If you rent out a property with gas heating, you have legal responsibilities for keeping it safe. The rules in Ireland are different from the UK, and a lot of online advice mixes the two up. Here's a plain-English summary of what applies here.

This is general guidance, not legal advice. For the full rules, read the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 or contact your local authority.

What the minimum standards say

The Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 set out the minimum standards for rented homes in Ireland. On heating and gas, landlords must:

  • Make sure all gas, oil and electricity installations are maintained in good repair and safe working order
  • Provide a fixed heating appliance in each room that can heat the room effectively and that the tenant can control
  • Provide suitably located carbon monoxide alarms where necessary, such as rooms with a gas, oil or solid fuel appliance
  • Make sure each room has adequate ventilation

Local authorities inspect rented properties and can take action against landlords whose homes don't meet the standards.

Is an annual gas safety check a legal requirement?

Unlike the UK, the Irish regulations don't set a fixed annual gas safety certificate for landlords. But they do require gas installations to be kept in safe working order – and in practice, an annual boiler service by a Registered Gas Installer is the simplest way to show that you've done this.

A yearly service also protects you as a landlord:

  • You get a certificate from a registered installer as a record that the boiler was checked
  • It keeps the manufacturer's warranty valid
  • It reduces the chance of a winter breakdown and an urgent call from your tenant
  • Your insurer may expect regular servicing

Carbon monoxide: don't take chances

Carbon monoxide (CO) has no colour, taste or smell. A faulty or poorly ventilated gas boiler can produce it. Fit CO alarms that meet the current standard (look for EN 50291) in rooms with a gas appliance, test them regularly, and replace them before their expiry date. Tell your tenants what the alarm sounds like and what to do if it goes off.

Only use registered installers

All gas work in a rented property, including servicing, must by law be done by a Registered Gas Installer. Keep the certificates for every job – they're your proof that the work was done properly. Read more about checking an RGI.

Services for landlords

GB Gas Services look after boilers for landlords across Dublin, from annual services to fast repairs when a tenant reports a problem. Book a boiler service or call 0872 855 624.