We are proud to be taking part in Gas Safety Week, this September and we’re marking the occasion with 100% compliance for our gas safety testing this year. Making sure our tenants are safe in their homes is a priority for us, and we have worked hard to get to this point, making sure that we are communicating in a way that works for everyone, whether that’s by email, face to face or text. This improvement in communication also extends to how we communicate between teams internally too, making sure everyone is on board and available to offer additional support to tenants if needed.
Gas Safety Week aims to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances.
Did you know?
Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is a highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly and without warning, as you cannot see it, taste it or smell it.
We all have a part to play in keeping our homes gas safe. As a landlord, we at CCHA are legally responsible for the safety of tenants. We do this by making sure:
- gas pipework, flues and appliances provided for tenants’ use are maintained in a safe condition.
- all gas appliances and flues provided for tenants’ use have an annual safety check.
- a Gas Safety Record is provided to the tenant within 28 days of completing the check or to any new tenant before they move in.
- we keep a copy of the Gas Safety Record until two further checks have taken place.
- maintenance and annual safety checks are carried out by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
- all gas equipment (including any appliance left by a previous tenant) is safe or otherwise removed before re-letting.
- a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm is installed in any room containing gas appliances (excluding appliances used for cooking purposes). As a landlord, we have to make sure checks and tests are carried out to ensure that carbon monoxide alarms in the rental property are working the day any new tenancy begins.
There are some additional checks that the tenant can also do to stay gas safe:
- Check for warning signs that could indicate a gas appliance isn’t working properly. Signs may include lazy yellow/orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance, a pilot light that keeps going out, too much condensation in the room, or error messages on the appliance’s control panel.
- Check any gas appliances that you own have been safety checked annually. Your landlord is not responsible for gas appliances that you own, so you should arrange for these to be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
- Check that vents or flues aren’t blocked. Vents are there to ensure gas appliances work safely; blocking them could prevent this.
- Check before doing DIY. Before drilling or hammering, check that there is no risk of hitting a gas pipe. Never DIY on a gas appliance; if you suspect there is something wrong with the appliance or it isn’t working properly, call a Gas Safe registered engineer. You can find one at GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.
What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Headaches | Nausea | Dizziness | Breathlessness | Collapse | Unconsciousness
If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms and feel better when you leave the house, it could be CO poisoning. If you’re concerned you or someone in your household may be suffering from CO poisoning, make sure you do the following:
- get fresh air immediately
- open all doors and windows, switch off gas appliances and leave the house
- contact your GP, who can check and advise if you need treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning
- if you’re concerned there is immediate danger, call the gas emergency helpline on 0800 111 999 or look up the number for your UK region at https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/gas-emergency/what-to-do-in-a-gas-emergency/
We work closely with our contractors and tenants to make sure that we are offering more flexibility with appointments to suit tenants needs. With our tenants’ support and co-operation, we will continue to provide gas safety testing that’s essential for keeping homes and families safe.