Basildon landlord prosecuted for putting tenants' lives at risk

Date:

29 March 2012

A woman who owns a number of properties in Basildon which she rents to vulnerable families has been given community service for failing to keep their gas appliances well maintained and safe.

Investigations by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Onyemauche 'Fidelia' Peel, 49, of Thamesmead in London, had not been ensuring Landlords' Gas Safety Checks were routinely carried out in at least four properties between 2003 and 2010. Two boilers had to be turned off because they were in such a dangerous condition that tenants' lives were at risk.

Some safety checks had been done by unregistered engineers, and Mrs Peel also used an unregistered gas engineer to install a gas boiler in one property.

At Basildon Crown Court today, Mrs Peel admitted 7 breaches relating to the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. She was given 150 hours of community service and ordered to pay £2,000 costs.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Sue Matthews, said:

"Owning properties and renting them out can be very profitable. But it also comes with responsibilities. Landlords must ensure that gas appliances are maintained in a safe condition. This means having annual gas safety checks, repairs, and installation work carried out by Gas Safe registered engineers.

"There is no excuse for not maintaining gas appliances. My investigation showed that nearly a dozen small children were placed at risk for years by this landlord's failure to maintain gas boilers in their homes.

"The fumes given off by unmaintained gas appliances are colourless, odourless and tasteless - and can kill. Without an annual Landlords' Gas Safety Check, tenants cannot tell whether their appliances are safe to use. These essential safety checks cost only £70-£100 per year.

"It is illegal for landlords and unregistered engineers to carry out gas work. Working with gas appliances is difficult, specialised and potentially very dangerous. Only qualified and registered engineers should attempt it.

"HSE will not hesitate to prosecute landlords who use unregistered gas engineers. Landlords can easily check whether gas engineers are registered by telephoning Gas Safe or checking on the Gas Safe website."

Judge Owen Davis QC described these incidents as a "time bomb waiting to go off" and "it was just chance that no-one was killed."

It is a legal requirement for any gas engineering business or self-employed gas engineer carrying out domestic or commercial gas work to be registered under the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998.

Paul Johnston, Chief Executive of Gas Safe Register added:

"People employing an engineer to fit, fix or service gas appliances, should always make sure that person is Gas Safe registered. Don't just take their word for it. Check they are on the Gas Safe Register and check their ID card when they arrive at your door.

"People shouldn't take any risks. Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause fires, explosions, gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning."

The CORGI gas registration scheme was replaced by Gas Safe Register in Great Britain in 2009. The register aims to protect 21 million gas consumers from dangerous gas work.

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Mrs Peel admitted the following breaches:
   • One count of breaching Regulation 36 (2) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 by failing to maintain a gas boiler in a safe condition at 170 Swanstead, Basildon.
   • Three counts of breaching Regulation 36 (3) (a) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 by failing to have gas boilers and flues checked for safety every 12 months at 160 Swanstead, 107 Brempsons, and 23 Bartlow End Basildon.
   • Three counts of breaching Regulation 36 (4) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 by failing to have work on gas appliances carried out by legally registered gas engineers at 160 and 170 Swanstead. This related to the installation of a gas boiler at 160 Swanstead by one unregistered gas engineer, and Landlords' Gas Safety Checks carried out at both properties by another unregistered gas engineer.
3. Regulation 36 of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 is set out in detail at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2451/regulation/36/made
4. Gas Safe Register replaced the CORGI gas registration scheme in Great Britain in 2009 and is the Government-approved registration scheme for gas engineers in the UK, Isle of Man and Guernsey. The register of 126,000 gas engineers aims to protect 21 million gas consumers from dangerous gas work.
5. To find or check a Gas Safe Registered engineer in your area, go to www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.

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