Gas Safety Checks New Legislation effective from 6th April 2018; 

Landlord gas checks will now be allowed up to 2 months ahead of time from the 6th of April to start the process early and have a valid test certificate in place before the old one runs out without affecting the renewal dates. This is to prevent landlords and agents falling foul of the law when they experience difficulties in arranging access to a property for annual gas safety checks.

Failure to comply with the gas and other safety standards in rented properties render landlords open to heavy fines and or even prison if things go wrong. The new Gas Safety (Installation and Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2018 will ‘amend’ those in force since 1998. The Health & Safety Executive detail they are not aimed at reducing or relaxing safety standards, but to allow greater flexibility over when regular checks are being carried out.

Landlords and agents can’t force property access without a tenant’s cooperation, so through no fault of their own, they may be put in a position where they are breaking the law. The new system is designed to give landlords, agents and tenants more time to comply. Any transgressions though will now become less likely to be tolerated by the enforcement agencies, including local authorities and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).

Gas Safe Register Tips on Gas Safety in Rental Property:

  1. All gas appliances in a rental property must be safety checked annually by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A tightness test of the pipework to ensure there are no gas leaks, and a visual inspection of accessible gas pipework should also be completed as part of the checks to ensure the installation is in good condition.
  2. Gas safe engineers must carry a valid ID card at all times. The front will confirm their registration and identity, the back will confirm they can do the gas work you’ve employed them to do.
  3. Be aware of the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning which include – headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse. An audible carbon monoxide monitor must be located in any room with a solid fuel appliance, and a gas burning appliance.
  4. Be aware of signs that a gas appliance isn’t working properly– lazy yellow flames, excessive condensation and black marks/stains. However, gas appliances can be unsafe without displaying these symptoms.
  5. Gas appliances should only be used for their intended purposes only – i.e. cookers should not be used to heat a room.
  6. Provide enough ventilation for gas appliances to burn correctly, making sure no air vents or chimneys are blocked.
  7. Tenants must be provided with a copy of a current annual gas safety check certificate – at the start of their tenancy and updates

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