Landlord gas safety checks in Thatcham
Most Thatcham homes have gas central heating, so landlords here face the same 12-month gas safety cycle as anywhere in England.
What is different in Thatcham
Thatcham comes under West Berkshire Council for housing standards, while the Health and Safety Executive enforces the gas safety regulations.
Many houses on the town's estates have had their original boilers replaced with combis in kitchens or airing cupboards. When the boiler moved, the flue moved too, often through an outside wall at the side of the house. Make sure the engineer can see where the flue comes out, especially if a neighbour's fence or extension has since gone up close to it.
If you let several similar homes, keep each gas safety record with its own address and appliance list. Swapped or undated records are the kind of mistake that is easy to make and awkward to explain later.
Local housing authority: West Berkshire Council (opens in a new tab)
The rule, in brief
Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, a landlord must keep the gas pipework, appliances and flues they provide in a safe condition and have each appliance and flue checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Keep the record of each check for two years. Give a copy to existing tenants within 28 days of the check, and to new tenants before they move in.
Source: HSE (opens in a new tab) / Gas Safe Register (opens in a new tab)
Gas safety for landlords — the full answerQuestions from Thatcham landlords
- Can a neighbour's extension affect my boiler flue?
- It can, if it ends up close to where the flue discharges. Your Gas Safe engineer will check flue positions as part of the annual check.
General information for England, not legal advice. Check the source and your council before relying on it for a particular property.