alarm in all rooms that contain a solid fuel burning appliance. The Government also recommends that you place carbon monoxide alarms in all rooms with a gas appliance. At the start of each new tenancy these alarms must be checked. If you already have these in place, it’s important to remember that these alarms have a shelf life of around five to seven years.

Whether you’re a landlord or homeowner, you should follow these six simple steps to keep you safe and warm in your home.

• Only use a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit, fix and service your appliances. You can find and check an engineer at co.uk(check out our graphic below) or call 0800 408 5500.
• Check both sides of your engineer’s Gas Safe Register ID card. Make sure they are qualified for the work you need doing. You can find this information on the back of the card.
• Have all your gas appliances regularly serviced and safety checked every year. If you rent your home, ask for a copy of the landlord’s current Gas Safety Record.
• Know the six signs of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning– headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness. Unsafe gas appliances can put you at risk of CO poisoning, gas leaks, fires and explosions.
• Check gas appliances for warning signs that they are not working properly,g. lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks or stains on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room.
• Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm.This will alert you if there is carbon monoxide in your home.

These top tips will help you to stay safe, and further information can be found here. If you have any questions about your rental property or would like to use our Property Management service you can call, email or pop into your local Anthony Pepe branch.