COVID-19: Advice for Landlords

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has released new guidance on gas safety checks for landlords, tenants and local authorities during the Coronavirus crisis. Here is our summary of the COVID-19 advice for landlords…

COVID-19: Advice for Landlords

The advice includes:

• How the current situation affects repairs to properties?
• A landlord’s legal obligations to provide regular gas safety inspections?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says:

“Landlords have a duty of care to their tenants. They have is a legal duty to repair and maintain gas appliances, flues and pipework in a safe condition, and also to ensure an annual gas safety check is taken on each appliance and flue, and a record is kept of each safety check.

If a landlord or engineer is unable to gain access to the property, for example, due to tenants being vulnerable or self-isolating, landlords are expected to record how they took reasonable steps to comply with the law. This will include records of communication with the tenant and also details of the engineers attempt to gain access. You should arrange the safety check as soon as all parties are available or when restrictions are lifted.

If you anticipate difficulties in the future as the COVID-19 situation progresses, you may carry out annual gas safety checks up to two months before the deadline date. This means you can have the annual gas safety checks at your properties carried out from 10 to 12 calendar months after the previous check and still keep the original deadline date as if the check was done exactly 12 months after the last check. You should arrange for annual gas safety checks to be done as early as possible, as a contingency against tenants being self-isolated for up to 14 days (as per current government guidelines).

L&W Heating and Plumbing – Here For You

During the COVID 19 pandemic, we’re following all recommended guidelines from the government, NHS and Public Health England whilst maintaining safe working practices at all times. For more information call our team on a regional number:-

Plumbers Wigan 01942 417220
Plumbers St Helens 01744 776140
Plumbers Newton Le Willows 01925 394260
Plumbers Warrington 01925 394260
Plumbers Runcorn 01925 394260
Plumbers Widnes 01925 394260