The UK legal regulations are very detailed when discussing the standard for landlords of rental properties in relation to gas safety. The property has to be inspected for gas safety levels by a Corgi approved engineer. If the landlord does not meet this requirement he or she are liable to a fine of up to 5,000 and up to six months imprisonment.



According to the law, landlords are required to ensure the following:

* Open flue gas appliances should not be located in the same room where people are sleeping, or a bathroom.

* Any work such as repair, service on installation to gas appliances must be carried out by a Corgi certified engineer.

* Both mobile and fixed gas appliances in the property must be kept at a safe working condition and inspected on an annual basis by a Corgi registered engineer.

* All work carried out to any gas appliance within the property must be approved by a set of safety tests conducted by a Corgi approved operative.

* Users of the premises must have free access to all documentation regarding the gas appliances, such as manuals, safety documents etc.

*A clear set of records is kept detailing the dates of safety inspections and any defects identified and respective work undertaken. The tenants must have access to a copy of these records within 28 days of the safety inspection or prior to new occupants moving into the property.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for around 20 - 30 deaths in the UK every year. It is highly recommended that landlords install carbon monoxide detectors to protect the tenants. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless gas that is the result of incomplete burning within the boiler, and is normally a result of poor boiler installation. The gas, which is a combination of a single molecule of carbon with a single molecule of oxygen, is very dangerous as it causes serious breathing difficulties, potentially leading to lethal consequences.

The legal guidelines for landlords are very demanding when it comes to ensuring all domestic boilers are checked and serviced annually. Large landlords and housing associations find it difficult to meet such statutory requirements mainly owing to the administrative and logistical complexity of arranging access for the Corgi engineer to each property.

Landlords are finding it difficult to fulfil their legal requirements in cases such as of large blocks of flats. During normal hours, most tenants are at work and the flats are locked and empty, preventing the gas engineer from undertaking the required safety checks. Tenants are reluctant to use their annual leave days, or lose a day's pay in order to wait at home for the gas engineer, making it difficult for the landlord to fulfil their legal requirement.

In certain cases, landlords have to arrange for an entry warrant if the tenant fails to cooperate and allow access for the gas engineer. In addition to the administrative complexity, this adds substantial costs to the cost of the gas safety check (up to 500 for police attendance and potential repair).