Gas risk for 'a third of tenants'
A survey has revealed that a third of tenants could be at risk from unsafe gas appliances because landlords are not conducting yearly gas safety checks.
According to website Spareroom.co.uk, 34 per cent of tenants questioned are in properties that have gas certificates which are out-of-date. Of these, 14 per cent said the last gas safety check was carried out more than a year ago, while 20 per cent said that since they have been in the property they have never seen a check conducted.
Around 22 per cent of respondents were unsure as to whether there has been a gas safety check in their property in the last 12 months, which means that 56 per cent of tenants could potentially be at risk from unsafe fittings and appliances.
The latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have shown that in the last year, 10 people died and 330 were seriously injured in the UK from carbon monoxide poisoning, fire exposure and other gas-related exposure.
Spareroom.co.uk director Matt Hutchinson said: “All landlords have a legal obligation to carry out an annual gas safety check, but our latest research suggests that many, for whatever reason, are still not doing so.
“Failure to carry out this check is potentially putting thousands of tenants at risk, and if a tenant is injured in the property - or worse - by a gas-related incident, the landlord could well face prosecution.”
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