Gas Safety Week is now in its eighth year. Taking place between 17 and 23 September, it provides a timely reminder for landlords to make sure their rental properties are gas safe and appliances have been properly maintained as we head into Autumn. 

Co-ordinated by Gas Safe Register, the official list of gas engineers who are legally allowed to work on gas, Gas Safety Week is supported by the National Landlords Association.

Help to keep your rental properties gas safe by following these simple steps:

1. Ensure gas pipework, appliances, chimneys and flues are maintained in a safe condition.
2. Arrange for flues and gas appliances provided for tenants to be checked for safety every 12 months.
3. Use a Gas Safe registered engineer to fit and check appliances. The examination and servicing of gas appliances must only be carried out by engineers who are Gas Safe registered under the Gas Safety Regulations 1998. You can find or check an engineer at GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.
4. Give tenants a copy of the annual gas safety record provided by the engineer within 28 days of an inspection and provide new tenants with a copy of the gas safety record before they move in.
5. Check for warning signs that appliances aren’t working. These include a weak yellow flame instead of crisp blue one, black marks or stains on or around the appliance, a pilot light that keeps going out and excessive condensation in the room.
6. Make sure tenants know the six danger signs of carbon monoxide poisoning: headache, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.
7. Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm. Landlords must fit a carbon monoxide alarm in any room where there is an appliance that burns solid fuel. While gas boilers don’t fall into this category, it’s still recommended that landlords install an alarm to alert tenants to gas leaks and protect against carbon monoxied poisoning, explosions and fire. 

Join in Gas Safety Week by pledging your support at Gas Safe Register. To read more news and information for landlords, visit our mortgages blog.