This week is Gas Safety Week 2026, an annual awareness week run by the Gas Safe Register, to remind everyone of the steps they should take to ensure their gas appliances are working properly so that their homes are safe.
This year’s theme is ‘Take no Chances’, and as your landlord, we take our responsibility to provide annual checks on your gas appliances seriously. This theme is also a reminder of how it’s good for us all to be vigilant all year round, so here’s a brief overview of the potential risks to be aware of, what we’ll do to keep your home safe, and how you can stay gas-safe on a daily basis.
Be risk aware! Unsafe gas appliances can cause gas leaks, which can cause explosions or fires. Leaks are detectable through a distinctive odorant added to the gases, and if you use a gas hob, the flame should appear a crisp blue. Although cookers and hobs are customer’s own responsibility, our gas contractor, Sure Maintenance, will also do a visual risk assessment on them during the annual gas safety check.
As well as this, unsafe appliances can also cause carbon monoxide – you cannot see or smell this particular harmful gas, so make sure your carbon monoxide alarm is working. As your landlord, we fit supply and fit Carbon Monoxide alarms in all of our properties where we have appliances fitted. If you do not have one, or your current alarm is faulty or damaged, please get in touch with the Hub and our gas contractor, Sure Maintenance, will fit one for you.
Whilst you cannot see or smell carbon monoxide, the six main symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning (which quickly develop) are: headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.
If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, if you think you can smell gas, or if you experience the above symptoms in rapid succession, call the free National Gas Emergency Number, 0800 111 999 immediately. They will advise you to:
- Turn the gas off at the meter;
- Open the windows and doors to ventilate the home;
- Don’t operate any switches or equipment;
- Don’t smoke or strike any matches, and put out all naked flames;
- Go outside and await the gas engineer and also ring us so we can sort out the issue ASAP.
As your landlord, we take our responsibility to keep our customers safe seriously. It’s a legal requirement that we:
- Repair and maintain gas pipework, flues and appliances in a safe condition;
- Ensure an annual gas safety check on each appliance and flue, as well as appliance checks and services;
- Check chimneys for blockages (so dangerous fumes in the event of a gas leak are not prevented from escaping);
- Conduct a visual inspection of customers’ own appliances;
- Visually inspect and test all accessible gas pipework to prevent gas leaks;
- Keep a record of each safety check.
Avoid gas-related DIY! Make sure you check for any gas pipes when hammering or drilling and any broken gas appliances are best repaired by a professional – please get in touch with us either via the Hub or our self-serve repairs portal to arrange an appointment.
For more information about gas safety, head to our main page here.
