The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a landlord in Sheffield for failing to check the safety of gas appliances at a property he rented out in the city.

The HSE found that Mohammed Ikram of Shiregreen Terrace, Shiregreen exposed a tenant living on Morrison Avenue in Maltby to the potential risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Mr Ikram did not have the gas fire, combination boiler and associated flues checked and certified on a regular basis by a registered Gas Safe engineer.

He also did not respond to two requests by the HSE to have the appliances checked, which resulted in an Improvement Notice being issued in June 2009, requiring him to ensure the appliances were legal.

However, he ignored the notice and when it expired in July 2009, the necessary safety checks still had not been carried out – a breach of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

On Wednesday (14/04/10) at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court, Mr Ikram pleaded guilty to breaching the Improvement Notice and also breaching Section 36(3)(a) of the 1998 regulations. He was fined £350 and ordered to pay £750 costs.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Steve Kay said that Mr Ikram ‘blatantly disregarded a law designed to protect his tenant from the potentially fatal consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning’.

‘Landlords are legally required to ensure the gas appliances at properties they own are checked and certified at least once a year to ensure they are working properly and safely,’ said Mr Kay.

‘Carbon monoxide poisoning can kill, and it’s completely unacceptable that Mr Ikram chose to put others at risk – especially as he had ample opportunity to comply with the Improvement Notice. 

‘Today’s prosecution shows that we can and will prosecute landlords who neglect their health and safety responsibilities – and we hope it serves as a warning to others,’ added Mr Kay.

Gas engineers undertaking gas work must be registered with the HSE-approved body, the Gas Safe Register. 

To check for registered gas engineers in your area or for more information, go to www.gassaferegister.co.uk.

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