As a Landlord you have many responsibilities towards the tenant and the property. This may mean that a few are forgotten by mistake but they could become very costly. This is what the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has found out recently. One of the duties as a landlord is to make sure all gas appliances are regularly serviced to check that they are safe to use; however, this local authority forgot to do so.
Legal Obligation
By law, landlords are required to have a safety check done on all gas appliances and the flues yearly. As a result of this landlords are also expected to provide a report of the check, 28 days after it has been carried out and at the beginning of new tenancies. Each landlord must retain a copy of the report for two years after the check has been carried out as proof.
If there is an accident and you don’t have the proper documents you will be liable as a landlord and you could be hit with a large fine. Something your landlord insurance quote certainly will not account for as it will be a legal matter.
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham failed to provide these records for 297 properties which mean these tenants were potentially at risk as they did not fulfil their responsibility.
Inspection Carried Out
Inspector, Nicola Maisuria, has said, “Carbon Monoxide can kill quickly without warning and approximately 20 people die each year as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning from gas appliances and flues that have not been properly installed, maintained or that are poorly ventilated.”
She went on to add: “As a landlord, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham are legally responsible for the safety of its tenants in relation to gas safety. In failing to carry out the required annual gas safety checks on appliances in its properties, and maintain records of each safety check, the authority could have exposed tenants to additional potential risks of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.”
This is the responsibility of private landlords too so make sure you aren’t caught out and ensure the safety of your tenants.