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A New Ferry landlord has been fined after failing to carry out gas safety checks at a rented property for eight years, putting a mother and her five children at risk.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, Adam Evans, of Brownlow Road, New Ferry had a house on Salisbury Drive, occupied by a tenant and her five children in 2016. Their investigation found there were no annual gas safety checks conducted on the boiler during the entire tenancy.
The HSE began investigating the property in October 2024 because of concern from Wirral Council. Mr Evans was asked to provide gas safety records, which were not sufficient. He only provided a November 2024 certificate, which was after the concern was raised to him. No other records dating back to 2016 could be provided.
Annual gas safety checks are a legal requirement for landlords and are carried out to ensure appliances and gas in any property is safe. People who avoid such checks can be at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Evans pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 36(3) of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 at Wirral Magistrates' Court on 8 October 2025. He was fined £2,400 and ordered to pay £5,000 in costs.
HSE inspector Ian Betley said: "Adam Evans showed a complete disregard for the law and put the lives of a mother and her children at risk. The case highlights a serious failure by him to comply with well-established gas safety requirements."
He added: "Annual gas safety checks are a legal duty and are in place to protect tenants from very real and potentially fatal risks. Landlords must ensure that gas appliances and flues are properly maintained and inspected by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Failure to do so will not be tolerated and enforcement action will be taken."
Anyone with concerns about gas safety can contact the Gas Safe Register on 0800 408 5500 or visit www.gassaferegister.co.uk.
