The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning landlords to be extra vigilant in ensuring the properties they own contain safe gas appliances that are correctly checked and certified.

It follows the sentencing of Ervin Clarke, of Handle Street, Golcar, who was handed a 16 month sentence, suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to separate breaches of the Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations 1998 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

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Mr Clarke was also ordered to undertake 60 hours community service and pay £1,420 costs by Huddersfield Magistrates.

The breaches relate to his property on Handle Street, Golcar, which Mr Clarke used to rent out. The court heard that he failed to ensure a gas fire in the property was checked for safety by a registered 'Gas Safe' engineer, and that he failed to act on an improvement notice for the appliance. In doing so he put the health and safety of a tenant and her young daughter at risk.

After the hearing HSE Inspector Kirsty Townend commented: "Landlords are duty bound to comply with Gas Safe regulations, and we’re concerned there are other property owners like Mr Clarke who are shirking their responsibilities.

"They are jeopardising the lives of their tenants and we will not hesitate to prosecute individuals who fail their duty of care when it comes to gas safety."

(CD/KMcA)