Gas Safety For Tenants

Gas Safety For Tenants and Rentals

 

When you take over a tenancy it’s important you receive a copy of a gas safety certificate

Before you use any of the gas appliances including the central heating.
Gas safety for tenants is sometimes overlooked if renting from private landlords, especially first time landlords,

but the law states that any rented property, even if only rented for one day has to have a gas safety inspection certificate in place.

Faulty gas fittings, flues and appliances can be a danger to life,

So it’s very important a gas safety certificate is valid for the property in question.

All gas appliances are checked for safety, ensuring they are of no danger to the user.

The gas supply is checked at the gas meter to check for any gas leaks.

If your landlord did not give you a copy of the gas safety certificate then
I would advise you to call in a local Gas Safe Registered Company to carry out the safety checks before you use any of the appliances.

You want to know you will be safe when you use the appliances.

 

Tell the landlord you are arranging for a local gas safe registered company to come and test your appliances.

He may not like it, but the law states any property rented must have a certificate in place before renting out, it’s your right to know you are safe.

If he tells you that he has a certificate or is arranging for one to be carried out, tell him you need it now.

Worst scenario, report him to gas safe who will investigate and prosecute.

Carbon monoxide

as we know can and will kill, you cannot see it or even smell it, so it’s worthwhile investing in a carbon monoxide detector,

they are not very expensive around £15-20. A good landlord will have already fitted one to his property.

Like I said at the begging gas safety for tenants seems to get overlooked for some reason, know your rights before you take over a tenancy.

You have the same rights as anybody to be safe the property you live in.

 

If you are a student we all know it can the best time of your life so always be safe? Don’t fall asleep in front of a gas fire, turn it off and be safe.

Gas Safe has information on their website about gas safety for tenants.

Landlords Gas Safety Inspection, What Are They, Why Do I Need One?”

Landlords Gas Safety Inspection

 

The Landlords gas safety inspection is a safety check of all the gas appliances within a property that is classed as rented.

Once an inspection is carried out the gas safe engineer carrying out the inspection will issue a certificate with his findings.

Under the United Kingdom law any property that is classed as rented and this includes local councils and housing associations need to have an annual gas safety inspection, even if the property is only rented out for 7 days, a gas safety inspection is needed.

It is the responsibility of whoever manages the property to arrange for this inspection to be carried out.

Failure to comply with this regulation could lead to severe penalties.

If a property is rented out to new tenants and there is still 5 months left before the next inspection is due, it is recommended that a new inspection is carried out to make sure everything is still safe.

The previous tenant may have tampered with the gas supply or appliances and left them in an unsafe condition.

What is a Landlords Gas Safety Inspection

All gas appliances within the property need to be checked for safety, this involves checking the flue of the appliance is not leaking carbon monoxide and is terminating correctly.

Checking that the air supply if needed, is of the correct size and is not restricted.

Any gas appliance that is classed as open flue needs fresh air to burn correctly, not enough air will make the appliance burn incorrectly and the products of combustion could enter the room instead of terminating up the flue.

Every room that has a gas appliance fitted needs to have a carbon monoxide alarm installed, this will also be tested and recorded on the certificate.

All safety devices on the appliance need to be checked to make sure they are working correctly.

A gas tightness test needs to be carried out, this is checked at the gas meter.

This test will highlight any gas leaks within the property.

While at the gas meter checking that the gas supply pipe is fitted with the correct size earth bonding.

Once the inspection is finished two copies of the certificate will be issued, one should be left with the tenant and the other copy goes to the property management or landlord.

If any faults are found they will be noted on the inspection certificate, another certificate called a warning notice will now be issued with details of any faults found.

The landlord will have 30 days to rectify any faults, this will depend on the severity of the fault.

If the fault is classed as immediately dangerous the gas supply to that appliance will be disconnect and made safe.

Landlords by law, have to make sure that the property they are letting out is safe, too many landlords try to avoid having this inspection carried out because of the cost involved.

If you are a tenant make sure your landlord has this gas safety check carried out annually and that you have a copy of the certificate for your own records.

If you are a landlord make sure you comply to the gas safety regulations, keep your tenants safe and always have a landlords gas safety inspection carried when it becomes due.