Gas safety

This page has important information about gas safety. It explains how we keep our customers gas safe and what you can do to protect your home and loved ones.

Gas emergency?

If you smell gas, think you have a gas leak, or are worried about carbon monoxide, call the national gas emergency number on 0800 111 999.

Keeping you gas safe – our responsibilities

We are required by law to give your home a yearly gas safety check before your current certificate expires. This inspection is quick and simple.

We check that your home is gas safe and that your supplied gas pipework, appliances and flues are in good condition. In homes where we provide and maintain carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms, we’ll also inspect and test these when we visit.

Before your safety check is due, we’ll write to you with an appointment date and time. The letter will explain how to rearrange if you need to, and we will try to work flexibly around your commitments.

We’ll send you a copy of the landlord’s gas safety certificate (LGSR) within one month of our visit.

What you can do to keep your home gas safe

We’re here to make sure your home stays safe, and the law requires us to carry out a gas safety check once a year. Your tenancy agreement states that you must give us access to your home to do this important check. You could be putting yourself, your family and your neighbours at risk if you don’t let us service gas equipment and appliances.

If you miss your appointment or don’t let our operatives into your home, you could breach your tenancy agreement and we may have to start legal action to gain access.

If you have your own gas appliances, you’re responsible for making sure they’re checked and serviced by a Gas Safe registered engineer every year.

If you’re a leaseholder or shared owner, you must keep your gas appliances in good condition. You should appoint a registered Gas Safe engineer to do an annual gas safety inspection of any gas appliances in your home.

You can find a qualified gas engineer in your area by searching the Gas Safe Register.

Contact us to request a gas repair

If you have any concerns about your supplied gas appliances (e.g. boiler, cooker, fire), pipework or flues, get in touch with us on 01225 715 715 or visit our gas request a repair page to book an appointment.

Gas safety checks save lives

Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions, and carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly and without warning, as you cannot see it, taste it or smell it.

By taking care of your gas appliances properly you are taking care of your home, your loved ones and your local community.

If you miss your annual appointment, the risk of a gas leak, carbon monoxide poisoning, or fatal explosion increases.

Tips for gas safety in your home

Check for warning signs that may indicate gas appliances are not working correctly:
Look out for lazy yellow flames instead of crisp blue ones, error messages or unexpected noises from your boiler or dark and sooty stains around your gas appliance. If you notice any of these signs contact us as soon as possible on 01225 715 715 or visit our gas request a repair page to book an appointment.
Don’t use a gas appliance if you think it isn’t working property. Don’t cover an appliance or block the air vents, or block/obstruct any ventilation grilles or airbricks. Don’t block or cover chimneys or flues.
Ensure your carbon monoxide alarm is installed and working properly:
We install carbon monoxide alarms in all our rented homes, you can regularly test them to ensure they’re still working and ensure you replace batteries when needed. Be sure not to move these alarms when decorating, for instance, and ensure you report any alarms that are not working by calling 01225 715715. Look out for your community by making sure your friends, relatives and neighbours have one too!
Know the main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning:
Look out for headaches, dizziness, breathlessness and nausea. More severe symptoms include collapse and loss of consciousness. If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds or you’re worried about carbon monoxide in your home, move outside of your home and call the national gas emergency line on 0800 111 999.
Check your engineer is qualified for the type of gas work you need doing:
You can find this information on the back of their Gas Safe ID card and the Gas Safe Register website. All Selwood Housing gas engineers and our contractors carry their own Gas Safe ID with the types of work they can do listed on the reverse of the card.
Gas emergencies:
If you smell gas, think you have a gas leak, or are worried about carbon monoxide, don’t hesitate to call the national gas emergency number on 0800 111 999. Calls are answered 24/7 and are free.

What to do in an emergency

If you suspect a gas leak

If you smell gas, or suspect a gas or carbon monoxide leak, immediately phone the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 . Calls are answered 24/7 and are free.

You should also:

open all doors and windows straight away
shut off the gas supply at the mains (a large lever usually next to the gas meter)
don’t smoke or light matches, lighters and cigarettes
don’t turn electrical switches on or off
evacuate the property immediately and wait for advice from the emergency services
get immediate medical help; you may have been affected by carbon monoxide.

If you suspect a carbon monoxide leak:

open all doors and windows straight away
shut off the gas supply at the mains (a large lever usually next to the gas meter)
call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999
contact us so we can arrange for a safety inspection.