§ Jon TrickettTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of the proposals contained in the draft Housing Bill on domestic gas safety. [109984]
§ Mr. McNultyThe provisions in Parts 2 and 3 of the draft Housing Bill will enable local housing authorities to impose conditions for the proper management of houses and flats that are subject to licensing. This will raise health and safety standards in part because a licence condition may include a requirement to carry out366W gas safety checks. Such a condition will reinforce the current statutory requirement that a landlord carries out an annual inspection of gas appliances and fittings in any property that he lets, under The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998.
Under Part 5 of the Bill, anyone marketing a home will be required to produce a Home Information Pack, including a Home Condition Report. That report will include an informed opinion on the condition of services, including gas, based on a visual inspection. This should go a long way towards ensuring that potential hazards or safety issues are drawn to the attention of both the seller and any prospective buyer.