Gas Safe Register, the new gas safety body replacing the CORGI gas register in Great Britain on 1 April, advises there is no change to landlords’ legal gas safety duties. Landlords must continue to use registered engineers to carry out work and safety checks on gas appliances in their properties. From 1 April, they should only use Gas Safe registered engineers.

In relation to domestic gas under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords’ legal duties apply to a wide range of accommodation including residential premises provided for rent by local authorities, housing associations, housing co-operatives, and private sector landlords. Legal duties do also apply to private landlords who let rooms in bed-sit accommodation or private households.

Those who let bed and breakfast accommodation, hotels, chalets, cottages, flats, hostels, caravans, and narrow boats on inland waterways also have these legal duties.

If you let a property, you must make sure that pipe work, appliances and flues provided for tenants and customers are maintained in a safe condition and you need to have an annual gas safety check. From 1 April, a Gas Safe registered engineer, not a CORGI gas installer, must carry out the safety check in properties in Great Britain.

Peter Eldridge, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register, says: “Landlords have a legal duty to keep tenants and customers safe by making sure the gas appliances in properties are suitably maintained. From 1 April, you’ll need to use a Gas Safe registered engineer to carry out gas work on your properties and do your annual safety checks.”

Landlords and tenants should never attempt to install or repair a gas appliance themselves. This is breaking the law and puts lives at risk.

Peter Eldridge added: “Keeping your tenants and customers gas safe should be a top priority for all landlords. All gas equipment, including any appliance left by a previous tenant, must be checked for safety or removed from the property before you re-let it. Evidence of the safety check must be provided to the tenant within 28 days of completing the check, or to each new tenant before they move in. In holiday accommodation, evidence of the check must be posted in a prominent position in the premises, boat or vehicle.

Any gas safety record given to you after 1st April 2009 will only be valid if the engineer is on the Gas Safe Register. Before your registered engineer begins work on your appliances, check their Gas Safe Register ID card.”

From 1st April, you can find or check a Gas Safe registered engineer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500. To help you educate your tenants about gas safety, you can order free leaflets from marketing@GasSafeRegister.co.uk