As the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) decided to prosecute a private landlord this week amidst claims that he put the lives of his student tenants at risk, because he failed to maintain their gas boiler, Belvoir Sheffield, the leading letting agent in Sheffield, is warning other landlords to adhere to the strict regulations in place.
The warning comes as the number of prosecutions has increased in recent months, and landlords seem unaware of what is required of them from a legal standpoint.
Rick Flay,Director at Belvoir Sheffield, who offer a wide range of property to rent in Sheffield, blames the rise of the ‘reluctant and accidental landlord’, he said: “The case of the landlord who let his property in Oxford out to student tenants, comes as a stark wake up call to many landlords who may not be aware of their legal obligations when it comes to the health and safety oftheir tenants.
“As the number of accidental and reluctant landlords has increased in recent months,the residential lettings market has become saturated with landlords who are lacking in experience. This is extremely dangerous for both them andtheir tenants, which is why they should seek the professional help and guidance of a lettings agency.”
The recent HSE investigation revealed that the landlord in question had failed to maintain the flats gas boiler and flue for two years between January 2009 and December 2010, exposing the tenants to therisk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
The landlord was given a Conditional Discharge for a period of two years and ordered to pay a fine of £4,928.
Rick, whose letting agency on Campo Lane in Sheffield, specialises inproviding flats to let in 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.
“This case should be a huge wake up call to the DIY landlord 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 Agents 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.
