HSE/WM/367/07 28 November 2007

Advice for landlords on gas safety

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning landlords to make sure that their gas safety checks are up to date and their gas appliances maintained in a safe condition.

By law, all landlords must have gas appliances, including heating systems, checked annually by an installer registered with the Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI). Once completed, the landlord should provide the tenant with a copy of the safety check record.

To raise landlords’ awareness of the dangers of failing to maintain gas appliances properly, HSE is exhibiting in The Landlord Show at the NEC, Birmingham, on Thursday 6 December. Billed as the UK’s premier residential landlord show, the event is open from 12.30-7.30pm (12.30-19.30hrs) and admission is free.

HSE inspectors and gas officers will be on hand to advise landlords of their legal obligations, highlighting areas of health and safety that they need to be aware of and how to address them.

If gas does not burn correctly, it produces excess carbon monoxide, which is highly poisonous.

Over the last ten years there have been 247 carbon monoxide poisoning incidents in the Midlands, resulting in 36 fatalities and 464 non-fatal injuries. In terms of fatalities, last year was the worst in the past ten with 19 incidents causing 8 deaths and 27 injuries.

Carbon monoxide is a hidden killer with early symptoms often as simple as tiredness or a flu-like feeling.

HSE’s Nick Ratty, Head of Operations for HSE in the West Midlands Region, said: “Carbon monoxide poisoning strikes without warning. You can’t see, hear, taste or even smell carbon monoxide.

“Around two thirds of all fatal incidents would probably have been avoided if gas appliances had been serviced by a competent installer in the previous year.

“These gas safety checks only normally cost around £50 and are vitally important, allowing faults to be detected long before they pose a risk to the occupier.

”Landlords of rented properties should also remember that gas boilers, gas fires and other gas appliances should be regularly maintained in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions by a CORGI registered installer as well as having annual gas safety checks carried out on them.

“Any landlords attending The Landlord Show who would like more information about their responsibilities are welcome to visit our stand, where our team of advisers will be happy to help them. Advice and guidance is also available on the HSE website.”

All residential landlords must:

• Ensure that gas appliances, flues and associated gas pipe work etc are maintained, in a safe condition, by a CORGI registered installer;
• Have an annual safety check carried out, by a CORGI registered installer, on each gas appliance that they own in the properties that they let; and
• Provide tenants with a copy of the record before they move in and within 28 days of each subsequent annual check being performed.

HSE’s website provides advice for landlords and letting agents on how to comply with gas safety legislation.  It not only provides information that consumers need to know in order to manage gas appliances or equipment safely but also tells them what to do in an emergency.

Notes to editors

1. Guidance on domestic gas safety can be found at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/index.htm
2. The involvement of the whole gas industry in raising the awareness of CO issues is welcomed by HSE.  HSE is continuing to work with the gas industry towards an industry-wide approach to the funding of public awareness of CO hazards – and other gas safety issues.  This is a key issue in the current review of gas safety.  
3. Radio interviews can be arranged through GNN (below).

Public enquiries:

HSE InfoLine, Tel: 0845 345 0055, visit: www.hse.gov.uk/contact
or write to: HSE InfoLine, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG.

Press enquiries (Journalists only):

Ray Prichard, 0121 352 5508
or Bob Wade on 0121 352 5525

HSE information and press releases can be accessed on the Internet: http://www.hse.gov.uk/

Issued on behalf of the HSE by Government News Network, Tel: 0121 352 5508.