Gas safety information for housing tenants
What to do if you smell gas
If you smell gas, call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
In an emergency:
- do not smoke or light matches
- do not turn electrical switches on or off
- open doors and windows
- turn off the meter at the control handle unless the meter is in the cellar
- call the National Gas Emergency number (0800 111 999)
Gas safety checks
We carry out a gas safety check and service every 12 months to make sure everything is working properly.
We will write to you to let you know when we would like to come and carry out the gas safety check and service. If you are not able to be at home or have difficulties arranging access, please contact us.
We have a legal and moral responsibility to carry out the gas safety check and we will make attempts to work with you to get this important check done. However, if you do not allow us into your home, we may have to force entry to gain access to the boiler. Any damage caused whilst gaining access will be repaired by us and recharged to you.
What you can do to keep safe
The gas safety check is important for you and your household. If your gas appliances are unsafe, they could produce carbon monoxide which can kill.
The most important thing you can do to ensure gas appliances are safe and minimise the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is to give our engineers access to carry out annual checks on any gas appliances in your home.
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal, but many people are not aware of the warning signs.
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include:
- nausea
- light-headedness
- headaches
- shortness of breath
- dizziness
- sleepiness
If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds or you suspect a leak:
- stop using all appliances, switch them off, open doors and windows to ventilate the property
- evacuate the property immediately; stay calm and avoid raising your heart rate
- call the Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999 to report the incident, or the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Gas Safety Advice Line on 0800 300 363
- don't go back into the property; wait for advice from the emergency services
- seek immediate medical help – you may not realise you’ve been affected by the carbon monoxide (going outside into fresh air won't treat any exposure by itself); carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that you can’t see, taste or smell, but it can kill quickly and with no warning
We provide carbon monoxide detectors to all properties that have gas appliances.