GAS SAFE NEWS 2010

Gas safety's not a priority for ‘quick fix’ renters

1st March 2010

Renters living in ‘quick fix’ accommodation while they wait to buy a home could be putting their lives at risk, warns safety body Gas Safe Register. In the rush to move into a temporary rented property, they may forget to ask if essential gas safety checks have been done.

In recent months there has been a dramatic rise in the number of UK residents having to seek temporary accommodation because of house sales falling through, mortgages becoming more difficult to arrange and homeowners being forced to sell because of financial problems. The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) has reported that over 40 percent of its members had more tenants than properties during the last quarter of 2009.*

This surge in quick fix renting has prompted Gas Safe Register to issue an essential gas safety reminder. With 18 people dying from gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning in the UK last year and more than 310 injured (Source: HSE Gas Safety Statistics), tenants are advised to make sure they know their gas safety rights.

Mum-to-be, Tanya Lewis from Crawley in Sussex, has been renting a property with her partner for 18 months after being forced off the property ladder in 2008 for financial reasons.

Tanya says, "It was such a horrible feeling losing a property to then get back into the renting game. We needed a cheap stop-gap so we could try to save more money, but it was difficult to find a place big enough. With so much going on, to be honest it never even crossed my mind to consider the gas safety of the property and I never once asked the letting agents or landlords if they had a gas safety record. I didn’t know I had to.”

Paul Johnston, Managing Director of Gas Safe Register, reminds those suddenly thrown into quick fix renting that it’s vital they know there are laws in place to protect tenants’ safety.

“By law, every rented home should have an annual gas safety check to make sure that all gas fittings and appliances are working safely and efficiently. It’s down to the landlord to arrange for a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out this check and to service gas equipment supplied for tenants use. Landlords must also give tenants a copy of the gas safety record to prove that this check has been done. If your landlord hasn’t provided an up to date gas safety record, you could be at risk from gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. So even when you’re only planning on living somewhere for a short time, don’t forget to ask about gas safety”

Gas Safe Register recommends tenants follow this simple checklist to avoid gas safety risks in rented accommodation:

• Know your rights. By law, landlords must use a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out annual gas safety checks and servicing on all gas fittings and appliances, and provide you with a copy of the gas safety record. Check the date on the record to make sure it’s not more than 12 months old.
• Ask how to turn off the gas supply. Your landlord must show you how to turn off the gas supply in case of a gas leak. If you suspect a problem with any gas appliance, report it to your landlord straight away and do not use the appliance until it has been fixed. If you smell gas, call the 24 hour emergency gas service on 0800 111999.
• Check that any engineer who visits for gas repairs or servicing is Gas Safe registered. Ask for their Gas Safe Register ID card before you let them in. The back of the ID card will show you if they are qualified to work on the specific appliance that needs fixing or servicing. If they’re not Gas Safe registered they’re working illegally and could put your life at risk.
• If you own the gas appliances in your rented home, then you are responsible for having these serviced and safety checked annually. Your landlord is only responsible for the appliances and fittings that come with the home.
• Fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm. This will alert you if dangerous levels of CO are present. They cost around £20 from DIY stores and supermarkets and you can take them with you from home to home.
  
  For further information on staying gas safe visit www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500
  
  *The Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) reported during the last quarter of 2009 that an average of 41 percent of its members had more tenants than properties. http://www.arla.co.uk/

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