The short answer to this common boiler servicing question if you are a homeowner living in a residential property and not renting it out as a landlord – no, it is not legally required for you to service your own home boiler. However, if you are acting in a landlord capacity and charging rent or not living in the residential property yourself, then the answer is yes – you are obliged by law to have the boiler in the property serviced.
Similarly, if you are a landlord of a business premises used for commercial purposes – for example, a shop, a hotel or a restaurant – then you are again required to service the commercial boiler at that property by law.
What Happens If A Landlord Doesn’t Service The Boiler?
Not only is boiler servicing for a landlord a legal obligation, but it should also be a moral one too. Imagine if your tenants are a family with young children, or an elderly couple, who live in the premises with a faulty boiler. As a landlord who has neglected their duty to service the boiler, you could be responsible for a gas leak resulting in a devastating explosion causing them serious harm, or a leak of deadly carbon monoxide gas into the property.
The fines for landlords for not complying with the regulations put forward for gas safety are heavy. You can be fined £6,000 for not having an up-to-date gas safety certificate, a hefty sum equating to many months of tenant rent. If you are found to be willingly in breach of regulations, then you could even be found guilty and serve half a year in prison!
If you have not paid attention to the boiler in your rented property and it causes serious harm or death to your tenants due solely to your negligence, then you could even be prosecuted on the charge of manslaughter, leading to multiple years imprisonment.
The bottom line is that if you are a landlord then you have a duty of care to the tenants, to make sure that their home in is in a safe and liveable condition. A regular boiler servicing for a residential property doesn’t even cost as much as you think, but the fines for not complying, and the damage you could cause to your tenants will put you in a much worse situation.
Landlords should set a reminder to themselves 11 months after the boiler was last serviced, and when that time draws close, contact a professional boiler servicing company near you and have them conduct the service within a month to ensure you’re remaining above board and fully compliant.
Main Reasons To Get Your Boiler Serviced
If you are not a landlord, then we have already established that you are not obliged to have your boiler serviced every year. However, as a responsible homeowner you should always make sure that your home is safe for your family.
You wouldn’t leave sharp nails sticking out of the floorboards, or have exposed live electrical wiring, or put up with a front door that doesn’t lock properly, but just because your boiler is tucked away out of sight you shouldn’t neglect its maintenance.
Your boiler works by using high pressures, scalding water, gas and a live flame. These mechanisms work perfectly together but if there is a build-up of grime or a blockage, it can quickly lead to a bad situation – even with the shutoff valves and boiler lockout features to prevent damage. Just a few of the reasons you should have your boiler serviced regularly, once every 12 months is optimal, include:
- Prevent any gas leaks
- Detect any carbon monoxide
- Maximise efficiency
- Reduce household energy bills
- Needed for warranty to be valid
- Some insurance companies need it
- Notice repairs earlier, less costly
- Keep your family warm year round
So, whether you are a landlord or a regular homeowner, you can see the benefits of getting your boiler serviced on a regular basis. It’s commonplace for your boiler to be checked each year, as it will have gone through a full cycle of winter and summer use, and any problems can be detected ahead of time.
Here at Rowlen, we take care of any kind of boiler service, whether it’s for a residential property of your own, or if you are a landlord renting it out. We can always come at a time that is convenient for you or your tenant and keep your boiler in the best condition it can be.
Give us a call or reach out to us today via our online form and we’ll be able to schedule your next boiler servicing directly over the phone.
