The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning landlords to ensure gas appliances are safe for tenants after two people were poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO), from a boiler in their flat that had not been properly maintained.

Mr Soley Fikret, landlord of a block of flats in Mare Street, Hackney, was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay £1,500 costs at the Old Bailey, after pleading guilty to two breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.

HSE Inspector Gavin Pugh said: "Landlords must act responsibly. This case should be a warning to landlords who don't bother to look after their tenants. In this instance it was very lucky that no one was killed. Had the carbon monoxide poisoning happened slightly later in the night, this incident could have resulted in a terrible tragedy.

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"It is the responsibility of every landlord to maintain gas appliances in a safe condition and have them safety checked by a registered gas installer at least once a year, and it is not difficult to arrange for a registered installer to carry out the annual checks. Also, it is essential for any new gas appliances, which includes flues and ventilation systems to be installed by a registered gas installer."

On the evening of 11 January 2007, an ambulance was called to Mare Street, where one of the occupants of one flat, was reported to have symptoms of a heart attack. Paramedics gained access to the flats and took the individual to hospital. Meanwhile other residents of the building were unable to wake another tenant, and another ambulance was called.

CO poisoning was diagnosed and all residents and guests of the property and the paramedics were treated for the effects of CO poisoning.

The HSE attended the next day with British Gas investigators, who put warning notices on the gas appliances in one flat. They returned the property on the 15 January 2007 to test the boiler and found it was emitting high levels of CO.

The HSE investigation showed that Mr Fikret had failed to ensure that the three separate boilers and flues in the flats at Mare Street were checked for safety in the previous 12 months.

(CD/JM)