A Nuneaton landlord has been given a suspended six-month prison sentence for repeatedly failing to carry out annual gas inspections on one of his properties.

Steven James Boote, of Rock Close, Galley Common, Nuneaton, was found guilty of breaching Regulation 33(1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 36(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and use) Regulations 1998. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for a year, and 200 hours' community service, and was ordered to pay £30,000 in costs.

Coventry Magistrates' Court heard how in October 2009 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered that Mr Boote had failed to carry out annual gas safety checks since 2005 at a property he owned on Rothesay Avenue, Tile Hill, Coventry. This meant he did not provide a legally required gas safety certificate for the property.

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The court heard the tenant had also not had heating or hot water for two years due to the condition of the gas appliances and of the property itself.

Mr Boote was issued with an Improvement Notice, ordering him to carry out the required checks and to provide the gas safety certificate. He failed to comply with it.

Following the case, HSE inspector Gareth Langston said: "Mr Boote completely disregarded the warnings about the state of his property - and showed an appalling lack of concern for the safety of his tenant. All he seemed to care about was money.

"All landlords must have a valid gas safety certificate in place. A gas leak or faulty appliance can cause an explosion or lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, potentially killing their tenants.

"Tenants have the right to check the gas certification when they move in to rented accommodation. Landlords have an obligation to make the certificates freely available to tenants who ask for them, and if they don't they should be reported to the authorities."

(CD/KMcA)