Do I Need a Gas Safety Check?
Everyone should be aware of the importance of annual gas safety checks, however the law surrounding them depends on whether you are a homeowner, landlord, or tenant.
As a homeowner, having a gas safety check isn’t a legal requirement - however, it is very important as all gas appliances pose the risk of producing carbon monoxide, which is a poisonous gas that could be fatal.
If you are a tenant in a rented property, you are not required to organise a gas safety check as this responsibility falls on the landlord. As a tenant, you can acquire a copy of the Gas Safe certificate to ensure the property has received the proper checks. Remember, while a landlord is not responsible for any appliances they don’t own or any appliances owned by tenants, the landlord is still accountable for any pipework or flues that connect to a tenant-owned appliance.
Landlords are legally required to organise an annual gas safety check for their rental properties, as failure to do so can result in a weighty fine and up to six months in prison. As a landlord, you will need to acquire a gas safety certificate, often known as an
LGSR (Landlord Gas Safety Record), for each property you own.