Gas Hobs and Gas Water Heaters in a Rented Home: Who Can Touch Them and Who Pays

Piped town gas is common in condos and many HDB flats, so a lot of rentals come with a gas hob, a gas water heater, or both. Most tenancy agreements say nothing specific about them, and that gap causes trouble at three moments: when something breaks, when a tenant wants to swap an appliance, and at handover when a tenant-installed hob has to come out. This guide sets out the rules from the Energy Market Authority (EMA) and how they translate into who pays.

Who is allowed to work on a gas hob or gas water heater?

After installing an appliance, the licensed worker must give you a written statement certifying it has been tested and is safe to use. EMA also says City Energy can install exposed gas pipes in HDB flats and gas appliances in both HDB and private homes; anything else, such as concealed piping, needs an LGSW. You can check that a worker holds a current licence on EMA's ELISE portal before letting them start.

This is the gas equivalent of the rule for wiring, where only a licensed electrical worker may touch the installation. A general contractor or the agent's handyman doing gas work is not a cost saving; it is a safety and compliance problem for whoever arranged it.

Who pays when a gas hob or water heater breaks?

Gas appliances are treated like any other landlord-supplied fitting. Check your minor repair clause for the cap, and whether a problem-free period at the start of the lease shifts early faults back to the landlord. A water heater that stops igniting in month two is usually the landlord's issue; a hob knob snapped off by a tenant is not.

Whoever pays, the repair still has to go through City Energy or an LGSW, so tenants should report gas faults in writing and let the landlord appoint the worker, rather than calling someone and sending the bill later.

Can a tenant replace the gas hob with their own?

Swapping a hob is an alteration, so the usual rules on tenant alterations and landlord consent apply. Whether a built-in hob is a fixture the landlord keeps is a separate question covered in our guide to fixtures versus fittings. The practical answer is to settle it in the consent email: if the original hob must be reinstated, keep it safely stored and budget for a second LGSW visit at handover to reconnect it and certify it again.

What happens to gas works at handover?

EMA notes that gas pipes concealed behind false ceilings must be installed by an LGSW and declared in City Energy's application for gas supply, so undeclared tenant pipework is a red flag at inspection. In condos, EMA also asks owners to get the concealed-pipe layout from estate management before any drilling or hacking. If your reinstatement includes kitchen work, read our kitchen and bathroom reinstatement guide and check whether the job also needs an MCST renovation permit.

EMA advises arranging a temporary termination of gas supply with City Energy before renovation works start, so build that appointment into your 30-day handover countdown.

Who arranges the gas installation inspection in a rented home?

EMA's September 2026 feature on gas inspections says all gas installations, from HDB flats and condos to landed homes, must be inspected regularly. The inspecting LGSW or Professional Engineer issues a Certificate of Fitness, which must reach SP PowerGrid within 30 days of the inspection. Separately, EMA recommends having household gas pipes and kitchen appliances checked by an LGSW once every five years.

For a rental, the simple rule is: if an inspection notice arrives at the unit, the tenant should forward it to the landlord the same day, and the landlord should confirm in writing who is booking the LGSW. Responsibility for the inspection, maintenance and repair is split between Part A and Part B of the gas meter installation, so let the notice, not assumptions, decide whose job it is.

What should you do if you smell gas in a rented unit?

Kitchens are where most home fires start: SCDF counted 318 cooking-related fires among 1,051 residential fires in 2025. Keeping the meter control valve unobstructed, never leaving the hob unattended, and installing a working alarm (see our smoke detector guide) are cheap protections for both parties.

What do you need to do with the gas account at move-out?

Photograph the gas meter reading at handover with a timestamp, alongside the electricity and water meters. Our guide to closing your SP utilities account covers the full sequence, and how the final bills meet your rental deposit.

What should go in the move-in inventory for gas appliances?

1. Appliances. Brand and model of every gas hob and gas water heater, with photos of each burner lit and the heater running.
2. Paperwork. Copies of the latest licensed worker's written safety statement and any Certificate of Fitness the landlord holds.
3. Meter. Location of the gas meter and control valve, the meter reading, and the City Energy emergency number from the safety sticker.
4. Consent. Any agreed appliance swap, in writing, stating who removes what at the end.
5. Handover. Compare against the move-in inventory during the handover inspection, with every burner tested in front of both parties.