Stay Gas Safe at Home

Checking your gas appliances

If you are a PHA resident and have gas supplied to your home, we will arrange for our contractors to visit each year to carry out an annual gas safety check.

By law, we must check all fitted gas appliances that we own and are responsible for, such as central heating boilers and gas heaters. We must also check gas pipes for leaks that could cause an explosion or carbon monoxide poisoning. We carry out a gas-safety check in every rented property once a year.   If you are a shared owner, your lease may require you to do this check and let us have a copy of the results.

As part of our annual inspection we are required to carry out visual checks on a cooker even if it belongs to you. 

Plase note that if you do not allow us access into your home for you annual gas safety check, we can legally force entry into your home. It is very important to let us know if you cannot make an appointment.

It is part of your tenancy agreement that you allow us access to check your gas appliances. If you do not let us into your home to do this, you are breaking your tenancy agreement and we may charge you legal costs.

What happens at a gas safety check?

A registered gas engineer will do the following:

• protect the area around the appliance they are working on, such as 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 and
• provide a copy of the gas safety record (LGSR) 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.

How you can help us

Gas heaters and boilers need either a balanced flue or proper ventilation so that poisonous fumes can be carried away safely.

We will service the gas installations we own each year, but you can help by making sure that ventilation is kept clear.

You should be very careful with gas or water heaters in the bathroom. Make sure the flue is clear and the room is well-ventilated by opening the door or window.

Never try to repair any gas fault yourself.

Gas safety top Tips

If you smell gas inside your home, you should do the following:

• immediately turn off the gas at the meter;
• do not turn any electrical switches on or off. They can cause a spark which in turn could cause an explosion if there is a gas leak;
• do not use your phone indoors as it could cause a spark;
• do not smoke or use a naked flame;
• open all doors and windows;
• check to see if you have left any gas appliance on or if a pilot light has gone out and;
• go outside and call the National Grid’s 24-hour helpline on 0800 111 999.