Attention Landlords: Your Legal Responsibilities for Tenant Safety

As a landlord, it’s crucial to understand that you bear the responsibility for the safety of your tenants. Under The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, you have specific legal obligations that apply to various types of rental accommodations, including:

• Residential properties rented out by local authorities, housing associations, private landlords, co-operatives, and hostels.
• Rooms in bed-sit accommodations, private households, bed and breakfast establishments, and hotels.
• Rented holiday properties such as chalets, cottages, flats, caravans, and narrow boats on inland waterways.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 mandate that landlords ensure the safety of gas appliances, fittings, and chimneys/flues provided for tenants.

Your Key Responsibilities as a Landlord

If your rental property includes gas appliances, you must adhere to three main responsibilities:

1. Maintenance: You are required to maintain pipework, appliances, and chimneys/flues in a safe condition. Gas appliances should be serviced according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule. If this information is unavailable, it is your duty to arrange for annual servicing by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
2. Gas Safety Checks: An annual gas safety check must be conducted on each gas appliance/flue. This ensures that all gas appliances and fittings remain safe to use. It is a legal obligation in the UK to have these checks performed by a registered engineer every year. Additionally, you must ensure that gas pipework and flues are maintained in a safe condition.
3. Record Keeping: You must provide a copy of the annual gas safety check record to your tenants within 28 days of completion. For new tenants, this should be done at the start of their tenancy. If the rental period is less than 28 days, you may display the record in a prominent location within the property. Copies of these records must be kept for a minimum of 2 years.

Please note, if a tenant has their own gas appliance, your responsibility is limited to maintaining the gas pipework, not the appliance itself.

For more detailed information on your legal obligations as a landlord, you can refer to the following resources:

• Landlords’ Gas Safety Requirements (Gas Safe Register)
• Short-Term Lettings Advice (Gas Safe Register)

Consider sharing these resources with your tenants to ensure they are aware of their own legal duties.

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