Housing Services is responsible for carrying out an annual safety check of all gas appliances belonging to the Council in our housing stock.
The Council also service tenants own gas appliances (excluding cookers), however, do not repair if found defective.
Gas leaks
These should be reported at once and directly to Transco on 0800 111 999. If you smell gas do not switch on any electric appliances and do not strike any lights.
Better safe than sorry
Faulty appliances can cause explosions and can also give off poisonous carbon monoxide fumes – with possibly fatal consequences. We therefore have a legal duty to make sure all of our gas appliances, gas pipes and flues in your home are checked every year by properly qualified gas engineers.
Because the risks of not carrying out these checks could be fatal to you, your family or other residents it is extremely important that you allow access to your home for engineers to carry out these safety checks. If you refuse to allow us access or do not keep to appointments we will have no other option but to seek a court order which could see you evicted from your home or sent to prison or fined for not complying with a court order to allow us access. You will also be charged court costs for any orders we have to seek to ensure we meet our legal obligation to carry out these important safety checks. This is of course a last resort and we will always make all reasonable efforts to agree access with your consent.
Once a year
When the safety check is due we will write to you and advise you of the date of the week we intend to call at your home. The letter also provides contact details of the contractor so that you can make a specific appointment to suite you. We carryout servcing Monday to Saturday between 8:00am and 8:00pm.
Our engineers will then call round at the arranged time to do the work. If you are not in, the engineer will leave a post card, asking you to contact us to arrange another time.
If we still hear nothing, we then issue a formal ‘final notice’, warning you that we will start proceedings to gain entry to the property. If in the end we are forced to break in with the presence of the police to carry out the safety checks, you will be charged for the cost of gaining entry.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas, which has no colour, taste or smell. Exposure to even low levels can cause brain damage or death.
The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to those of flu and other viral infections. They include drowsiness, weakness, headaches, nausea and pains in the chest. If anyone in your home has any of these symptoms while a gas appliance is being used, stop using the appliance until it has been checked, and consult a doctor.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can affect the way the brain works, so people affected can’t always tell that anything is wrong or take any action before it’s too late. Carbon monoxide can build up to lethal levels in a home because:
- faulty appliances are not repaired or replaced
- flues are blocked or not working properly
- not enough air is getting in to the building to keep the gas burning properly in the appliance
Related links
:: Corgi has more information about gas safety
:: Gas safe website
