Published: 10/09/2018
Here at Sowerbys, we are proud to be supporting Gas Safety Week, taking place 17th - 23rd September.Co-ordinated by Gas Safe Register (the official list of gas engineers legally allowed to work on gas) this is an annual safety week to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances.
Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Landlords are legally responsible for the safety of their tennants. Sowerbys will arrange for an annual gas safety inspection with our dedicated engineers for all fully managed clients. We can also arrange larger works as required. Likewise, we can make sure your oil heating systems are running as smoothly as possible.
Landlords
If you're a landlord, you are legally obliged to make sure:- Gas pipework, appliances and flues provided for tenants are maintained in a safe condition.
- All gas appliances and flues provided for tenants use have an annual safety check.
- Maintenance and annual safety checks are carried out by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
- All gas equipment (including any appliance left by a previous tenant) is safe or otherwise removed before re-letting.
- A Gas Safety Record is provided to the tenant within 28 days of completing the check or to any new tenant before they move in.
- You keep a copy of the Gas Safety Record for two years.
Tenants
If you are a tenant, be sure to take care of your gas appliances. Whilst your landlord is responsible for the above, follow these simple steps to make sure you and your home are safe:- Check your Gas Safety record. To make sure everyone is safe, gas safety checks should be carried out annually.
- Check any gas appliances you own every year. Gas appliances should be safety checked once a year and serviced regularly by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You can set a reminder so you don’t forget at Stay Gas Safe.
- Check your engineer is qualified for the type of gas work you need doing (e.g. naural gas, domestic boiler) and is Gas Safe registered. You can find this information on the back of their Gas Safe ID card, the Gas Safe Register website or by calling 0800 408 5500.
- Check for warning signs that your appliances aren't working correctly, such as lazy yellow /orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance, a pilot light that keeps going out and too much condensation in the room.
- Have an audible carbon monoxide alarm.
- Know the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning: headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.
