The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), with support from the National Landlords Association (NLA), has launched the new microsite as a one-stop-shop to help landlords understand what they should be doing to keep tenants safe in any properties they let.

The website breaks down the information into easy to use sections including repair and maintenance, annual gas safety checks and record keeping as well as giving answers to frequently asked questions.

In 2008/09 15 people died from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning associated with domestic gas appliances, due mainly to gas appliances having been badly fitted or poorly serviced.

HSE and Local Authorities enforce the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 in both domestic and commercial premises which include statutory obligations on landlords to maintain gas appliances that they own.

By law, all landlords are required to arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to check all gas appliances and flues within 12 months of being installed and then at least every twelve months. They are also required to complete any necessary maintenance and repairs of gas appliances, flues and pipework.

Recently a number of prosecutions involving landlords and gas safety have been in the headlines, including a fine of £19,000 for two landlords after they put a mother and child at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, more on this story here. As well as a case regarding a landlord sentenced to community service for failing to carry out service checks on gas appliances, read more here.

You can contact us to find out how you can deal with gas safety on 01509 550023.

Visit the new Health and Safety website.