Nearly half of all private landlords are failing to protect their tenants by keeping up-to-date with gas safety checks, finds new research.

Plentific’s survey of 1,000 renters found that 46% of those living in privately rented accommodation didn’t think their gas appliances had been checked in the last 12 months, compared with 18% of social housing residents.

The property platform says 32% don’t have a smoke alarm on each storey of their home (compared with 20% of social renters), while 52% haven’t got a gas safety certificate (32% of social renters) and 56% don’t have a carbon monoxide alarm (44% of social renters).

Its research ‘What really matters to residents? Perceptions within UK housing’, reports that despite concerns around safety, renters are generally happy with their accommodation, although 86% have requested repairs or maintenance from their current landlord.

Landlords fastest

On average, it takes about 10 days for these works to be completed, with private landlords often much faster at getting the work done; 40% of private renters have work finished within three days compared with 33% of social housing residents.

More than a third (37%) of renters have taken it upon themselves to organise contractors to carry out repairs, including 20% who had permission from their landlord and 16% who didn’t.

Plentific CEO Cem Savas (pictured) believes tenants shouldn’t have to act on maintenance issues themselves.

He says: “The fact that plumbers, electricians and gas engineers are amongst the most frequently used professionals in these circumstances suggests that something is going wrong.”

Adds Savas: “Without a level of control of the work taking place within their properties, landlords will have little idea of what to expect when they take the property back, which could be a costly mistake.”

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