Landlords have a duty of care, which means they are responsible for running a safe and compliant home. One of the most important measures is completing up-to-date safety checks on any gas appliances within the property, as these can pose a risk if left unchecked.
In this guide, we’ll cover all the key responsibilities expected of landlords to protect themselves and their tenants against gas hazards.
What are my responsibilities for gas safety? As a landlord, it’s important to be aware of and tend to all of your responsibilities when it comes to gas safety.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations outline what landlords need to do to keep their rental properties safe:
- Any gas equipment you supply must be safely installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- You must also have a registered engineer complete an annual gas safety check on all appliances and flues.
- Your tenants must receive a gas safety check record before they move into the property, or within 28 days of the check.
The legislation also outlines three legal responsibilities:
- Completing gas safety checks
- Maintaining a Landlord Gas Safety Record
- Maintenance of all gas pipework, appliances, chimneys, and flues
What is a Landlord’s Gas Safety record? Gas Safety Records are a legal document that the gas engineer must provide upon completion of any work. A Landlord’s Gas Safety Record is similar and is required for any rented property in the UK. One of the key differences is that the Landlord’s Gas Safety Record must be provided to the tenants as well as a copy kept by you or your letting agent as proof that safety checks are being conducted regularly.
The law states that a copy of this record must be issued to current tenants within 28 days of safety checks and at the start of a tenancy for new tenants.
What happens if my property fails its gas safety check? If the engineer finds any defects while testing your property, they will indicate this on the certificate by ticking the “Not safe to use” checkbox for the faulty appliance.
There are several different codes to indicate that appliances are unsafe for use:
- Immediately Dangerous (ID) – This is an appliance that poses an immediate danger to life.
- At Risk (AR) - If an appliance or installation has at least one fault that could pose a danger to life, it will be labelled as AR.
- Not to Current Standards (NCS) – This refers to an appliance or installation that does not meet current standards but is technically safe.
If any immediate dangers are flagged up, your engineer will request permission to disconnect the gas supply and advise you on any remedial work that needs to be done to resolve the issues.
How to check your property’s appliances ? With every new gas appliance, make sure to check the manufacturer’s guidelines to find out how often a service is recommended. If you cannot find any guidelines on this, it’s best to complete an annual service. Additionally, a Gas Safety engineer will be able to advise you on whether an appliance needs more check-ups than what is typically recommended.
Gas safety tips for landlords Providing your tenants with information on how to keep themselves safe is key. Make sure they know exactly where and how to turn the gas on and off and what procedure to follow in case of a gas emergency. You can outline this in your tenancy agreement or arrange a visit to go through this with them in person.
It’s also vital that you ensure that you only instruct Gas Safe registered and qualified engineers to conduct checks on the property. This is a legal requirement for landlords and is an integral step in ensuring that the home is safe to live in.
A typical gas safety check will not cover installation pipework, so make sure to ask your engineer to take a look at it when they conduct a gas safety check.
Can letting agents take ownership of gas responsibilities? If you instruct a letting agent, they can take on all legal and safety obligations related to your property, ensuring that it remains compliant and that you and your tenants are safe. Having an expert on your side can also save you a great deal of time from the moment your property is first marketed until the deposit is returned, allowing you a hassle-free experience.
