Landlord gas safety checks in Sandhurst
A Sandhurst landlord's gas duties are the same as anywhere in England: a check every 12 months, a record kept for two years, and copies for tenants.
What is different in Sandhurst
Housing standards in Sandhurst are handled by Bracknell Forest Council, and gas safety law by the Health and Safety Executive. A tenant who moves in without being given the record before their tenancy starts can raise it with either.
Where tenancies change over often, the simplest habit is to check the gas safety record's date during every changeover. If the next check falls due within a couple of months, doing it while the property is empty saves arranging access with new tenants, and keeps the original anniversary date if it falls within the two-month window.
Some older cottages around Sandhurst have chimneys used by gas fires or boilers. Chimney flues can deteriorate unseen, so the annual check matters even when the appliance itself seems to work well.
Local housing authority: Bracknell Forest 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 Sandhurst landlords
- Can I do the gas check while the property is empty?
- Yes, and between tenancies is often the easiest time. Give the new tenants a copy before they move in.
General information for England, not legal advice. Check the source and your council before relying on it for a particular property.