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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning tenants and landlords about potentially unsafe gas installations in tenanted properties.
This warning follows the prosecution of Mr Sandeep Rajput, of Drews Holloway, Halesowen, who manages the administrative matters relating to Smethwick property owned and let by his wife.
HSE started an investigation into the management of gas appliances in those rented properties after two tenants, who lived in Sabell Road, Smethwick began to feel unwell with headaches and grogginess in early 2008. These symptoms are consistent with those experienced with carbon monoxide poisoning.
On March 28th 2008 the tenants contacted the gas supplier who condemned a fire due to a leaking pipe and other faults. On 29th September 2008 a second gas fire was condemned.
During 23 months of tenancy with Sandeep Rajput as the person responsible, there was no current gas safety certificate for the property supplied to the tenants.
Sandeep Rajput was, on Monday 30th March 2009, fined £1,200 and ordered to pay £1,748 costs by West Bromwich Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to breaching regulation 36(2) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
The Court heard that despite Rajput being aware, early in March 2008, of black soot marks above one of the gas fires and despite numerous attempts by the Health and Safety executive to contact him there was no attempt made to rectify matters, to service appliances or to issue a legally-required Landlord Gas Safety Certificate.
Speaking after the case, Pam Folsom, one of the HSE investigating inspectors, who had contacted the Rajput's at home and Mr Rajput's at his business premises in Smethwick, said:
"Carbon monoxide is a killer. You can't see it, taste it or smell it. On average 20 people are killed every year because of faulty gas appliances, if gas appliances are not maintained, people die, it is fortunate that the tenants had noticed problems and acted swiftly.
"Wherever it is appropriate, HSE will continue to take action against landlords who disregard their tenants' safety. Mr Rajput's failure to manage the gas appliances in his wife's property put the tenants at risk from both carbon monoxide poisoning and gas explosion over a significant period of time.
"Every conceivable effort was made, on a number of occasions, to contact Mr Rajput by letter, by 'phone and in person, in order to resolve the situation and safeguard the tenants so there was no excuse for risking the lives of the tenants.
"Landlords must ensure that gas appliances installed in their rented properties are maintained and provided with a current Landlord Gas Safety Certificate.
I urge Landlords everywhere, if they have not already done so, to contact a gas fitter registered under the Gas Safe Register to make sure their gas appliances are safe.
CHSE would also urge any private tenant, in a property with a gas appliance installed, to ensure that their landlord has provided them with a current gas safety certificate."
Chair of the bench, Mr Michael Vaughan said: "This is a very serious case and two people could have died from Carbon Monoxide poisoning."
Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.
Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News and PR West Midlands.
Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office who act as HSE's Press Office throughout Great Britain.
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