Posts with tag: gas safety week

Survey finds landlords denied access for important checks such as gas safety

Published On: September 20, 2022 at 9:12 am

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Categories: Landlord News,Property News

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A recent survey revealed nearly half of landlords have at some point been denied access to carry out property checks.

Landlords letting properties with gas appliances are legally required to have a gas safety inspection carried out each year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. A copy of the gas safety certificate must then be issued to the tenants.

However, a recent survey of 1,100 landlords carried out by Landlord Action has found that 46% of landlords have been denied access to their rental property to carry out routine checks or gas safety inspections.

In support of last week’s Gas Safety Week (Monday 12th – Friday 18th September), Landlord Action is reminding landlords of the importance of carrying out annual gas safety checks and requesting that tenants ensure they grant necessary access to landlords to facilitate this. 

Paul Shamplina, founder of Landlord Action, says: “Gas safety checks are not only a landlord’s legal obligation, but they are also imperative to ensuring the safety of the property and the tenants living there. Of course, sometimes it comes down to when is convenient, but when tenants continually deny access, it becomes a real problem.”

Landlord Action is currently in the process of putting forward a case for introducing a discretionary ground for possession of unreasonably refusing landlords access for inspections. This would help give landlords the necessary authority when requesting access.

Paul adds: “As the market evolves and the balance of power shifts towards the tenant, landlords are contacting us with increasingly complex legal challenges, which are likely to broaden in the future as the sector reforms. We already offer access injunctions to complete gas safety checks and are currently looking at what other support landlords may need.”

Gas Safety Week – Five tips for landlords from Ideal Heating

Published On: September 16, 2020 at 8:13 am

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Categories: Landlord News,Lettings News

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This week is the 10th anniversary of Gas Safety Week. During September every year, the Gas Safe Register works to raise awareness of gas safety in homes.

Just Landlords, the specialist landlord insurance provider, has updated its guide for landlords and tenants in order to help spread awareness across the UK.

Boiler supplier Ideal Heating has also provided the following five tips to help avoid unwanted breakdowns:

1. Get annual checks by a Gas Safe registered engineer 

  • Your gas appliances need a safety check every year – failing to correctly maintain your appliance could lead to serious problems including carbon monoxide poisoning
  • When having your service done, only use Gas Safe Registered engineers. This includes when installing any appliances too. Make sure you insist on seeing their Gas Safe ID card
  • This responsibility falls to landlords for appliances that are provided by you. Keep track of your Gas Safety Records and ensure gas appliances, fittings and chimneys are safe (in line with the Gas Safety Regulations 1998). If tenants have their own gas appliances in the rented property it is their responsibility to ensure that they are regularly maintained and serviced
  • Always ensure that your Gas Safe engineer has a copy of the manufacturer’s instructions and services your appliance in accordance with these. Your appliance manufacturer will be able to help if you don’t have a copy

2. Never block the ventilation around your appliance 

  • A lack of ventilation around appliances, whether indoors or outdoors can lead to a build-up on carbon monoxide
  • Ensure any gas appliances have good ventilation and are used in the intended way

3. Get a carbon monoxide detector and test it regularly

  • Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in your property/ies. Early warnings can save lives!
  • It’s also important to be aware of the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. Encourage your tenants to know the symptoms which include, headaches, dizziness, nausea, tiredness, and breathlessness. (Think about whether symptoms improve when you leave the house – are others in the home suffering similar symptoms?)

4. Test your CO alarm regularly and check that it is still within the expiry date printed on the alarm

  • Encourage your tenants to check appliances for warning signs! If appliances have a pilot light, do you have to relight it? If so you should get your appliance checked 
  • If you see yellow, lazy flames on your gas hob, rather than the usual blue ones, your hob needs to be checked immediately
  • Any staining or excessive soot build up on or around appliances might also signal problems
  • Is your appliance performing differently to normal or displaying fault lights or codes? Time for a Gas Safe registered engineer to check it
  • Check when you last had your gas appliance serviced and ensure you regularly have it maintained
  • All other fuel-burning appliances (e.g log burning stoves) should also be checked and maintained by qualified engineers

You can find further advice on the Gas Safe Register website: www.gassaferegister.co.uk/help-and-advice.

Chris Jessop, Customer Services Director Ideal Heating, comments: “Many people do not take gas safety seriously enough. Neglecting to follow guidance on checks and maintenance can be life-threatening and so initiatives like Gas Safety Week are massively important in helping protect people, homes, and workplaces.

“At Ideal Heating, we place huge importance into making sure staff are fully trained and up to date on the latest best practise. The safety of our customers is paramount and we work closely with Gas Safe Register in support of their initiatives throughout our normal working practices every day.”

Problems with gas in a home can cause serious health issues concern which might even be a threat to life. Getting your appliances checked regularly can help to prevent this.

You can enter your postcode here to see reported gas threats in your area: www.staygassafe.co.uk/.

Many unaware that Gas Safe Register is official register of gas engineers

Published On: September 18, 2019 at 8:50 am

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Categories: Property News

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New research shows that 58% of consumers still think CORGI registration is a must-have when choosing a gas engineer.

This is worrying, as CORGI is no longer the official register of gas engineers, having been replaced by the Gas Safe Register in 2009.

The research included a poll of 2,000 UK adults, conducted by heating and hot water safety specialists Aspect. It highlighted that, when it comes to choosing a gas engineer, CORGI registration is more influential on consumer perceptions than recommendations from friends and family, the specific demonstrable experience of the individual gas engineers, positive online reviews and even manufacturer accreditations.

‘Must-haves’ when choosing a gas engineer

  • Gas Safe registered – 64% said this is a ‘must-have’
  • CORGI registered – 58% said this is a ‘must-have’
  • Highly recommended by people I trust – 42% said this is a ‘must-have’
  • Lots of relevant experience fixing the problem – 37% said this is a ‘must-have’
  • Positive online reviews – 32% said this is a ‘must-have’
  • Accredited by the manufacturer of my appliance – 28% said this is a ‘must-have’

The poll, which was conducted ahead of 2019’s Gas Safety Week (16th September – 22nd September), revealed that while two-thirds of people say being Gas Safe registered is a must-have, CORGI’s legacy means consumers still see CORGI registration as an official endorsement. 

Despite it being a legal requirement for anyone working on a gas supply to be on the Gas Safe register since 2009, a significant number of people continue to search for “CORGI registered gas engineer” on Google. 

Nick Bizley, director of operations at Aspect, believes the confusion is bad for Gas Safe registered gas engineers and potentially dangerous for consumers. 

“CORGI hasn’t been the official register of gas engineers for ten years now, but our engineers are often asked by customers if they are CORGI registered.

“And we still receive high volumes of search traffic to our website from people searching for ‘CORGI registered gas engineers’. This tells us that people still believe CORGI is the official watchdog for gas engineers, which obviously isn’t the case.

“It’s a problem for engineers as well as customers. Our engineers take the time to explain that they aren’t CORGI registered, but are Gas Safe registered, but many report that this still causes alarm among customers, especially older ones. And because of this, customers are faced with confusion over who they should trust.

“While CORGI still exists as a voluntary register and commercial services provider, it is not clear how consumers are able to check whether a gas engineer is CORGI registered or not, or how many gas engineers are currently on the register.

“Manufacturers could help consumers here, by including clear advice on their appliances and the associated user-manuals, that only Gas Safe Registered gas engineers are legally allowed to work on them.”

Gas Safety Week May be Coming to an End, but it Still Matters

Published On: September 22, 2017 at 8:13 am

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Categories: Landlord News

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Gas Safety Week May be Coming to an End, but it Still Matters

Gas Safety Week May be Coming to an End, but it Still Matters

This weekend may mark the end of 2017’s Gas Safety Week, but landlords must remember that gas safety still matters going forward.

Earlier this week, when Gas Safe Register’s Gas Safety Week 2017 began, we reminded all landlords of their legal obligations regarding gas safety, to ensure that you keep your tenants safe when they’re living in your properties.

Although gas safety is important all year round, Gas Safety Week is the perfect opportunity to raise awareness amongst homeowners, landlords and tenants of their responsibilities concerning gas safety.

Our partner Just Landlords has also highlighted this week how costly failing to comply with your legal duties can be – watch out!

To help all landlords keep their properties gas safe and protect their tenants’ health and safety, we have created a comprehensive guide to your responsibilities. Read it for free here: /landlords-guide-gas-safety/

Although Gas Safety Week comes to a close on Sunday, we are calling on all landlords to stick to the law and comply with all of the regulations regarding gas safety.

The Chief Executive of ARLA Propertymark (the Association of Residential Letting Agents), David Cox, reiterates the organisation’s support for gas safety awareness: “As Gas Safety Week draws to a close, ARLA Propertymark highlights the campaign and the importance of gas safety. Agents and landlords are legally responsible for the safety of their tenants, so it’s important they ensure that maintenance and annual safety checks on gas appliances are carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer. In the last three years, there have been 22 deaths and nearly 1,000 gas-related injuries, and Gas Safety Week gives us an opportunity to reiterate the need for better safety measures in rental properties.

“Providing a Gas Safety Certificate to tenants is already a legal requirement for landlords, and provides peace of mind for tenants that the property and its appliances are safe. Renters shouldn’t be afraid to demand this document if they aren’t given it at the start of an agreement. It’s now time for the Government to make best practice legal, and enforce compulsory carbon monoxide alarms in every rented property. At the moment, they only need to be in rooms with solid fuel burning, but we should be doing all we can to protect tenants.”

Don’t forget to keep up with your gas safety requirements when Gas Safety Week finishes for another year!

Help us Fight for a Gas Safe Nation this Week

Published On: September 18, 2017 at 8:08 am

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Landlord News is proud to be working with Gas Safe Register to promote Gas Safety Week 2017, which starts today, to help fight for a gas safe nation.

Gas Safety Week is an annual safety week to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances. It is co-ordinated by Gas Safe Register – the official list of gas engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas.

Landlords must understand that badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Every year, thousands of people across the UK are diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning. It is a highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly, with no warning.

Landlords are legally responsible for the safety of their tenants. For this reason, you must make sure that a Gas Safe registered engineer conducts maintenance and annual safety checks on gas appliances in your rental properties.

Alongside Gas Safe Register, we have created a comprehensive and free guide to gas safety for landlords, explaining all of your obligations: /landlords-guide-gas-safety/

Help us Fight for a Gas Safe Nation this Week

Help us Fight for a Gas Safe Nation this Week

As it’s Gas Safety Week, here is a short summary of your legal duties as a landlord:

  • Pipe-work, appliances and flues provided for tenants must be maintained in a safe condition.
  • All appliances and flues provided for tenants’ use must have an annual safety check. It is important to set a reminder so that you don’t forget to arrange this.
  • An engineer registered with Gas Safe Register must carry out maintenance and annual safety checks.
  • All gas equipment (including any appliances left by a previous tenant) must be safe or otherwise removed before re-letting.
  • You must provide your tenant with a Gas Safety Record within 28 days of completing the check, or to any new tenant before they move in.
  • You must keep a copy of the Gas Safety Record for two years.

Before any gas work is undertaken, always check the engineer’s UD card and make sure that they are qualified for the work you need doing. You should also encourage your tenants to do the same.

Help us fight for a gas safe nation this Gas Safety Week by keeping on top of your responsibilities!

Landlords, Remember that it’s Gas Safety Week!

Published On: September 20, 2016 at 8:31 am

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All landlords and homeowners must remember the importance of gas safety this week, as it’s Gas Safe Register’s Gas Safety Week!

Landlords, Remember that it's Gas Safety Week!

Landlords, Remember that it’s Gas Safety Week!

From 19th to 25th September 2016, Gas Safe Register is holding its annual Gas Safety Week for the sixth year running. It sees organisations from across the UK working together to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause devastating gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

Although gas safety is important all year round, it is not always a landlord’s or homeowner’s top priority. Gas Safety Week provides a platform for the gas industry, consumer organisations and individuals to focus on spreading the word.

Gas Safe Register reminds all landlords and homeowners to remember that unsafe gas appliances can put you and your tenants at risk of CO poisoning, gas leaks, fires and explosions.

You must:

  • Check your gas appliances every year
  • Check that your gas engineer is Gas Safe registered
  • Check your engineer’s Gas Safe ID card

If you are worried about gas safety in your area, you can use the Gas Safe Register’s simple postcode tool that will show you all the dangerous gas appliances that have been found in your area.

If you’re a landlord, we have a handy guide that offers all the advice and information you need on complying with gas safety regulations. With specialist tips from Gas Safe Register, our guide will ensure that you stick to the law and protect your tenants: /landlords-guide-gas-safety/

The Managing Director of the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), David Cox, reiterates the group’s support for Gas Safety Week: “ARLA wholly supports Gas Safety Week; conducting gas checks in any property is hugely important, but especially in rented properties, to minimise risks for tenants. Failing to arrange an annual gas safety check, which in the worst case can lead to injury or even death, is a legal requirement. Anything that can be done to increase tenant awareness and reduce the risk in rental properties is a good thing.

“ARLA regularly communicates the importance of gas safety to its members, reminding them of the importance of conducting annual checks with a Gas Safe registered engineer, but Gas Safety Week provides a great opportunity to further raise awareness of the risks associated with not conducting safety checks.”

Landlords, remember gas safety this week and every week, to ensure your tenants are safe and you comply with the law.