Gas safety
Why is gas safety important?
Faulty gas appliances can be extremely dangerous and even kill. Gas safety checks minimise the risk of gas related fires and help keep you and your family safe. Our gas engineers will also check your boiler is working efficiently as part of your annual gas safety appointment. This can help save you money on your gas bills and will reduce the risk of your boiler breaking down.
Gas leaks and other emergencies
If you think you have a gas leak contact the Gas Emergency Service immediately! - call free on 0800 111999. You also need to call us. You can call us at anytime in an emergency.
Responsibilities
Derby Homes responsibilities
As your landlord, Derby City Council has a legal duty to make sure all gas supplies and appliances in your home are safe. We carry out this work on behalf of the Council.
Our team of registered gas engineers, carry out safety checks, service gas appliances and respond to breakdowns when they happen.
Tenant's responsibilities
You are responsible for servicing your own gas cooker and any other gas appliances you own in your property. We strongly recommend you have them serviced at least once a year by a registered gas safe engineer. We will check they are safe as part of your gas safety check.
If you would like to connect your own gas appliances, you will need to get a permit from us before starting any work.
It is illegal to install any gas appliance yourself unless you are qualified and registered. You must use a registered gas safe installer to carry out the work. You can find details of registered gas installers at www.gassaferegister.co.uk.
Once the work is carried out you will need to send us the installation certificate or safety certificate. You should send it to your local housing office. If you’re not sure what your local office is, get in touch with us.
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Leaseholder's responsibilities
Leaseholders are responsible for installing, servicing and repairing all gas equipment as well as arranging gas safety checks in their property. Your lease will detail any other specific obligations relating to gas safety.
It is illegal to install any gas appliance yourself unless you are qualified and registered. You must use a registered gas safe installer to carry out the work. You can find details of registered gas installers at www.gassaferegister.co.uk.
Subletting your property
If you sublet your property, you become a private landlord, meaning you must comply with your legal responsibilities. Find out more on the Gas Safe Register website.
Gas safety checks
We check your gas supply and every gas appliance in your home every year, as part of our annual gas safety check.
We’re responsible for any gas appliances that are included in your furnished tenancy. We will carry out a service before your current safety certificate expires.
Some properties only have electricity for heating and cooking and there is no gas. In this case, we are still required by law to check and certify that no gas supply has been installed since we last checked.
Carbon monoxide and smoke detection systems
During your gas safety check, we will also carry out checks on your carbon monoxide and smoke detection systems. These will be recorded on your gas safety certificate.
Quality Control
We regularly inspect and audit the work our contractors do and our own in-house gas engineers to maintain the highest possible standard. We are also independently inspected by Gas Safe.
What to expect during your appointment
The appointment will usually take about an hour, depending on the level of work needed and any issues found. During the appointment we will check your gas supply and every gas appliance in your home. We need to carry out a check even if you have no gas appliances fitted.
If you have a pre-payment gas or electric meter, you will need to have credit on both meters on the day of your appointment. Please ensure access is clear of items around gas appliances and animals are kept restrained whilst our engineer is at your home.
Know who’s calling
Every gas engineer arriving at your home to do work - whether from the in-house team or from a contractor – will have a photo identity card. You should not let them in unless they show you this and you are satisfied they are genuine.
If you have any doubts about anyone calling at your home, contact us.
Allowing access to your home
We’re required by law to carry out the safety check before the expiry date of the previous certificate. We need to access your property to do this. While we will make every effort to provide these services at a time that suits you, we need your help to gain access to your property.
Before your appointment
We will:
- send you letters advising of your appointment
- encourage you to call us at any time during office hours if you need to rearrange your appointment
- leave calling cards if you are not at home when we call
- send further letters to remind you how urgent safety checks are and to confirm new appointments
If you miss your appointment
If we have been unable to gain access to your property for any reason we will:
- place notices on your door confirming appointments you have missed and set follow-up appointment dates
- attempt to contact you by phone
- make all reasonable attempts to co-operate with any specific requirements you have to allow us access to your home
- attend follow-up appointments to ensure at least three attempts are made to gain access before the expiry date of the previous gas safety certificate
- take legal action if necessary to enforce access after the expiry date
Occasionally, we have difficulty gaining access to some homes. This costs us time and money – paid for by your rent. Sometimes we have no choice but to apply for a court injunction to gain entry.
If we need to apply to the courts you will be responsible for covering the costs. This is usually in excess of £500. We may also take action to repossess your home if you continue to breach your tenancy agreement by not allowing access.
I you need to rearrange your appointment, get in touch with us as soon as possible.
Gas appliance repairs
Gas appliances usually affect the heating and/or hot water systems in your home. Our response timescales under normal circumstances are to respond within:
- 24 hours during winter
- 72 hours during summer
Sometimes it may not be possible to fix an appliance on the first visit, but we will make sure the repair is completed as soon as possible. If the breakdown leaves you without any other form of heating in your home, we will provide you with temporary equipment to use.
What you can do to stay safe
Keep your gas safety appointment
Unmaintained boilers can be extremely dangerous for you and your family. Our gas engineers will check your boiler is working safely as part of your annual gas safety appointment.
If you need to rearrange your appointment, get in touch with us as soon as possible.
Stay safe when installing your own gas appliances
If you would like to connect your own gas appliances, you will need to get a permit from us before starting any work.
You must not install any gas appliance yourself as this is illegal unless you are qualified and registered. You must use a registered gas safe installer to carry out the work. You can find details of registered gas installers at www.gassaferegister.co.uk.
Find out more about your responsibilities