What are a landlord’s gas safety obligations?

Gas safety for landlords in Chelmsford

Are you a landlord in Chelmsford?

Here at Chelmsford Gas Services we’ve been servicing, repairing and replacing boilers and heating systems in Chelmsford for many, many years. And we’ve seen pretty much everything so we’re always able to give you the most appropriate advice.

Over the years we’ve advised and helped many local landlords with meeting safety requirements for gas appliances in their properties.

Here are our top 3 tips in meeting the requirements if you’re a landlord in Chelmsford.

1. Don’t underestimate your legal responsibilities

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that landlords are legally responsible for their tenants’ safety with regard to their properties’ gas pipework, flues and appliances, which must be repaired and maintained in safe condition.

There is also a requirement for an annual gas safety check in the UK on every appliance and flue in a landlord’s property, and a record must be kept of each safety check. Landlords should also keep tenants informed about their responsibilities during their time as a resident in the property. 

You can find more details on the HSE’s website here.

2. Make sure you are well informed and up to date about relevant laws

In addition to landlords, UK housing associations, local authorities, hotels, B&Bs, colleges, boarding schools and hostels that may be responsible for properties are also required to have yearly gas safety checks.

You must also be mindful of what needs to be covered in an annual safety check; namely all of the given property’s permanent and portable gas appliances and flues, including any gas appliance that the landlord owns and provides for the tenant’s use.

If a tenant has gas appliances of their own that the landlord has not provided, the landlord is responsible for parts of the associated installation and pipework, but not the appliance itself.

3. A CP12 check certificate alone is not enough

While a gas safety check every 12 months is a crucial requirement for landlords, the need for landlords to also ensure proper maintenance of gas appliances in the property means a CP12 check certificate alone is not enough.

This means that a thorough annual boiler service in accordance with manufacturer instructions is also needed unless a Gas Safe registered engineer advises otherwise. 

Chelmsford Gas Services are qualified and experienced to undertake the required boiler service and gas safety checks to help you meet your required responsibilities. You may also wish to consider our Boiler Plan for improved boiler maintenance, reliability and energy efficiency within your properties.

Our own highly qualified and experienced engineers here at Chelmsford Gas Services can undertake both the boiler service and the gas safety check, thereby giving you greater peace of mind as a landlord.

Would you like energy saving tips, special offers and local inspiration?

Everyone here at Chelmsford Gas Services is local – we’re parents, pet owners, we love eating out and going out in the area to do all sorts of things. Oh, and we’re rather knowledgeable when it comes to heating and energy efficiency. So from time to time we send out an email with info about what’s on locally, places we’ve discovered, special offers either from us or ones that we’ve seen, and tips about saving money on your energy bills. If you’d like to receive them (you can unsubscribe easily if you change your mind), simply scroll down to pop your details in.