Landlord fined for faulty boiler

Letting a property brings with it many responsibilities on the part of the landlord.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought a claim against a Bristol landlord after a family of five who were renting a property from him suffered carbon monoxide poisoning. The casing for the boiler was not in place as it had been removed to relight the boiler as the ignition button was not working. The tenants were unaware of the risks created by leaving the case off.

The landlord pleaded guilty and was fined for a breach of health and safety regulations. The tenants had to be treated in hospital and clearly suffered but it is easy to imagine how the outcome of this case could have been so much worse if they had been exposed to carbon monoxide for much longer.

The HSE reminds landlords of the importance of ensuring that they meet their legal obligations and service gas appliances annually and that such service is carried out by a Gas Safe engineer.

The case does not tell us anything new but it acts as an important reminder that residential landlords have important legal obligations. It is also interesting to note that the fact that the tenants had removed the casing to the boiler had no impact on the outcome. Clearly the boiler should have been serviced to ensure that the ignition light worked - but a prudent landlord might also leave boiler instructions with their tenants and ensure that tenants know whom to contact in the event that their boiler fails to function.

If you are a landlord or are thinking of acquiring a buy to let property, it is important for you to be clear as to your legal responsibilities.

To discuss this or any other landlord related issue, contact us.