Landlord “showed complete disregard for the law”
Summary
A landlord has been fined after pleading guilty to breaching gas safety regulations by failing to arrange annual gas safety checks at a rented home in Wirral for eight years. The case followed an HSE investigation prompted by a concern from Wirral council and involved a tenant living with five children.
Why it matters
Residential property surveyors may encounter properties where gas safety compliance is absent or poorly evidenced, particularly during inspections, valuations, or pre-acquisition work. The case reinforces the importance of checking for current gas safety records and recognising the legal and tenant-safety implications of non-compliance.
Key points
- HSE found no annual gas safety checks had been carried out for eight years.
- The landlord pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 36(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
- Wirral Magistrates’ Court fined the landlord £2,400 and ordered £5,000 in costs.
- The property was occupied by a tenant and her five children during the period of non-compliance.
- HSE reiterated that gas appliances and flues must be maintained and inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
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