Gas safety - FAQs - Tenants

Q. What can I do if my landlord refuses to service the appliances he has provided for my use ?

A. Remind your landlord of their legal duties under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. If they still refuse to service the appliances they have provided contact your local HSE Area Office

Q. What can I do if my landlord won't provide me with a record of the safety check ?

A. Remind your landlord of their legal duties under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. You may wish to write to your landlord requesting sight of the safety check record. If they still refuse to provide you with a copy contact your local HSE Area Office.

Q. Can my landlord use a handyman or plumber for gas work ?

A. CORGI registered Engineers with the required competence to do the particular work should always be used. By law (a) anyone (whether an employer or self-employed) running a business, e.g. a plumber, who carries out work on a gas appliance/fitting must be CORGI-registered, and (b) any individual doing gas work must be competent to do it safely. DIY gas work could be dangerous and is likely to be illegal. Landlords must use only a registered Engineer for maintenance and safety checks on gas equipment provided for tenants use.

Q. How can I ensure an Engineer is CORGI registered ?

A. CORGI registered Engineers should have a current CORGI identity card on which is an expiry date and details of the appliances they are competent to work on. If in any doubt you can ring CORGI or check on their web site to see if the Engineer is registered.

Q. What should I do if the Engineer is not CORGI registered and/or has falsely claimed they are CORGI registered ?

A. It is against the law for a non-registered Engineer to do any work on gas appliances and/or flues. Phone your local HSE area office or CORGI.

Q. What can I do if my landlord is harassing and/or threatening to evict me ?

A. Advice numbers to call include:

• Shelter's Campaign for bedsit rights 020 7505 2135
• Citizens Advice Bureau (local office)
• Shelterline 0808 800 4444 (National, freephone, emergency 24 hour help line). Shelterline is Britain's first 24 hour, free, national housing helpline. It provides advice to anyone with a housing problem. Whatever time you need it, wherever you are in Britain. Its advisors will tell you your rights, explain your options and help you to take action. If appropriate you may also be asked to contact your local Shelter housing aid centre. Further advice is also available by logging on to www.shelternet.org.uk.

Q. What are the responsibilities of my landlord if they have provided LPG Heaters ?

A. Landlord duties for LPG appliances are the same as for natural gas. The landlord must maintain all LPG appliances which they provide for tenants and have a safety check carried out at least once every 12 months by a CORGI registered Engineer.

Specimen letter requesting sight of safety check record

(Your address)

(Landlord's name)

(Landlord's address)

(date)

Dear (Landlord's name)

RE: (Address of Property being let)

As you are aware, the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 place duties on landlords. One of those duties is making sure that gas appliances and flues they own in the property which they let, are maintained in good order and checked for safety at least every twelve months. Landlords must also keep a record of the safety checks and issue these to their tenants.

Unfortunately to date, I have not been shown a copy of the safety check record carried out at the above property, which I now rent. Therefore I would be grateful if you could show me a copy of the safety check record for the above property within the next 10 days.

Yours sincerely

(Your name)