Landlord checks

As a landlord, you are responsible for the safety of your tenants. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 specifically deal with the duties of landlords to ensure that gas appliances, fittings and flues provided for tenants' use are safe. Landlords should:

ensure installation pipe work, appliances and flues provided for tenants are maintained in a safe condition

ensure an annual safety check is carried out on each appliance and/or flue that you provide for tenants use

ensure maintenance and annual safety checks are carried out by a Gas Safe registered installer

keep a record of each safety check for 2 years

issue a copy of the safety check to each existing tenant within 28 days of check being completed and to any new tenant before they move in

ensure all gas equipment (including any appliance left by a previous tenant) is safe or otherwise removed before re-letting

if a managing agent is used to help the landlord in meeting their duties, make sure that the management contract clearly specifies who is to make arrangements for maintenance and safety checks to be carried out and for keeping records. However, the landlord maintains overall responsibility for ensuring duties are met, irrespective of whether a managing agent is employed

ensure that anyone carrying out work on gas appliances/fittings and/or flues provided for tenants use has the required competence and that only Gas Safe registered installers are used

Tenants

Tenants should allow your landlord access to the property to carry out maintenance or safety checks on appliances and/or flues that they provide for your use. Gas appliances and/or flues you own should be regularly maintained and a safety check carried out at least once every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered installer. If there is any doubt about the safety of gas equipment it should be turned off and not touched until checked by a competent installer, and remedial action taken as necessary.