A landlord has been fined a meagre £265 after a defective gas appliance was found to be in operation at his premises.

Ashby Bedeau let out a property in Bedford. In February this year his tenants felt unwell and contacted the gas helpline.

An engineer arrived and stopped the property’s gas supply as carbon monoxide was found to be present. He advised the tenants to go to hospital. 

Subsequently it was found the gas hob was defective and British Gas capped off the hob as immediately dangerous.

The Health and Safety Executive, which brought a case against Bedeau, told Luton Magistrates’ Court that the gas hob, gas cooker and boiler were under contract from a gas provider. 

However, the landlord had not had the hob gas safety checked in January 2015, as required by law.

HSE told the court that landlords must ensure all gas appliances are not only checked for safety, but maintained in a safe condition.

Bedeau, from Bedford, admitted breaching Regulation 36(2)(a) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and was fined £265 with costs of £845.