Gas safety for council properties

If you smell gas

If you smell gas:

• contact National Grid on freephone 0800 111999 immediately – do not use any phone inside your house as there is a risk of explosion
• turn the gas off at the mains and open all the windows and doors
• do not smoke
• do not turn any electrical appliance, lights or doorbells on or off
• check if a pilot light has gone out or if a gas tap is on

You should also contact National Grid if your carbon monoxide alarm has activated or you suspect a gas appliance is causing you to feel unwell.

Your gas safety check appointment

If you are a tenant in a council property, we are required by law to arrange a gas safety check once every year and to service any gas appliances in your home to check they meet gas safety requirements.

As we are required by law to make these inspections, you must allow us to enter your home so that we can:

• see the state of the gas supply/appliances
• carry out repairs, maintenance, or improvement to your premises
• carry out repairs, maintenance, or improvement to adjoining premises, if necessary.

Even if you do not have a gas supply, you must provide access to your property so that we can confirm this.

When your home needs a gas safety check you will receive a letter with an appointment for the check to be carried out. If you cannot keep the appointment, please contact your gas contractor immediately to arrange a convenient time.

Carrying out the gas safety check

Gas safety checks are carried out by qualified engineers who are on the Gas Safe register. The Gas Safe register is the official stamp for gas safety.

Our responsibilities are to ensure:

• gas appliances, fittings and flues installed by Haringey Council are kept in a safe condition
• all installations, safety checks and annual gas servicing are carried out by a Gas Safe registered engineer
• a gas service is carried out on each appliance/flue in your home every year
• a record is kept of each gas safety check and you are given a copy

When a gas safety check is completed we receive a certificate. This tells us the gas equipment in your home is safe or what work is needed to make sure the equipment is safe. The certificate, called an LGSR, is only valid for one year and we need to carry out a check every year.

What you need to do

You must help us by letting the gas engineer into your home – it is in your tenancy agreement. All our contractors carry an ID badge.

If you want to replace a gas appliance, please seek permission from your tenancy management officer. They can arrange for the safe removal of any as appliance owned (or installed) by us.

If we need to get into your property to carry out any survey work, the surveyor will have a pre-arranged appointment and be carrying identification. Please do not allow any person into your home if they do not show you their identification.

What happens if you refuse to allow us access?

If you do not allow us access to carry out a gas safety check, we will take you to court. In recent cases, tenants had to pay over £500 in court costs for not allowing an engineer in to do the checks. 

If you refuse to allow us to carry out a gas safety check you are breaking the terms of your tenancy and putting yourself, your family and your neighbours at risk.

Can gas equipment be dangerous?

Gas can cause explosions and poison people through carbon monoxide. If gas appliances and equipment are not properly maintained there is a risk of an explosion or poisoning.

Gas cylinders must never be stored in our homes or in shared areas on estates. If you need oxygen cylinders for health reasons you need to make us aware because they are also a potential risk.

Carbon monoxide poisoning – the facts

50 people are killed in the UK every year through carbon monoxide poisoning caused by poorly-maintained gas appliances.

Carbon monoxide has no smell or taste and the first symptoms of poisoning can easily be confused with other common illnesses. It can kill in hours.

The 6 main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are:

• headaches
• dizziness
• breathlessness
• nausea
• collapse
• loss of consciousness

If you suspect poisoning, get into fresh air immediately and call 0800 111 999.

Danger signs to look out for

A gas appliance may be dangerous if you see:

• soot or staining marks on or around the appliance
• a lazy yellow or orange flame

Practical things you can do to be gas safe

Get any gas appliances that you own checked annually

We are not responsible for gas appliances that you own or have had installed yourself.

You should arrange for these to be checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer who is appropriately qualified for the type of gas work you need doing.

Get your carbon monoxide alarm checked regularly

A carbon monoxide alarm is required in every habitable room of a rental property containing gas appliances. This does not include appliances used for cooking purposes.

They should:

• be marked EN50291
• display the British Standards’ Kitemark

It’s a good idea to regularly test these to ensure they’re still working.

The Fire Brigade has more information about carbon monoxide alarms.

Check that vents or flues are not blocked

Vents and flues are there to ensure the gas appliances work safely. Blocking them could prevent this.

See more gas safety advice, and find/check an engineer on the Gas Safety Register website.