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Vulnerable tenant lived in property with dangerous gas appliances
A landlord has been given a suspended prison sentence after he failed to maintain the gas appliances at his rental property in Penlan, Swansea.
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HSE, prosecuting, told Swansea Magistrates’ Court that there were numerous faults with gas appliances at the property, found between May and June 2017. The HSE had received a complaint from the tenant’s advocate, a tenancy support worker for Swansea Young Families Scheme, Action for Children, who was acting on behalf of the vulnerable tenant.
Gas Safe Register inspectors discovered that the chimney/flue of the boiler in the attic had not been sealed properly so that products of combustion could enter the property, nor was it supported correctly. There were further boiler defects, and the tenant had not been provided with any temperature controls.
The gas cooker, which was owned by the tenant, had no stability chain or bracket fitted.
The gas supply was classified as Immediately Dangerous because the connection to the cap and liner meter outlet union had been made with an incorrect fitting and did not fit properly. The installation pipework sleeve at the meter position under the stairs was not sealed and the gas meter regulator operating pressure was not within the acceptable tolerance.
The court heard that landlord Tariq Shehadeh, who bought the property from his parents in 2007 but who now lives in Doha, Qatar, failed to have the gas appliances inspected regularly or maintained, and failed to provide a landlord’s gas safety record.
Mr Shehadeh later complied with Improvement Notices that required him to take action to deal with these issues.
Mr Shehadeh pleaded guilty to breaching Regulations 28, 36(2), 36(3) and 36(4) of the Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 as amended.
He was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay full costs of £14,883.30.
To report illegal gas work please call 0800 408 5577 or go to www.GasSafeRegister. co.uk/reportillegal
Asbestos was strewn across the roof in property refurb
A construction company and a property management company have both been fined after failing to manage asbestos safely during the refurbishment of a former office block in Stockport.
Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard that Samer Constructions had been contracted by Swift Property Management MCR to refurbish the property in Hazel Grove, Stockport.
Materials containing asbestos and general waste had been discarded from the property in August 2018, and were spread across the roof of a single-storey part of the block. Some of the materials had fallen on to a car park area below that was not cordoned off from passing members of the public.
The HSE investigation found that an asbestos survey had been carried out in May 2018, which identified the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) including licensed ACMs, But Swift Property Management MCR failed to pass on the survey to Samer Constructions before work started.
The court heard that Samer Constructions failed in its duty because it did not check whether a survey had been carried out. It went ahead with the work in a reckless manner, which resulted in two employees being exposed to asbestos fibres.
Swift Property Management Limited of Denison Road, Manchester, pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
The company was fined £25,000 plus costs of £3,428.
Samer Constructions Limited of Platt Lane, Manchester, pleaded guilty to breaching sections 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. It was fined £12,000 plus costs of £3,428.
HSE inspector Phil Redman said: “These risks could so easily have been avoided by acting on the findings of the asbestos survey and carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices.”
Guaranteed contracts: a warning
Once again, we’re hearing that gas engineers have lost money after they’ve signed up to so-called guaranteed contract work. A recent victim told Gas Safe Register: “The cost in my case was £2,300. If you are hungry for work, it is easy to get taken in by these people.”
This is how they operate: a company contacts you by phone or email, offering you exclusive and substantial guaranteed work in your postcode area. The company, often describing itself as a property maintenance firm, says it’s giving you a contract to exclusively provide landlords’ gas safety record checks and maintenance of gas appliances in a postcode area local to you.
But here’s the catch: you’ll be asked for a fee to secure the ‘exclusive’ contract, usually around £2,000. Or you may be invited to apply through a tender.
Several gas engineers have contacted Gas Safe Register, saying they have never received any work. They can’t get hold of the company to which they have paid their hard-earned money and they can’t recoup it.
These companies pop up regularly and change name frequently. Their addresses are often serviced offices and any phone numbers provided are not in service or go through to virtual assistants only.
If you think you have been a victim, contact your bank and report anything suspicious to the police or Action Fraud.
Remember: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Post-Covid GB must prioritise green commitments, say Brits
Just one in five people think Great Britain will hit net zero carbon by 2050, a survey commissioned by Northern Gas Networks has found. And one in three people are unsure whether it could be carbon-neutral within the next 30 years.
However, A Climate for Change, a research report from Teesside University conducted by YouGov, reveals that people want to see greener policy commitments at the top of the agenda when the country begins to ‘build back better’ after the Covid-19 pandemic. Two-thirds (64 per cent) of survey respondents think the country should take the opportunity to rebuild the post-pandemic economy in a way that is greener and better for the environment.
The research also found that more 18 to 24-year-olds want the government to prioritise unlocking investment in green energy (20 per cent) than on job creation (15 per cent).
The report investigates the current public attitudes around climate change and the shift to greener energy sources, as well as economic and environmental priorities.
Author Professor Matthew Cotton said: “The findings clearly show that public support for a green recovery is strong. It is significant in the current circumstances that the youngest survey respondents prioritised green innovation ahead of job creation, considering the negative impact of Covid-19 on the labour market that many in this age group will now be entering.
“Businesses have a responsibility to provide environmental and community-led initiatives as part of the nation’s recovery.”
The NGN survey also revealed that: • 60 per cent of those asked said investing in green infrastructure would help work towards achieving the net-zero target • 42 per cent consider that one of the benefits of using hydrogen is that it’s a clean alternative to
fossil fuels for heating homes and businesses • 31 per cent identified a lack of commitment from government to make policy decisions to achieve net zero as a top concern, regarding how the country is responding to climate change.
Mark Horsley, CEO of Northern Gas Networks, said: “This research suggests that, when it comes to specific transitions to alternative energy sources such as hydrogen, public awareness and understanding is very low. People want to know more about how a change to hydrogen will affect them, their bills and their existing household appliances such as boilers.”
Add renewables expertise with govt subsidy at ECTA
Gas engineers can get up to 70 per cent off training for renewables at Stockport training provider ECTA. Funding has been granted by BEIS and the Midlands Growth Hub for training in heat pumps and solar thermal systems to support engineers qualify in technologies that can be installed under the Green Homes Grant.
Engineers can also claim the funding for qualifications including Energy Efficiency, Water Regulations and Unvented Hot Water Systems, as well as the renewables qualifications that are recognised by MCS.
ECTA director Dave Berry says: “The government drive towards green technologies offers an opportunity for installers to diversify their businesses, and prepare themselves for the growth in interest from customers.
“There will be a demand for many more qualified people than currently exist.”
www.ectatraining.co.uk
Adam pushes 3,000 for charity
A determined Baxi project manager has completed 3,000 press ups in just under 10 hours, raising £1,200 for Teenage Cancer Trust.
The press-ups challenge encourages participants to raise vital funds by completing 3,000 press ups during a month. But Adam Badat completed the full challenge in under 10 hours.
The funds raised by his efforts will go towards the important work the charity does to support young people living with cancer.
Adam says: “When I’m not a project manager at Baxi, I’m always at the gym, so it was the perfect way to put me through my paces and raise money for such a great cause.”
New gas centre aims to drive up standards
The National Gas Centre for Excellence (NGCFE) has opened its doors in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, to tackle the national shortage in qualified heating engineers. It also aims to prepare for the heating technologies of the future, as well as providing ACS, says managing director Michael Hunt (pictured).
The 6,000ft2 centre aims to drive up standards by providing an alternative to tick-box training, focusing on the needs of gas engineers – from those just completing basic training to fully qualified engineers updating their ACS. Michael, who is a qualified heating engineer, says: “The tick-box approach to training often fails to offer the depth of knowledge and theory that is required.”
The centre, close to the M62 and A1, provides practical experience, with workshop and classroom spaces fully kitted out with the latest heating, ventilation, and plumbing technology.
A large area is allocated for future training requirements, including renewables and hydrogen heating systems.
“More than half of all qualified gas engineers are aged over 55 and, as they leave or retire, they are not being replaced at a fast enough rate,” says Michael. “I’m determined to set new standards of excellence when it comes to training and customer service to encourage more people into what is a rewarding career.
“While the majority of the UK’s homes continue to use gas boilers, they will eventually be replaced by new heating technologies, such as hydrogen and electric heat pumps – which will require fully trained engineers to install, maintain and repair them.”
ngcfe.co.uk
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