Lancaster Landlord Sentenced for Health and Safety Breaches
A landlord from Lancaster will be sentenced for endangering the lives of one family. The family was put at risk when the landlord failed to conduct annual gas safety checks. The landlord has been investigated by the HSE. During the health and safety audit, the landlord was found to be in breach of hiring a registered engineer to take care of her property in Scalehill.
The incident involving the family occurred in 2010. Two adults and their five year old and nine month old children were at risk due to a gas appliance. The gas appliance was not checked with proper safety checks the year they moved in, nor had it been checked since 2009. Carol McMillan breached health and safety laws based on the Gas Safety Regulations of 1998.
The prosecution of the landlord has led to a fine of £750 and £2,250 in other costs. The landlord could have further endangered lives. In fact, death could have resulted. She is lucky that nothing happened in a permanent situation. The troubling truth is that many landlords fail to conduct proper safety checks when it comes to gas appliances in the home. All landlords with gas appliances in their properties have to hire a registered engineer each year to do a safety check. This is a law wherein every rented home has to have an annual check in the event that carbon monoxide poisoning or other issues may result from faulty fittings.
