This week we are going to be looking at compliance for residential landlords and the importance of ensuring that you keep up to date with the ever-changing legislation.

Can you say that your property is 100% compliant and you would be confident for a spot check to be completed? If not, then why not? Not only are you compromising your tenants safety but also risking potential government fines that can run into the thousands and / or imprisonment, depending on the offence!

If you are not confident that you can stay up to date then now may be the time to appoint a residential property manager to do all the hard work for you! Call us on 01634 294994 to see how we could help, no property is too problematic.

Gas Safety Inspections

Does your property have a gas boiler or any solid fuel burning appliances?

If so, then does your property have an in-date gas safety inspection and adequate CO2 alarms fitted?

Gas safety inspections should be completed every 12 months and a copy of the certificate provided to your tenant. A bit like a car MOT, gas engineers can often complete the check a month in advance retaining the previous date.

The check will also note carbon monoxide alarms which since October 2022 have become mandatory to have in each room with either a boiler, or solid fuel burning appliance.

But my boiler is new, do I still need to complete a certificate?
If your boiler is new then you can use the installation certificate for up to a year to act as the new gas safety certificate. However, if you have any other solid fuel burning appliances or even a gas hob in the property then this certificate will not cover them and a new gas safety certificate would still need to be completed.
This is a fact often missed when we speak to residential landlords, so don’t be caught out!

The fine for non-compliance of gas safety inspections can be up to £6,000 per appliance and/ or 6 months imprisonment.