What are my duties as a landlord in relation to gas safety?

You have duties under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to arrange maintenance by a CORGI-registered installer for all pipe work, appliances and flues, which you own and have provided for your tenants use. You must also arrange for an annual gas safety check to be carried out every 12 months by a CORGI-registered installer. You must keep a record of the safety check for 2 years and issue a copy to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being completed and issue a copy to any new tenants before they move in.

 What are my duties as a letting/ management agent in relation to gas safety?

Landlords who use agents to manage properties need to ensure that the management contract clearly specifies who is responsible for carrying out the maintenance and safety check duties, and keeping associated records. If the contract specifies that the agent has responsibility then the same duties under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 that apply to a landlord apply to you.

In this situation an agent must arrange maintenance by a CORGI-registered installer for all pipe work, appliances and flues, which the landlord owns and provides for the tenants use. You must also arrange for an annual gas safety check to be carried out every 12 months by a CORGI- registered installer. You must keep a record of the safety check for 2 years and issue a copy to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being completed and issue a copy to any new tenants before they move in.

 Do I have to use a CORGI-registered installer to complete gas work?

Yes. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations state that landlords must only use a CORGI registered installer for maintenance and safety checks on gas equipment they own and provide for tenants use in domestic premises. You must check that the CORGI-registered installer is competent to work in that specific area of gas. This is clearly marked on the back of the installer’s CORGI registration card. If in any doubt you can ring CORGI or check their website to see if the installer is registered.

 What does a Landlord Gas Safety Inspection Include?

A ReactFast CORGI registered engineer will check the following during a Landlord gas safety inspection:

1. Check appliance for gas tightness.

2. Check standing and working pressure if test points available.

3. Check burner pressure / gas rate against manufacturers data plate.

4. Check for satisfactory provision of all necessary ventilation.

5. Test flue flow to ensure removal of products of combustion.

6. Check satisfactory operation of all the flame failure devices.

7. Check for physical stability, presence and effectiveness of stability brackets (where appropriate).

8. Investigate any evidence of unsafe operation and report to a responsible person. An appliance can not be deemed as having been checked, until the above has been completed.

9. For a Landlords Safety Record inspection a tightness test of the full system should be added to the above.

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