Brothers are fined on gas safety check

Philip Hale, aged 52, of Gayfield Avenue in Brierley Hill, and Roger Hale, aged 50, of Karen Way in Brierley Hill, both pleaded guilty to failing to get gas appliances at their property in Himley Street in Dudley safety checked.

Dudley Magistrates' Court heard how the pair had rented the house for seven years – but had not, from 2006 until last April, obtained a gas safety record.

Couple Julian and Mandi Wilson rented the property for five years. They called out the National Grid after smelling gas and were told to no longer use two gas fires.

They also suffered headaches and sickness – but Ms Pam Folsom, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, said: "There was no direct evidence of both being as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning."

A gas engineer who issued a gas safety certificate in April last year described the boiler fitting as a 'Heath Robinson' job.

Mr Nicholas Mills, defending, said the brothers had not been aware how often a gas safety certificate was required at a property.

Mr Michael Whitehouse, chairman of the bench, fined Philip Hale £1,000. Roger Hale was fined £1,500. Both were ordered to pay £464.10 each in court costs. Philip Hale was also ordered to pay £100 victim surcharge. Roger Hale will pay £120 victim surcharge.

Mr Whitehouse said: "This regulation is important for landlords and is there to be followed. Something far more serious could have happened. You could be standing here today with a much more serious offence."

Speaking after the hearing, Ms Folsom said: "Philip and Roger Hale potentially put lives and property in danger."

Chief executive of Gas Safe Register, Russell Kramer, said: "When it comes to rented property it is important that landlords know their duties and tenants know their rights."