In this three-minute read, we look at why landlords MUST
take gas safety very seriously.

This Monday (14th) sees the tenth annual Gas
Safety Week begin.

The awareness campaign is timed to get people thinking about
and checking their gas appliances as the autumn chill starts to take hold.

Gas Safety Week’s goal is to raise awareness among
homeowners and landlords about the crucial importance of having their gas
appliances serviced every year.

And while homeowners don’t legally need an annual gas safety
certificate – landlords do.

You cannot lawfully start a tenancy unless a gas safety
check has been carried out and a certificate (sometimes called a landlord’s gas
safety record) issued, to show everything is in good working order.

The penalties for being caught without one are severe, as
they should be.

They can include:

Invalidated insurance.

Up to £6000 in fines.

Six months in prison.

Court action from a tenant who is suing for civil damages.

In the worst-case scenario, criminal charges if death or
injury is caused by faulty gas appliances.

What responsible landlords can do

Gas Safety Week reminds people of the dangers of poorly
maintained gas appliances, which can lead to gas leaks, fires, and carbon
monoxide poisoning. All of which can kill.

Here are four simple steps you can do to keep you and your tenants
gas safe.

1) Have your
gas appliances checked every 12 months. No excuses. A good letting agent who
manages your property will get this organised for you.

2) Verify
that any engineer you employ is Gas Safe registered (previously called CORGI).
Gas Safe engineers work to a set standard and are tested regularly. Again, this
is something we can do for you under our fully managed package.

3) Check
your engineer’s Gas Safe ID card. Any engineer worthy of employing will have no
issue showing you this, and you can verify it online with the Gas Safe
Register. Guess what? We do this on behalf of our landlords who use our fully
managed service.

4) Install
an audible carbon monoxide alarm and test it regularly – this is a potential
lifesaver and enshrined by law.

When it comes to anything gas related in your rental
property, it’s always wise to think ‘if in doubt get it checked out’.

How safe is Kent?

The Gas Safe Register website has a map which shows all the
dangerous gas appliances that have been found in Kent. It’s a map
no self-respecting landlord wants to be on. To check it out, visit https://www.staygassafe.co.uk/

The demand for gas safety and heating engineers surges in
October and November as boilers and heaters start firing up after the summer
lull.

So, with that in mind, book your home’s appointment with a
Gas Safe registered engineer in advance and beat the rush and subsequent
delays.

Thanks for reading and keep yourselves safe and your
tenants.

We’re here to help landlords in Kent any way
we can. So, if you have questions you want answering, or problems you need
solving, contact us today.