According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), around fifteen people die every year from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning caused by gas appliances & flues which are not installed, maintained, or ventilated properly. Although you cannot see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide, it can kill anyone in just a couple of hours. That’s why annual gas safety checks are a legal requirement for all rented properties across the UK and many other countries.
If you’re a landlord, it is critical that you know what exactly is required of you when it comes to gas safety; or else the lives of your tenants could be in danger. As per The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, it is the responsibility of the landlord to ensure that all the gas appliances, flues, and chimneys are safe and working properly. Besides, the landlord must have an annual gas safety check and secure a certificate confirming that the standards required have been successfully met.
What Is A Landlord Gas Safety Check and What Does It Include?
In simple words, a landlord gas safety check refers to an inspection of the gas appliances (boilers, chimneys, ovens, flues, pipework, and other fixtures & fittings which burn or exhaust gas) by a certified Gas Safe Registered engineer.
In order to assess the safety of your appliances and verify if they are working properly, a Gas Safe engineer checks the following–
- Appliances are operating at the correct pressure
- Ventilation ducts are completely open and unobstructed
- Chimneys and flues are clear so that fumes and gases can discharge safely
- Safety devices are working properly
- The installation is safe as well as suitable for the location
Each of the appliances is thoroughly checked and recorded to determine if it is safe to continue using them. If any of the appliances need maintenance, the landlord is informed about it.
How Long Does A Landlord Gas Safety Check Take?
Typically, a landlord gas safety check takes around 30-60 minutes for a residential property. However, it may take a bit longer in case the need for repairs arises. Some of the issues raised during the gas check may be fixed right away if they can pose a significant risk to life. Other issues however are mentioned in the landlord gas safety check report so that they can be fixed later on. Besides, the size of the property may also affect the time it takes for the inspection.
Once the check is done, the landlord is issued a Gas Safety Lease Protocol or Gas Safety Certificate detailing the checks that have been performed.
Some of the information that the certificate contains –
- Which appliances or pipework were inspected, and where they are located
- The safety check results for each of the appliances and pipework.
- Safety issues identified during the inspection
- Any remedial action required to fix the issues
- Details about the landlord/letting agency & the property address
- Details about the engineer who performed the inspection, along with their signature and the date of the gas check.
Who Can Perform The Landlord Gas Safety Checks?
If you’re thinking of getting an annual landlord gas safety check, make sure you hire the right person for the job. A Gas Safe Registered engineer who is trained to provide the Gas Safe certification is an expert in the gas field and can perform gas checks in the most efficient and timely manner. So, look for a reputed gas safety certificate provider from First Response 360 so that they can send a certified heating engineer to your place.