Gas and electric safety

Annual gas safety checks

Your annual gas safety checks ensure all gas appliances are operating to their manufacturer’s specifications. The checks include:

• checking the gas pressure at the meter and appliance - low pressure can result in poor performance
• testing and checking all flues to make sure any joints are sealed correctly to avoid the possibility of carbon monoxide leakage
• visually inspecting all gas appliances for signs of wear or leakage

Neglected gas appliances could result in gas leaks, fires or explosions, and a serious risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

If your gas service is due please contact our service provider QHS on 01494 795000 or 0800 028 2028.

We also encourage you to arrange your own gas safety checks once a year to make sure your home remains safe.

Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It has no colour, taste or smell - it’s totally invisible to human senses. Carbon monoxide can escape from gas appliances that are not working properly and kill without warning, in a matter of hours. Make sure your home has a working carbon monoxide alarm. 

Find out more about symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. 

If you suspect a gas leak or a carbon monoxide leak

• call National Grid’s Gas Emergency 0800 111 999
• open all the doors and windows
• shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve

Gas cylinders

Portable gas or fuel cylinders can greatly contribute to and cause explosions when involved in a fire. We do not allow storage of any cylinders in any of our properties without permission. If you do so, it will be a breach of your agreement with us.

If you currently have any type of gas cylinder in your home, please contact the supplier of your cylinder to arrange removal immediately. Some of the popular companies who supply and remove gas cylinders include:

• Waste Care or call 0800 091 0000
• Calor Gas or call 020 8985 4054
• BOC Gas or call 0330 173 0358

If you are unable to get your cylinders removed, please contact us immediately to request assistance on 0800 028 2028.

If you use or store oxygen cylinders for medical reasons, please contact us immediately so that we can assess and manage the risk.

Electrical safety

Around 10% of fires in the home are caused by faulty electrical equipment. Making sure you look after your electrical items and ensure they are working correctly is important to keep your home safe. You can check if your electrical items have been part of a safety recall on Register My Appliance.

Keep your home safe from electrical fires:

• do not overload plug sockets
• don't leave mobile phones charging overnight, especially when placed on beds and pillows
• regularly remove fluff build-up from your tumble drier
• switch off electrical appliances when you are not using them
• make sure your electrical appliance has a British or European Union safety mark