Landlords and tenants – What are your responsibilities for Carbon Monoxide testing?

Landlords – your responsibilities 

• Ensure only licensed people do all gasfitting and electrical work.
• Before re-letting, ensure all appliances are safe and any unsafe appliance is repaired or removed.
• Ensure electrical appliances are cleaned regularly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Particular attention should be paid to dust build-up on cooling fan inlets and all parts of heaters.
• Check electrical appliances for damage to plugs, leads and casings that may expose live parts or cause a fire.
• Ensure electrical wiring, socket outlets and switches are maintained in a safe condition.
• Ensure all gas appliances, pipework and flue systems are maintained in a safe condition.
• Ensure all ventilations openings are clear and unobstructed.
• Ensure all pipes are sealed correctly if an appliance has been removed.
• Record all safety checks and details of work carried out on a gas or electrical installation.
• Flue systems must be examined regularly, especially those related to decorative gas log fires, internal hot water heaters and space heaters. Flue terminals must be checked to ensure they are not blocked and are vermin-proof.
• Burning or discolouration on the front or above a space or water heater indicates a problem and must be checked immediately.
• Air-vents must not be blocked or covered.
• Piping systems should be checked every five years or whenever a new or replacement appliance is installed. Galvanised steel installations should be checked more frequently.
• Respond immediately to any request from your tenant to fix a gas leak, or any other urgent repair listed under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. If you do not respond to them immediately, they can authorise an urgent repair of up to $1800, for which you must reimburse them. More informations about this is available at consumer.vic.gov.au/renting