Landowners and farmers should be particularly vigilant about gas safety in temporary accommodation used by seasonal workers, warns land management firm Strutt & Parker.

Landowners are legally obliged to have safety checks carried out on gas installations in tenanted residential properties, of which temporary accommodation is often most at risk.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 apply to any property occupied for residential purposes and include such premises within most agricultural tenancies. Farmhouses, cottages or any other residential property including mobile homes and caravans all fall under the regulations and it pertains to gas appliances fed by cylinders as well as those connected to a mains supply.

Russell de Beer, partner in land management in Strutt & Parker’s Norwich office, said: “The landlord’s responsibilities are very clear and cannot be ignored.

“In particular, landlords should note that they cannot transfer this responsibility as part of a tenancy agreement. Therefore, even if a property is let on a full repairing and insuring lease, the landlord remains liable for the safety of gas appliances and for carrying out the annual gas safety checks, if it falls within the regulations.

“It is an important point to note for farmhouses and cottages which have gas installations – including those fuelled by gas tanks and cylinders – or those on mains gas, although there are comparatively few of the latter.

“One type of property most at risk of serious incident is temporary accommodation, whether mobile homes, caravans or cottages, in multiple occupation. This is often used for seasonal workers and may have gas to provide cooking, heating or refrigeration.”

Mr de Beer added that property owners wanting an exact handle on their gas and electricity use should consider installing smart meters in a bid to make household energy management much more effective.

He said: “They will make life a lot easier. Smart meters give near real time information on the cost of your household’s energy use. They will help you better manage your energy use, save money and reduce emissions. Most advantageously, they will bring an end to estimated billing: you will only be billed for the energy actually used. Smart meters communicate directly with your energy supplier so no one needs to come and read your meter in future. Additionally, they will help make switching suppliers smoother and faster.”

Energy companies will start installing smart meters in most households between 2014 and 2019, although some energy companies are starting to install smart meters now.

For more information and advice, please contact Mr de Beer in Strutt & Parker’s Norwich office on 01603 617431