Gas safety is changing from 1 April 2009

posted: 24/03/2009

What does this mean for landlords and tenants?

There will be a new gas registration scheme from 1 April 2009 in England, Scotland and Wales (Great Britain). The new scheme, Gas Safe Register™ is delivered under an agreement with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and replaces the CORGI gas register which ends on 31 March.

In relation to domestic gas under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords’ legal duties apply to a wide range of accommodation, including residential premises provided for rent by private landlords, local authorities, housing associations, housing co-operatives, and hostels. It remains a legal requirement for all landlords to have an annual safety check on all gas appliances and flues provided in a rental property. However, from 1 April 2009 a Gas Safe registered engineer, not a CORGI installer, must carry out the safety check.

If you let any properties of this kind, you must now make sure that pipe work, appliances and flues provided for tenants are maintained in a safe condition and subject to an annual safety check carried out only by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

In all cases, all gas equipment (including any appliance left by a previous tenant) must be certified as safe or otherwise removed before re-letting. A record of safety checks must be provided to the tenant within 28 days of completing the check, or to each new tenant before they move in. You must also keep a copy of the safety check record for two years.

Remember before April installers must remain registered with CORGI to carry out gas work legally. From 1 April, always use a Gas Safe registered engineer. Be gas safe.

More information can be found in the Downloads section - including the Gas Safe Leaflet and Information on Gas Safety.

Alternatively, go to the Gas Safe website www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or for further advice on landlords’ duties is contained in HSEs Guidance to Landlords and Letting Agents found at www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqlandlord.htm