Following the prosecution of a landlord who falsified gas safety documents after a leak was found at his property, Belvoir Sheffield, leading letting agent in Sheffield is warning landlords that if they fail to adhere to the regulations, they could end up in a very similar situation.
It was reported earlier this week that the landlord was prosecuted for putting the life of a tenant at risk, after a leak was discovered at the rental property, leaving The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) no choice but to instruct legal action against him.
It was reported that the landlord ‘had changed the dates on the record for an annual gas safety check to suggest it was still valid’.
Trafford Magistrates’ Court in Sale heard that the landlord ‘had arranged a gas safety check at the house through his letting agents in April 2009, which expired a year later. When he decided to hire a new agent in April 2011, he provided a copy of the gas safety document with the dates altered so that it appeared to still be current.’
Rick Flay, Director at Belvoir Sheffield, who offer a wide range of property to rent in Sheffield, said: “Attempts to bypass the law or a lack of knowledge of the law can often lead some private landlords to put themselves and their tenants as risk.”
“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.
Rick, whose letting agency on Campo Lane in Sheffield, specialises in providing 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 Agency in 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.
