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- BLOCK IMPROVEMENT IN BLOOM Gateshead Council wants to honour residents who have created beautiful gardens after taking part in the block improvement scheme.
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- NEW LANDLORD LICENSING AREA IN CHOPWELL Gateshead Council has recently received the news that the designation of the Selective Licensing of Landlords in the Chopwell river streets has been approved. This means that all landlords who own or manage properties in this area will need to obtain a licence to rent privately.
- BEWARE OF SCAM The Association have been approached by a number of tenants seeking property in London. It appears that a landlady who calls herself Miss Edmonds says she is a member of Gateshead Private Landlords Association.
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- ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATES From 1st October 2008, any private landlord renting out his property to a new tenant will need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the property.
- LANDLORDS BEWARE! All landlords are asked to be particularly vigilant when taking on board new tenants. It is essential that you are aware of a tenants history so you can make an informed decision as to whether they are suitable for your property.
HSE safety warning on gas safety as staffordshire landlord is prosecuted following death of a tenant
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning tenants and landlords in the Staffordshire area about potentially unsafe gas installations in tenanted properties.
This warning, followings the prosecution of Shahid Hussain, a member of a family who manages a family business that ownsned and rents-outed-out a number of properties in Burton-on-Trent.
Warning comesHSE started an investigation into the management of gas appliances in those rented properties after a an elderly mansingle man, who lived alone, died from carbon monoxide poisoning in his rented flat in Waterloo Street, in February 2006.
Hussain was, on Friday 20th February, fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £44,500 costs by Stafford Crown Court. The court stipulated that Hussain has to pay the fine by 31st January, 2010 or face a prison sentence of 18 months.
and subsequent checks on other tenanted property where the same landlord had been informed that Gas Safety Certificates were required.
The Court heard that Mr Shahid Hussain was found to be managing a business letting 12 properties, of which nine had gas appliances fitted.
Subsequent checks on the properties managed or owned by Hussain found that Oonly two had current Landlord Gas Safety Certificates and a number of appliances were classified as either 'Immediately Dangerous' or 'At Risk,' putting more tenants at risk of death due to exposure to deadly carbon monoxide fumes or gas explosions..
Shahid Hussain, as landlord or managing agent, pleaded guilty to specimen a charges of breaching Section 3(2) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and failing to maintain appliances or to and keep a record of safety checks on appliances in properties in Byrkley Street, Waterloo Street and Needwood Street.
Speaking after the case, HSE investigating inspector, Christia Killen, 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, as happened here to Gordon Cunningham.
"Wherever it is appropriate, HSE will continue to take action against landlords who disregard their tenants' safety. " HSE is very pleased that this case has finally been brought to court. The specific installations in Burton-on-Trent brought to the attention of the Court, had remained unchecked and not maintained for a very long period so could have led to further deaths. The landlord had chosen to ignore the need for safety checks and the provision of gas safety certificates and continued toHussain's failure to manage the gas appliances in his properties put at least 18 tenants at risk from both carbon monoxide poisoning and gas explosion over a significant period of time and the youngest of those at risk was only six months old.
"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 registered gas fitter to make sure their gas appliances are safe. This case has highlighted that; if gas appliances are not maintained, people die.
"HSE 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.
"HSE inspectors are continuing to work in the Burton-on-Trent area to ensure that the importance of domestic gas safety is brought home to a community that has a history of problems with rogue landlords. HSE and East Staffs Borough Council jointly ran a 'Gas safety awareness event' in Burton town hall two weeks ago and 40 landlords from the Burton area displayed a genuine interest in ensuring the safety of their tenants by attending the seminar .....but it is almost certain that there are many others in the area who continue to risk the lives of their tenants."
"We would urge anyone tenant in a property with a gas appliance installed to ensure that their landlord has provided them with a current gas safety certificate and to urgently have the installation checked by a bona fide registered installer if they are in any doubt about the safety of a gas appliance or installation."
"We also warn landlords that they must ensure that gas appliances in rented properties are maintained and provided with a Landlords Gas Safety Certificate. On average 20 people are killed every year as a result of faulty gas appliances, as happened here to Gordon Cunningham.
24th February 2009
