May 31, 2011
A Wycombe landlord has been fined after an investigation into one of his properties uncovered a number of dangerous defects regarding gas appliances.
At Aylesbury Crown Court this week, landlord Asif Azam pleaded guilty to failing to ensure gas fittings including a wall mounted boiler at a property he rented out in High Wycombe were safe.
Mr Azam was caught out after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered the faulty appliance. In addition, inspectors found that flues were not checked annually by Mr Azam as is required by law. The court also heard that following an earlier disconnection of the gas supply at the rented property, Mr Azam had the supply re-instated without any repairs being carried out.
Mr Azam was fined a total of £800 for contravening regulations 36(2) and 36(3)(a) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was also ordered to pay costs of £2,000. Afterwards, HSE inspector Stephen Manley said that Mr Azam’s negligence was “totally unacceptable” and “threatened tenant’s lives”.
"HSE contacted Mr Azam with guidance, information and instruction on his requirements as a landlord, which he simply ignored,” added Mr Manley.
"It is very fortunate that none of his tenants were harmed in what was a dangerous situation for the people who lived there. Maintenance was mostly absent, but when work was carried out on Mr Azam's behalf it was ineffective - our engineer found a flue elbow fitted the wrong way round".
