Landlord Safety Checks Teesside
As a landlord you should be aware that you are responsible for the safety of your tenants. You have legal duties under The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, which apply to a wide range of accommodations occupied under a lease or licence, including the following:
- Residential premises provided for rent by local authorities, housing associations, private sector landlords, co-operatives, hostels.
- Rooms, let in bed-sit accommodation, private households, bed and breakfast accommodation and hotels.
- Rented holiday accommodation such as chalets, cottages, flats, caravans and narrow boats on inland waterways.
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 outline the duties of landlords to ensure gas appliances, fittings and chimneys/flues provided for tenants are safe.
Your responsibilities as a Landlord
If you let a property equipped with gas appliances, you have three main responsibilities:
- Maintenance: pipework, appliances and chimney/flues need to be maintained safely. Gas appliances should be serviced in accordance with the frequency given in the manufacturer’s instructions. If these are not available, you should ask a Gas Safe registered engineer to service them annually.
- Gas safety checks: An annual gas safety check should be carried out on each gas appliance/flue. This will ensure gas appliances and fittings are safe to use. There is a legal requirement on you to have all gas appliances safety checked by a registered engineer annually and you also need to maintain gas pipework and flues in a safe condition. This is UK law.
- Record: A record of the annual gas safety check should be provided to your existing tenants within 28 days of completion, or to new tenants upon the start of their tenancy. If the rental period is less than 28 days at a time you may display a copy of the record in a prominent position within the dwelling. You’ll need to keep copies of the record for at least 2 years.
- If a tenant has their own gas appliance that you have not provided, you are responsible only for the maintenance of the gas pipework – not the appliance itself.
Here is a useful link form Gas Safe on what your requirements are as a Landlord.
Why not print a copy for your tenant`s, so they know their legal duties too.
https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/media/1442/landlords-gas-safety-requirements.pdf
Here is a Useful link to Short term lettings advice from Gas Safe.
https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/media/1443/short-term-lets.pdf
So, if you are just considering purchasing your first buy-to-let property, or you own or manage multiple properties we can help. Contact me for more information on these services as well as discounts available for larger volume contracts.
