CCHA complies with the Gas Safety Regulations 1998 and as part of this, we carry out a check of all gas installations on an annual basis.
If you have a gas supply to your home, we will need to complete a safety check and will contact you to let you know when your gas service will be carried out. If the appointment isn't convenient for you, just call our Customer Services Team on 0800 085 1171 and we can rearrange it. It is really important that we are able to service your gas appliance(s) at least annually, as we have a legal duty to do so. This includes doing a visual check on a cooker even if it belongs to the tenant.
Important:
Allowing us access to check your gas appliances is part of the tenancy agreement you signed when you joined us. We need to make you aware that if you don't allow us access for your annual gas safety check, we can legally force entry to your home. We would only do this as a last resort, so it's really important that you let us know if you can't make an appointment. Not allowing us into your home to complete these checks is actually breaking your tenancy agreement and we may charge you any legal costs.
What happens at a gas safety check?
A registered gas engineer will:
- protect the area around the appliance they are working on by, for example, using a dust sheet
- test the pipes between the gas meter and the boiler or heater for leaks
- service all the gas appliances we own to the manufacturer’s recommendations
- check the flue that the appliance it is connected to
- check that ventilation is fitted and that it is not blocked
- put all the appliances back together and make sure everything is working
- provide a copy of the gas-safety record within 28 days of the check
The gas safety check and service will usually take less than an hour, although this will depend on the number and type of gas appliances in your home.
Staying safe
Never:
- use a gas appliance if you think it isn’t working properly
- cover an appliance or block the air vents
- block or cover outside flues
- sleep in the same room as a gas fire.
If you smell gas or your carbon monoxide alarm activates, take action straight away:
- Put out all naked flames and cigarettes
- Do not switch on any appliances, lights, door bells or mobile phones
- Open all doors and windows and keep them open until the leak is stopped
- Check to see if your gas tap, fire or cooker has been turned on accidentally
- Check to see if any pilot lights have gone out; this is usually your boiler or cooker (if it is gas)
- Turn off the gas supply - in most homes or properties the gas lever is next to the gas meter
- Leave the property and call the National Grid’s 24-hour helpline on 0800 111 999
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 came into force on the 1st of October 2022
The regulations have been introduced to ensure better quality, safer homes are provided to every social housing resident.
This means we have to provide a smoke alarm on every storey of our properties where there is a room used wholly or partly as living accommodation.
We also need to provide carbon monoxide alarms in any room of our properties which is used wholly or partly as living accommodation where a fixed combustion appliance is present i.e. gas/oil boilers and fires (excluding gas cookers).
We have a duty to repair or replace any alarm which is found to be faulty during the period of a tenancy, and are required to repair or replace alarms as soon as reasonably practicable.
If you find that any detectors aren't working properly or are not in line with the new legislation, please contact us as soon as you can. Click the button below for the different ways you can get in touch to let us know.
Loading...