Glasgow GP, Dr Tariq Mahmood, has been ordered to pay nearly £5000 for failure to maintain the gas boiler in a property let to students in Oxford.
A gas installer alerted the Health & Safety Executive after discovering that the boiler was out of order and could potentially expose the tenants to carbon monoxide poisoning. HSE Inspector, Dozie Azubike explained “every year approximately 20 people die and many other suffer ill health from carbon monoxide poisoning.”
The HSE discovered that the boiler and flue had not be maintained for 2 years. Dr Mahmood pleaded guilty to breaches of gas safety regulations which require landlords to have all gas appliances in rented property checked once a year by a Gas Safe-registered engineer. Tenants have a legal right to demand a copy of the gas safety certificate for their property.
Oxford Brookes Student Union welcomed the outcome of the case.