After a Sheffield based landlord was fined £17,000 after admitting endangering the lives of a family in one of her properties, Belvoir Sheffield, the leading lettings agent in Sheffield is warning landlords to make sure they are aware of their legal responsibilities.
Sima Yaqub, from Sheffield, pleaded guilty at Sheffield Magistrates Court to five offences under the Gas Safety Regulations 1998 When the family moved into the property in City Road last July, Yaqub did not have a Landlord’s Gas Safety Record for the boiler.
Rick Flay, Director at Belvoir Sheffield, who offer a wide range of rental property in Sheffield, said: “This case is a serious wake up call to landlords in the Sheffield area. Landlords can often try to cut corners in an attempt to save a quick ‘buck’ or realise too late that they are breaking the law, landing them in serious trouble.”
Under current legislation, landlords are legally required to arrange an annual inspection of their properties by an engineer registered with the Gas Safe Register.
Earlier this week, the Health and Safety Executive said landlords had “clear duties” to ensure the safety of their tenants.
HSE Inspector Denise Fotheringham said Yaqub had “shown a wilful and consistent disregard for the welfare and safety of the tenant and her family”.
Rick, whose letting agency on Campo Lane in Sheffield, specialises in providing flats to let Sheffield, added: “Landlords must ensure that gas appliances are maintained in a safe condition and that all work on gas appliances is only carried out by a gas safe registered engineer.
“DIY landlords need to assess the way they let their properties. The message should be ‘it is better to be safe than sorry’ so use a professional lettings agent such as Belvoir Sheffield.”
Belvoir Lettings Sheffield is the One Stop Specialists for Lettings including Property Management, Tenant Find, Investment and Wealth Management Advice, Fit-outs and Renovations, Furniture Packs and Investment Property Insurances and Mortgages.
