A landlord has been sentenced after failing to ensure that gas safety checks were carried out at a rented property in Wirral for eight years.
The HSE investigation began in October 2024 after Wirral Borough Council raised a concern. The tenant had lived at the property since 2016 with her five children and reported that no annual gas safety checks had taken place during her tenancy.
The landlord provided a certificate dated November 2024, completed after the concern was raised, but could not provide records covering the previous eight years. He pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 36(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was fined £2,400 and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs at Wirral Magistrates’ Court on 8 October 2025.
What landlords need to remember
The HSE says annual gas safety checks are a basic legal requirement for landlords. They are intended to confirm that gas appliances and flues are safe and help protect tenants from serious harm, including carbon monoxide poisoning.
Landlords must ensure that gas appliances are checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Records of the checks must also be retained. The source also reminds landlords that carbon monoxide alarms should be installed to provide an early warning of danger.
- Arrange a gas safety check every 12 months.
- Use a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Keep the gas safety records for the property.
- Install carbon monoxide alarms as appropriate.
- Check the current official HSE guidance for the latest requirements.
A simple compliance check
If you are a landlord, review your records for every rented property now. Check the date of the last gas safety check, confirm when the next one is due and make sure you can locate the relevant record. If you use a managing agent, confirm who is responsible for arranging the check and retaining the paperwork.
Do not rely only on an old certificate or assume that a check was completed because a tenant has not reported a problem. The HSE case shows the importance of being able to demonstrate that checks have been arranged and records retained.
The HSE also warns that gas appliances and flues should be properly maintained and inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This is separate from trying to carry out gas work yourself or using someone who is not registered for the work involved. The official source provides details of the Gas Safe Register and HSE guidance on domestic gas health and safety.
This article summarises the HSE press release and is not a substitute for checking the current official guidance or obtaining appropriate professional advice. Requirements can depend on the circumstances of the property and the work being carried out.
If you would like help keeping your property compliance paperwork organised, contact Pravise. Your first call is free.
Sources and further reading
This article draws on reputable published sources and public enforcement reporting. It has not been fully verified case by case, so no individuals, companies or addresses are identified.
This article is general guidance, not advice about your particular site or premises. If you want it applied to your own job, the first call is free.