Gas safety in your home

Gas leaks

If you ever discover, or suspect, a gas leak, you should:

• turn off the meter at the control valve
• put out any naked flames
• open doors and windows
• keep people away from the affected area

Don't smoke or strike any matches
Don't turn electrical switches on or off

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a gas produced when natural gas does not burn fully. It cannot be seen or tasted and does not smell, but it is poisonous if breathed in, even for a short time. 

Every year thirty people are killed by carbon monoxide poisoning in the UK.

The symptoms are very similar to the flu – they include: headache, nausea, dizziness and sleepiness.

You might not realise what is happening until it’s too late. We will check you have a working carbon monoxide alarm when we carry out the annual gas safety check and if not, one will be installed.

The tell-tale signs that your gas appliance might be leaking carbon monoxide include:

• yellow or orange flames may be visible
• a pilot light that often goes out
• signs of soot or yellow or brown staining around a gas appliance

What we do

Annual gas safety check

We are responsible by law for carrying out an annual gas safety check in all our homes with a gas supply. This means that if your property has a gas supply, even if you never use gas, we need to have access to your home every year. This check is to make sure all gas appliances, fittings or pipework in your home are safe.

You will be contacted by the our gas contractor when your annual gas safety check is due.

It is essential that you allow us access to your home to carry out our annual safety check. If you are unable to make the appointment booked for you, please contact our gas contractor to rearrange.

Once the safety check is completed, the gas engineer will issue your home with an annual gas safety certificate, called a LGSR – this is usually posted out to you within 28 days of completion of the service. Copies of this certificate are available on request.

What you should do

As our tenant, you are obliged to let our contractor into your home to carry out the safety checks.  You will be contacted before your home’s current gas safety certificate expires with details of what needs to happen.

If you do not let us into your home to carry out the annual safety check you will be putting yourself and your neighbours at risk. This is a breach of tenancy, and we will need to take action to get into your home to carry out the safety check.

If you don’t give us access, we may have to take you to court to enable us to get into your home. All costs associated with gaining access through the courts will be charged to you.

If you have any concerns about gas safety in your home you should report a council house repair.