Gas Safety Note for Landlords

Residential landlords will be aware of their legal responsibility under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 to have annual safety inspections carried out on the gas appliances in the properties they let.



The inspections cover the pipework and flues as well as the appliances themselves. A record of the check must be retained for two years. Failure to comply with the Regulations can lead to a fine of up to £20,000 and is an imprisonable offence.



It is not lawful for a landlord to force entry to carry out the checks. However, it is important to ensure that evidence of all attempts to gain entry is kept in order to be able to prove that reasonable attempts were made in case this should ever be questioned, so all correspondence requesting access to the property, notes of phone calls etc. should be retained.