Gas Safety 101: A Comprehensive Look At Gas Regulations In The UK

If you’re a landlord confused about how you can comply with the gas safety laws in the UK, we’ve got you covered. Gas safety is a crucial step every house owner or landlord must take seriously to stay on the right side of the law and also ensure the safety of their tenants.Safety 101: A Comprehensive Look At Gas Regulations In The UK

Gas hazards, unfortunately, are a common occurrence in the UK. HSE statistics show explosions and fires led by gas leaks rose from 28 in 2017 to 41 in 2020 and were also responsible for injuring 178 people.

Gas safety regulations help prevent gas leaks that lead to gas hazards by ensuring all gas appliances and flues installed within your property are efficiently functioning and are not a threat to your safety and building.

The Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations took effect on 6th April 2018. The regulations outline how to comply with the GSIUR and the amending regulations.

Gas Safety Certificate – Landlord Responsibility

The primary responsibility of ensuring gas safety in buildings, homes, or apartments lies with the landlords. As a landlord in the UK, you're legally required to get a gas safety check conducted on your property under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 annually.

For this, you will need to contact a registered gas-safe engineer who will then visit your property to ensure all gas appliances and chimneys installed on the property are safe to continue using.

A gas safety check aims to ensure that all appliances within the workplace or home are well-adjusted and maintained so the gas can burn without any errors, is properly fitted, and is accurately connected to the gas pipework to avoid leaks or other errors.

The gas engineer who visits your property will also check for the following factors:

• All air vents, chimneys, and ducts are working effectively>
• All installed safety devices are properly working
• The air supply for all appliances is sufficient
• In some cases, the gas engineer may also inspect all the gas pipework to check for leaksli>

Gas Safety Certificate

After every gas safety check, the gas safety engineer who carries out the check will provide you with a landlord gas safety certificate.

Once you’ve received your gas safety certificate, pass on a copy of the record to your tenant. Moreover, do not forget – getting a gas safety check done annually is not where gas safety should end for you. You should carry out regular maintenance work for all gas appliances installed within your property.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some questions that might cross your mind regarding gas safety regulations and checks::

The set penalty for breaching the regulation is a £6,000 fine and six months in prison. However, in case a gas safety hazard occurs, and a tenant or resident of your property ends up losing their life, you could also be charged with manslaughter.

1. How Long Does a Gas Safety Check Take?: This will likely depend on the registered gas-safe engineer and the work that needs to be done. Usually, a gas safety inspection should not take longer than 20-30 minutes. However, if the engineer manages to find any errors and repair work needs to be done, you can expect it to take a few hours.
2. How Much Does a Gas Safety Certificate Cost?: The cost for a gas safety certificate is likely to vary by location. The certificate might be more expensive in cities such as London. However, the average cost in the UK is around £60- £90.
3. What Are the Penalties for Not Complying with the Gas Safety Regulations? Refusing to get a gas safety check done for your property can put the lives and well-being of your tenants at risk. Moreover, an explosion or a fire can also harm your property. Therefore, the penalty for breaching the Gas Safety Regulations can be extreme.
   
   Therefore, while the penalties may be severe, complying with the set regulations isnot too difficult. All you need to do is:
   • Schedule a gas safety inspection every year before your gas safety certificate expires
   • Make sure you get any faulty appliance or repair work completed on time as recommended by the gas-safe engineer
   • Pass on a copy of the inspection to your tenants timely
   • Service all your gas appliances every year or the recommended by the manufacturer
   • Install a carbon monoxide alarm on your property so you and your tenants can save yourselves in case of a gas safety hazard

Conclusion

No one has ever regretted staying on the right side of the law. Moreover, being a landlord comes with responsibility. Ensuring your property is safe from gas safety hazards is good for your tenants and your property itself.

Therefore, be a responsible landlord and complete your gas safety inspection on time every year!