A landlord has been given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to carry out 150 hours of community work for endangering a family with young children after he authorised illegal gas work at a Luton home.
Dinyar Sarkari, from Stanmore, North London, commissioned the installation of a new boiler at an address at Radnor Road, Luton, after the tenants complained to the local council that the central heating system wasn’t working.
Mr Sarkari, who owns and rents out the property, agreed to install a new boiler, but he did so using gas fitters who were not registered with Gas Safe Register – as the law requires.
Luton Magistrates’ Court heard today (14 February) that following the work, the tenants immediately contacted the National Grid after they suspected that gas was leaking. Visiting technicians immediately turned off the gas supply and informed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of their findings.
HSE contacted Mr. Sarkari, but he subsequently supplied false documentation as evidence of his Landlord’s Gas Safety Records, which are also a legal requirement.
Dinyar Sarkari, of Uppingham Avenue, Stanmore, London pleaded guilty to three breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and one breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was given a two month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of community work. He was also fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,814.
After the case, HSE Inspector Robert Meardon said:
“Dinyar Sarkari has shown a flagrant disregard for his tenants’ safety and put their lives at risk.
“People die every year and many more are harmed by gas related incidents. People can be overcome by carbon monoxide, or affected by an explosion. It is vital that only competent people work on gas fittings and appliances. They must be a member of the Gas Safe Register.
“Landlords in particular have a duty of care and must ensure the safety of their tenants by having such appliances fitted and checked annually by someone on this Register.”
Russell Kramer chief executive of Gas Safe Register, added:
“Every Gas Safe registered engineer carries a Gas Safe ID card, which shows who they are and the type of gas appliances they are qualified to work on.
“We always encourage the public to ask for and check the card and if they have any concerns about the safety of work carried out in their home, to speak to us. Every year we investigate thousands of reports of illegal gas work. Call us on 0800 408 5500 or visit our website at www.gassaferegister.co.uk.”
Further information about gas safety can be found online at www.hse.gov.uk/gas