Gas safety check required for tenants own gas cooker

**flynnda** · 13-02-2013 19:25 PM

Hi,

we rent out a place out and have always had an annual gas safety check for the boiler and gas cooker (supplied by landlord) The cooker has now broken and we want to replace with an electric cooker to avoid need to maintain the appliance gas safety check.

The tenant has said they only want a gas cooker, not electric, and are happy to supply their own. My question is if the tenant decides to supply their own gas cooker do we still have a responsibility to perform annual appliance gas safety checks?

Thanks

**theartfullodger** · 13-02-2013 20:19 PM

AIUI you do annual GSC for landlord bits, tenant can decide if he wants his tested or not at his expense... and LL does not have responsibility to test tenant's kit..

Suspect the GSC website would have given you the answer if you'd looked....

**ram** · 13-02-2013 21:28 PM

why are you moving the goal posts for your tenants?

I know why, it's to save you money !

You supplied a property with a Gas cooker in, and that's what the
tenant was happy with, and on the inventory.
They had a gas cooker before, it is broken, and are expecting
you to replace it with another gas cooker. --That's what you do.

I hate electric cookers and would never consider anywhere
with an uncontrolable electrical cooker.

Don't be so mean..................

The gas cooker was rented off you, and if they buy their own, then
I would be wanting a rent reduction.

R.a.M.

**midlandslandlord** · 14-02-2013 00:00 AM

Do you trust this T enough to install their own gas device?

If it blows up, it's their cooker and your house.

You will still need a Safety Check for the boiler. I don't expect there would be any extra charge for the cooker.

Personally, I never install gas cookers from the off, but do do GCH.

ML

**jjlandlord** · 14-02-2013 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by midlandslandlord

Do you trust this T enough to install their own gas device?

If it blows up, it's their cooker and your house.

OP should tell T that it's OK if new cooker installed by professional, then.
I'm sure 80%+ of homes have a gas cooker but you don't see houses blowing up all over the place

**ram** · 14-02-2013 08:05 AM

I've installed 2 gas cookers myself. It's easy ( or it was with the
2 i got )

It's just a push and twist connector on the pipe / wall, and
identical action to fitting a light bulb. Push and twist.

You don't have to be a "professional" to fit a light bulb.

But having said that, some don't come with the flexible pipe
fitted onto the cooker, and you need that thin white tape to
wrap round the screw thead for a good seal, and 1 large
spanner / mole grip to tighten up the connection.
Or they have a double ended connector ( similar to water
pipe conectors ) and you need a set of spanners.
( Full tool kit is not what a tenant is expected to have )

So in that case, I would not trust the average tenant to ensure
leak proof connection.
Ask to see the bill from a professional for fitting, and if one
supplied, then get your own to check the instalation, charged
to the tenant.

R.

**midlandslandlord** · 14-02-2013 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by jjlandlord

OP should tell T that it's OK if new cooker installed by professional, then.
I'm sure 80%+ of homes have a gas cooker but you don't see houses blowing up all over the place

Correct.

However, what is the likelihood of T being diligent with gas safety certificates? Or for the gas engineer to assume that it is yours? Or the admin time to supervise the T installation and maintenance - are there Court cases on Duty of Care in thse circumstances?

Digging around, deaths from domestic gas installations are around 10-20 a year, of which ~75% are CO poisoning.

Total incidents are 200-250, of which about 30 are explosions.

Injuries (non-fatal) are 300-400, which is significantly up in 2008 to 2012, wrt 2000-2008. That injuries figure, nearly all due to CO, seems to have doubled over 10 years.

Landlords prosecuted for gas safety violations (many essentially administrative) are reported all the time.

Make of that what you will; I don't think it is worth the buggeration.

I know an LL who had a T-installed dangerous gas cooker disconnected professionally as it was assessed as dangerous; mate of T reconnected it. They are switching it to electricity eventually after serving Section 21 with T agreement.

Stats Source:
www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/ridgas.xls
http://www.publications.parliament.u...08121786000585

ML

**jjlandlord** · 14-02-2013 08:47 AM

Landlord is not liable for safety of appliance installed and belonging to tenants.
As mentioned he can agree on condition that cooker is new (as opposed to untraceable second hand) and fitted by professional, just to cover himself and his insurance cover.

10-20 deaths a year out of 60+ millions people means that it's probably still safer than having a walk in the street...

Or for the gas engineer to assume that it is yours?

I would assume that when a landlord instructs a gas engineer he lets him know the details.

**Mrs Tara Plumbing** · 15-02-2013 15:01 PM

Any of the tenant's own gas appliances will be listed as present but not tested by the GSR engineer on the Gas Safety Inspection Report.

Any NEW gas cookers must always be fitted by a GSR engineer by law and they will not be supplied with the hose /bayonnete fitting.

Once a cooker has the fitting attached it can be installed by anyone....
Except a landlord.
IF a landlord supplies any gas appliance it MUST be fitted by a gas registered engineer - that is the law.
When you fit your own yes you just plug it in like a light bulb.
BUT
When a GSR engineer installs it he will do a load of tests to check it is safe - the tests are laid out in the Gas Safety Regulation 1998. He will also give you some evidence that he has done these checks - that way as a landlord you do not have to get a New Gas safety check done - because your old one hasn't got the cooker on.

This is why engineers typically quote around £75 or so to fit a cooker but the public expect it to be £20!

If your tenant is to supply the cooker it may be a good idea to specify that it must be to current standards and new - and perhaps as the lanlord you could contribute some ££ towards buying/fitting it.