Health and Safety Failings – Landlord sentenced for gas safety failings

Landlord sentenced for gas safety failings

Key Facts

• A tenant raised concerns about gas safety in the property he was renting.
• The HSE investigation identified failings on the landlord’s part
• The landlord was given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay costs.

The Case

A London landlord had been sentenced after tenant raised concerns about gas safety at his property.

The tenant raised concerns about a carbon monoxide leak, and the National Grid switched off the gas supply. The tenant then made a complaint to the HSE about the situation.

The subsequent HSE investigation found that the landlord had failed to have a gas boiler checked for safety by a suitably qualified engineer and had failed to obtain the necessary safety certificate from the Gas Safe Register.

The case was heard at Westminster Magistrates Court where the landlord pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 36(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was given an 8-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to pay £80 victim surcharge plus costs of £300.

What the HSE had to say

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector, Neil Fry said

‘It is the duty of landlords to ensure gas safety checks are carried out to protect tenants from the fatal risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.’

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