A landlord has been given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to carry out 150 hours of community work for endangering a family with young children after he authorised illegal gas work at a Luton home.

Dinyar Sarkari commissioned the installation of a new boiler at the address on Radnor Road after the tenants complained to the local council that the central heating system wasn’t working.

Mr Sarkari, who owns and rents out the property, agreed to install a new boiler, but he did so using gas fitters who were not registered with Gas Safe Register, Luton Magistrates’ Court heard on 14 February.

Following the work, the tenants immediately contacted the National Grid as they suspected that gas was leaking. Visiting technicians immediately turned off the gas supply and informed the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) of their findings.

HSE contacted Mr. Sarkari, but he subsequently supplied false documentation as evidence of his Landlord’s Gas Safety Records, which are also a legal requirement.

Dinyar Sarkari, of Uppingham Avenue, Stanmore, London pleaded guilty to three breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, and one breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was given a two-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 150 hours of community work. He was also fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9,814.

“Dinyar Sarkari has shown a flagrant disregard for his tenants’ safety and put their lives at risk,” said HSE inspector Robert Meardon.

“Landlords in particular have a duty of care and must ensure the safety of their tenants by having such appliances fitted and checked annually by someone on this Register.”