Landlords: 7 Common Gas Safety Mistakes to Avoid in Huddersfield
As a landlord, keeping your tenants safe isn’t just a moral duty: it’s a legal one. One of the most important responsibilities is regularly checking that all gas appliances, pipework and flues in your rental properties are safe.
Unfortunately, too many landlords still overlook vital steps in gas safety compliance. Whether you’re managing one flat or numerous properties across Huddersfield, a single mistake could lead to serious consequences, including fines, invalidated insurance, or worse, risking your tenants’ safety.
Here are 7 common gas safety mistakes landlords must avoid, and how you can stay on the right side of the law, with help from trusted local experts like Huddersfield Gas & Plumbing.
1. Forgetting the Annual Gas Safety Check (CP12 Certificate)
Every rental property with gas appliances must undergo a gas safety check once every 12 months. This must be carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer, and the landlord must provide a copy of the CP12 Gas Safety Certificate to the tenant within 28 days.
Many landlords assume it’s okay to delay a few weeks, but that’s a mistake. Even a short lapse can result in non-compliance. You’re legally required to keep checks up to date without gaps.
Tip: Book with Huddersfield Gas & Plumbing in advance. We’ll even send reminders when your next one is due.
2. Assuming New Boilers Don’t Need Checking
Just installed a brand-new boiler? That’s brilliant, but unfortunately that doesn’t exempt you from your yearly checks. Even brand-new appliances must be inspected as part of the annual Gas Safety Check.
Some landlords wrongly believe that manufacturer warranties or installation sign-off certificates cover them. They don’t. You still need a CP12 certificate every year, regardless of the boiler’s age.
3. Neglecting to Keep Records
By law, you must keep a record of each gas safety check for at least two years. This record should include the date of inspection, address of the property, the appliances and flues checked, any defects found, and details of the engineer.
Many landlords rely on email chains or verbal confirmations, which won’t cut it if you’re ever investigated. Paper or digital, make sure your documentation is clear, complete, and accessible.
At Huddersfield Gas & Plumbing, we issue full digital certificates and keep copies on file in case you ever need a replacement.
4. Failing to Check Gas Appliances You Didn’t Supply
Even if a gas appliance belongs to the tenant (e.g. a personal gas heater), you are still responsible for the safety of the gas pipework and flue it connects to.
That means you can’t ignore non-supplied appliances altogether. A professional engineer will assess whether the connected system is safe, even if the appliance isn’t yours.
5. Neglecting Flue and Ventilation Checks
A proper gas safety inspection doesn’t just mean looking at the boiler. Flues, chimneys, and ventilation must be assessed to ensure carbon monoxide isn’t building up inside the property.
Blocked flues or poor ventilation can lead to silent, deadly gas leaks. Some budget gas check services skip these steps, but at Huddersfield Gas & Plumbing, we never cut corners.
We perform full flue inspections and ventilation checks as part of our £60 flat-fee service, with no hidden extras.
6. Skipping Inspections in the Interim
Your legal duty doesn’t begin and end with the annual check. You’re also responsible for ongoing safety throughout the tenancy. That means carrying out visual inspections during routine visits, especially between tenants.
Look out for:
● Signs of soot or staining near gas appliances
● Yellow/orange flames (instead of blue)
● Loose pipework or connections
● Blocked vents or flues
While you’re not expected to do technical tests, basic awareness can help you catch problems early and protect your tenants.
7. Choosing the Cheapest Option Over Quality
All landlords want to keep costs down. But when it comes to gas safety, cheap and cheerful can cost you dearly in the long run. A rushed or incomplete inspection might miss serious faults, putting you and your tenants at risk.
Some services in Huddersfield offer stripped-back boiler checks with limited testing or charge extra for standard checks like gas tightness or filter cleaning.
At Huddersfield Gas & Plumbing, our gas safety check includes:
● Full gas tightness test
● Emissions and flue testing
● Boiler inspections
● Radiator bleeding (if required)
● Magnetic filter cleaning (if required)
● Ventilation checks
● A full certificate issued on the same day
As a landlord, cutting corners on gas safety isn’t worth the risk. The law is clear, and your tenants deserve a safe home.
At Huddersfield Gas & Plumbing, we bring national standards of professionalism right to your doorstep. Whether you manage a single rental or multiple properties, we offer reliable, no-nonsense boiler servicing and gas safety checks in Huddersfield—with flat pricing, easy booking, and professional service.
