A private landlord from Cornwall has been hit with a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 24 months. In addition, the rogue was fined £5,000 and told to pay costs of £5,524, after negligence towards gas appliance maintenance at his rental properties on St Thomas, Launceston.
Truro Crown Court was informed that the landlord David Bush, failed to maintain the gas appliances in two properties- both of which were not inspected by a registered Gas Safe Register engineer.
Rogue landlord jailed for Gas Safety negligence
Gas Safety
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive also found that Bush failed to obtain a Landlord Gas Safety Record after May 2014, while the appliances in the property had not been serviced for at least 4 years.
Mr Bush was punished after pleading guilty to breaching Regulations 36 (2) (a) and 36 (3) (a) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and Regulation 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Following the hearing, Health and Safety inspector Simon Jones, noted: ‘Mr Bush put the residents and other members of the public at risk of harm by failing to maintain gas appliances in the domestic property.’
‘Landlords must ensure they obtain a Landlord’s Gas Safety Record and maintain all gas appliances in accordance with the law.’[1]
Those looking for a comprehensive overview on Gas Safety should check our guide.
[1] https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2017/9/landlord-given-suspended-sentence-for-putting-residents-at-risk-of-harm