 Gas safety - FAQs -
Tenants
Q. What can I do if my landlord
refuses to service the appliances he has provided for my use ?
A. Remind your landlord of their legal duties under the Gas
Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. If they still refuse to service
the appliances they have provided contact your local HSE
Area Office
Q. What can I do if my landlord
won’t provide me with a record of the safety check ?
A. Remind your landlord of their legal duties under the Gas
Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. You may wish to write
to your landlord requesting sight of the safety check record. If they still
refuse to provide you with a copy contact your local HSE
Area Office.
Q. Can my landlord use a handyman or plumber for gas
work ?
A. CORGI
registered installers with the required competence to do the particular work
should always be used. By law (a) anyone (whether an employer or self-employed)
running a business, e.g. a plumber, who carries out work on a gas
appliance/fitting must be CORGI-registered, and (b) any individual doing gas
work must be competent to do it safely. DIY gas work could be dangerous and is
likely to be illegal. Landlords must use only a registered installer for
maintenance and safety checks on gas equipment provided for tenants use.
Q. How can I ensure an installer is CORGI registered
?
A. CORGI
registered installers should have a current CORGI identity card on which is an
expiry date and details of the appliances they are competent to work on. If in
any doubt you can ring CORGI or check on their web site to see if the installer
is registered.
Q. What should I do if the installer is not CORGI
registered and/or has falsely claimed they are CORGI registered ?
A. It is against the law for a non-registered installer to do any work on gas
appliances and/or flues. Phone your local HSE
area office or CORGI.
Q. What can I do if my landlord is harassing and/or
threatening to evict me ?
A. Advice numbers to call include:
- Shelter’s Campaign for bedsit rights 020 7505 2135
- Citizens Advice Bureau (local office)
- Shelterline 0808 800 4444 (National, freephone, emergency 24 hour help
line). Shelterline is Britain's first 24 hour, free, national housing
helpline. It provides advice to anyone with a housing problem. Whatever time
you need it, wherever you are in Britain. Its advisors will tell you your
rights, explain your options and help you to take action. If appropriate you
may also be asked to contact your local Shelter housing aid centre. Further
advice is also available by logging on to www.shelternet.org.uk.
Q. What are the responsibilities of my landlord if
they have provided LPG Heaters ?
A. Landlord duties for LPG appliances are the same as for natural gas. The
landlord must maintain all LPG appliances which they provide for tenants and
have a safety check carried out at least once every 12 months by a CORGI
registered installer.
Specimen letter requesting sight of safety check record
(Your address)
(Landlord's name)
(Landlord's address)
(date)
Dear (Landlord's
name)
RE: (Address of
Property being let)
As you are aware,
the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 place duties on
landlords. One of those duties is making sure that gas appliances and flues they
own in the property which they let, are maintained in good order and checked for
safety at least every twelve months. Landlords must also keep a record of the
safety checks and issue these to their tenants.
Unfortunately to
date, I have not been shown a copy of the safety check record carried out at the
above property, which I now rent. Therefore I would be grateful if you could
show me a copy of the safety check record for the above property within the next
10 days.
Yours sincerely
(Your name)
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