Landlord's responsibilities: • Landlords have a legal requirement to have all gas fittings and flues serviced annually by a Corgi registered gas engineer (Gas Safety Regulations 1998). • Ensure an annual safety check is carried out annually on each gas fitting/flue. • Landlords must keep a copy of their certificate for a minimum of two years. • Further and more detailed information on Landlord's responsibilities can be obtained from - www.hse.gov.uk. A BRASSETT  offers landlords and property agents a gas safety inspection service which covers all London postcodes and surrounding areas of the M25. Any Landlords or property agents, who rent part or all of a property, must ensure that all household gas appliances and related pipe work are safety checked every twelve months. In addition to this they are also required to have an annual service carried out to ensure the appliance is in a safe working order. A BRASSETT will carry out the required inspection and service on all of the gas appliances and issue the Landlords safety inspection certificate. It is essential that any existing tenant or new tenant is given this certificate. Landlords must keep a copy of their certificate for a minimum of two years. If A BRASSETT find that they need to carry out any repairs within the property or advise on any safety related issues, permission will be gained from the Landlord or property agent, so that A BRASSETT can record that remedial action has been taken, and that the premises and the appliances are safe for the tenant to use. To book a landlords safety check call 020 8462 6073 Gas safety in rented accommodation - A guide for Landlords and tenants CORGI stands for the ‘council for registered gas installers’. It is the body charged by the health and safety executive (HSE) to maintain a register of competent gas installers in Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. It is a legal requirement for any business carrying out gas related work to be registered with CORGI. There are currently over 47,000 gas installation businesses employing over 98,000 gas fitting operatives on the CORGI register. CORGI registered installers are: » Given an identification card which should be shown on request. » Required to obtain competency certificates in the areas of gas work they carry out. » Required to regularly update their proof of competence. » Subject to regular inspections by CORGI Inspectors. CORGI works to a tight remit prescribed by the HSE. As well as operating the register of competent gas installers, CORGI: » Investigates gas safety related complaints from the public » Provides members of the public with details of local registered installers A CORGI registered installer is a gas expert. They have undergone extensive training in order to be qualified to gain registration. The majority of work carried out by illegal gas workers has been found to have serious safety defects. By using using a tradesperson who is not CORGI registered you are taking your life into your own hands.

FA Q.S.

• Gas and the law

• Which landlords have to comply?

• What are the landlord's main duties?

• What gas equipment should be checked?

• Can the landlord make the tenant responsible for these duties?

• What happens if the Landlord uses a managing agent?

• What if the property is sub-let?

• How should the Landlord gain access to the property?

• In addition to the annual gas safety check of relevant appliances, does a Landlord also have   to have each relevant appliance serviced?

• What if an appliance fails the gas safety check?

• What happens if the Landlord does not maintain gas appliances in their property?

• Gas and the law

Carbon monoxide emissions from poorly installed or badly maintained gas appliances and flues cause the deaths of around 30 people each year, and the hospitalisation of hundreds more. The gas safety (installation and use) regulations 1998 specify that it is the duty of Landlords of relevant premises to ensure that all gas appliances, flues and fittings provided for tenants use are safe.

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• Which landlords have to comply?

Landlords gas safety duties apply to all appliances and flues in relevant premises. These include all residential properties occupied for residential purpose under a license or a tenancy agreement for a set term or lease. Effectively any lease of less than seven years is covered under the terms of the regulations.

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• What are the landlord's main duties?

A Landlord must ensure: » Any relevant gas fittings and appliances owned by the landlord (including portable ones such as LPG cabinet heaters and those serving relevant premises but installed elsewhere); pipe work and flues are maintained in a safe condition. » All installation and maintenance and safety checks are carried out by a CORGI registered installer. » An annual gas safety check is carried out on relevant gas appliances and flues by a CORGI registered installer. The gas safety check must take place within twelve months of the relevant appliance/flue being installed and at intervals of not more than 12 months since it was last checked for gas safety. » A record for each safety check is kept for 2 years by the Landlord. » A copy of the current safety check record – a CORGI Landlords gas safety record or similar document – is issued to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being completed, or to any new tenant before they move in ( in certain cases, such as holiday properties, the record can be displayed in a prominent position ). » When a tenant vacates a property the Landlord must ensure that the gas appliances and fittings are safe before the property is re-let. It would be beneficial that a record is kept of this check, for confirmation. » Please note – An appliance service inspection will not necessarily provide sufficient information to meet the needs of the Landlords annual safety check. Nor will an annual safety check necessarily be sufficient to provide effective maintenance. Always ask the advice of a CORGI registered installer.

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• What gas equipment should be checked?

» The requirements above apply to any gas equipment, fittings or flues except: » Any appliance owned by a tenant and the flue/chimney connected to it. » Any gas appliances (such as gas fires provided by customers in non-residential areas of public houses) that are exclusively used in that part of the premises.

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• Can the landlord make the tenant responsible for these duties?

No. Although a contract may be drawn up between a landlord and tenant to look after an appliance or flue installed in a non residential part of a premise such as a shop or a public house.

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• What happens if the Landlord uses a managing agent?

In this case, the management contract must clearly specify who is responsible for meeting maintenance and safety checks obligations and keeping records.

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• What if the property is sub-let?

The original Landlord may retain duties which overlap those of the person who sub-lets. In such cases, clear allocation of duties is essential to ensure that legal responsibilities are fully met and the terms of the contract assure the tenants safety.

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• How should the Landlord gain access to the property?

The contract between the Landlord and tenant should allow access for gas maintenance or safety work, and the Landlord must take all reasonable steps to ensure that such work is carried out. This may involve giving written notice requesting access to a tenant (of which the Landlord should keep a written record in case it is needed for proof). If a tenant refuses access after repeated contacts, the Landlord may need to consider legal action to gain access but should on no account use force.

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• In addition to the annual gas safety check of relevant appliances, does a Landlord also have to have each relevant appliance serviced?

The requirements of regulation 36 duties of Landlords of the gas safety (installation and use) regulations 1998 (GSIUR) are split into two separate duties: one is for maintenance of relevant gas appliances and flues and the other is for annual gas safety checks. It is important that Landlords appreciate that an annual gas safety check should not be considered as maintenance/service of a gas appliance unless it is specifically requested of the CORGI registered gas installer that an appliance service is undertaken at the same time as annual safety check. Landlords are also responsible for maintenance of the gas installation pipe work and this duty can be demonstrated by requesting that the gas operative also carries out a gas tightness test at the time of the annual gas safety check.

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• What if an appliance fails the gas safety check?

The Landlords gas safety record will contain details of any defect identified and any remedial action taken at that time by your CORGI registered installer. It is an offence to use, or allow the use of a gas appliance you know to be unsafe. Do not reconnect any appliance that you have been told is unsafe, or which has been either isolated or disconnected for safety reasons. What action should you take in the event of a gas escape? If you smell gas, suspect there is a gas escape, or are concerned you may be at risk from carbon monoxide emissions, you should immediately shut of the gas supply at the meter, extinguish naked flames, open windows, do not use electrical switches and call the national gas emergency number on: 0800 111999 England , Scotland and Wales 0800 002001 Northern Ireland 01624 644444 Isle of Man If you provide Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for use by a tenant or premises other than a building e.g. a caravan site, you must discuss emergency arrangements with your LPG supplier and agree what action to take in the event of gas escape or the emission of carbon monoxide from any LPG appliance.

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• What happens if the Landlord does not maintain gas appliances in there property?

Recent high profile prosecutions of Landlords who have breached the gas safety laws have heightened the issue of tenant safety. Prosecution could result in a maximum penalty of £5000 for each offence. If the case goes to the crown court, the maximum penalty could be an unlimited fine or even imprisonment. Landlords who have breached the gas safety laws and put lives at risk have faced tough sentencing recently in the courts. Their punishment sends a clear warning to any one tempted to break the law and is undoubtedly helping to crack down on illegal gas work.

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To book a Landlords safety check call 020 8462 6073

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