Landlords Face New Gas Safety Regulations

Landords have specific legal responsibilities to their tenants with regards to gas safety. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 deal with landlords’ duties to make sure gas appliances, fittings and flues provided for tenants are safe.

If a property which is rented out is equipped with gas appliances, the landlord has three main responsibilities. Firstly maintenance which involves ensuring that pipework, appliances and flues must be maintained in a safe condition.

David Gascoyne, Sales and Letting Manager of Residential Estates said “It is now the requirement that gas appliances should be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If these are not available it is recommended that they are serviced annually unless advised otherwise by a Gas Safe registered engineer”.

Secondly, Gas safety checks must be carried out every 12 months on every gas appliance/flue. A gas safety check will make sure gas fittings and appliances are safe to use.

Thirdly, the landlord must provide a record of the annual gas safety certificate to the tenant within 28 days of theinspection being completed or to new tenants before they move in. Landlords must keep copies of the gas safety record for two years.

Mr Gascoyne explains, “All installation, maintenance and safety checks need to be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Additionally, if a tenant has their own gas appliance that the landlord has not provided, then the landlord is responsible for the maintenance of the gas pipework but not for the actual appliance”.

He adds, “Landlords should also make sure that the tenants know where to turn off the gas and what to do in the event of a gas emergency”.

About Residential Estates

For over 25 years, Residential Estates has been a prominent independent property management company based in Chester and operating across the North West. The company has expanded into the global market and therefore has clients all over the world. Residential Estates is Chester's first internet based agency and it uniquely combines extensive experience, local knowledge and a drive to have a proactive approach to managing property.

In addition to Residential Estates’ excellent reputation there is a diverse range of property management services available.

These include sales and lettings, property investment, land acquisitions, property management, serviced accommodation and international property sales and investments. Residential Estates has the expertise and knowledge to ensure that buying, selling, investing and renting is always a smooth and simple process.

For more information, please go to www.residential-estates.co.uk

Or contact Victoria Wilson (Marketing & Communications Manager):

victoria.wilson@residential-estates.co.uk

t. 01244 343355

Residential Estates, Maple House, 23 Watergate Row South, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2LE