Gas Safety for Landlords

MAQ fm LTD gas engineers are qualified to carry out the yearly safety checks and will present you with your Landlords Gas Safety Certificate once your property has been inspected and has passed the checks.

All commercial landlords who rent part or all of a property have been forced by a law which was passed through government in 1996 to have all gas appliances and pipework checked and maintained annually.

Benefits of Regular Appliance Maintenance

You will be covered under the latest legal requirements

Your building occupiers will be safe

Your fuel efficiency can be improved

The equipment's lifespan will be increased

Equipment reliability will be increased and breakdowns reduced

Problems with heating will be reduced

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 states:

Part F 35

It shall be the duty of every employer or self-employed person to ensure that any gas appliance, installation pipework or flue installed at any place of work under his control is maintained in a safe condition so as to prevent risk of injury to any person.

Part F 36(3)(a)

Ensure that each appliance and flue to which that duty extends is checked for safety within 12 months of being installed and at intervals of not more than 12 months since it was last checked for safety.

Part F 35(3)(c)

Ensure that a record in respect of the appliance or flue so checked is made and retained.

Landlords and their agents have a statutory duty to:

Ensure that all commercial gas appliances, fittings and flues are maintained in a safe condition. This means that you should have all gas installations and appliances serviced regularly plus keep a checkable record of the gas services carried out.

Ensure a commercial safety check is carried out on all gas appliances and flues annually or before the start of a new tenancy.

Make sure commercial gas installations and appliances are checked before a new tenancy is started regardless of whether a safety certificate is current.

Have all installation, maintenance and safety checks carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer only.

Keep a record of each commercial gas safety check for 2 years as this will be issued by the registered GAS SAFE  installer/inspector.

Give each current tenant a copy of the GAS SAFE  installer's safety check report within 28 days of the safety check, or to new tenants before occupation.

Landlords should:

Make sure occupiers have easy access to the gas meter and cut-off valve.

Ensure your tenants know that they must turn off the gas supply to the property and call TRANSCO on 0800 111 999 if they suspect a gas or carbon monoxide leak.

Stress to tenants that repairs to gas appliances are not to be carried out by themselves.

With reasonable notice, advise your tenants that you will need to get access to the property to carry out the necessary safety checks and maintenance to the gas appliances.

Ensure tenants are advised not to use any gas appliance they think is unsafe.

Landlords should not:

Attempt to or allow anyone other than a GAS SAFE  registered engineer to maintain or repair gas installations or appliances.

Landlord's Responsibility:

All commercial landlords who rent out property have to have a valid GAS SAFE gas safety certificate. This certificate is valid for 12 months or until the tenancy changes hands and can only be given by a GAS SAFE registered gas engineer.

The engineer has to check these areas in order to issue a gas safety certificate:

The gas supply

Gas appliances

Gas flues

Ventilation

Landlords are required to keep copies of the inspection report and certificate and should keep records of any works carried out. You may ask for a copy if needed.

If a problem is found by the engineer, the landlord is required to fix them using a GAS SAFE  register gas engineer. Failure to do this or failure to provide a current gas safety certificate can be a criminal offence which may lead to prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive. The gas engineer has the power to seal off any faulty equipment or request the gas company (TRANSCO) to cut off the supply to the property.

New gas appliances

New appliances must always be FITTED and commissioned by a registered GAS SAFE gas engineer (unless carried out by the home owner him/herself who can PROVE competency (i.e. is gas trained and qualified).

What if the landlord does not comply?

If a landlord does not have a valid gas safety certificate, or does not carry out required repairs, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has the power to prosecute. Failure to follow gas safety requirements is a criminal offence and may result in fines or imprisonment.