Landlord fined over safety failure

Michael Smith failed to maintain appliances and pipework at a property in Ash Grove, Conisbrough, magistrates were told.

Smith did not give his tenant the necessary safety records and ignored an improvement notice served by the Health and Safety Executive.

An engineer was brought in by the executive to examine the gas system and identified five at-risk defects.

HSE inspector Mark Welsh said: “On average 20 people are killed every year because of faulty gas appliances.

“Mr Smith blatantly disregarded a law designed to safeguard tenants from potentially fatal effects of carbon monoxide poisoning.

“He chose to put his tenant at risk and failed to take action even when given ample opportunity to do so when given an Improvement Notice saying exactly what needed to be done and when.

“Landlords must, by law, make sure gas appliances in their rental properties are maintained, have a gas safety check carried out every 12 months by a registered Gas Safe engineer and give tenants a copy of the current Landlord Gas Safety Record.”

Smith, of Grange Road, Bessacarr, was fined £400 plus £1,000 costs.

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