The need for good letting agents keeping across health and safety legisaltion has been made by a Shelter survey which claims that 10 per cent of landlords are unable to confirm their tenants are living in a gas safe home.
Results from research conducted on behalf of the homelessness charity and British Gas, also show that 14 per cent of landlords apparently do not know they had a legal obligation to have their properties checked for gas safety every year.
However, when asked whether their properties had an active gas safety certificate (CP12) and boiler serviced each year, 90 per cent of landlords confirmed they did. Seven per cent thought that they did. but three per cent were unable to confirm if their tenants were protected from carbon monoxide poisoning.
An annual gas safety check and certificate is required by law for rented properties, and is the responsibility of the landlord. Those who fail to meet gas safety regulations in the homes they rent out can face fines and even imprisonment.
Shelter says it is campaigning for tenants to look out for signs of staining, soot or discolouration on, or around, their gas boiler, fire or water heater, as these can be signs of carbon monoxide.