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Picture: Gas engineer Paul White making sure things are safe

What’s the one thing we’ll all do when the temperature starts to drop? Turn our heating back on. But before you crank up the thermostat, when was your boiler last checked?

It might be a pain but taking care of your gas appliances and having them regularly checked and maintained by a qualified engineer, could save a life - and that’s the message of the 10th annual Gas Safety Week, coordinated by the Gas Safe Register.

Running from 14 to 20 September, the week aims to raise awareness of gas safety and make clear the importance of:

  • Checking your appliances each year
  • Checking your engineer is Gas Safe registered
  • Checking your engineer’s Gas Safe ID

Keeping tenants safe

Currently there are 12 Gas Safe registered engineers working in our Building Maintenance Division. Alongside 2 external contractors they carry out more than 15,000 gas inspections each year, providing peace of mind to tenants and those living in sheltered accommodation.

To organise an inspection Council tenants don’t need to do anything, they just need to be in their property on the date and time listed in the letter issued to them a few weeks in advance. If the appointment doesn’t suit, it’s easy to re-arrange.

John Apperson, Property and Asset Manager, said: “It’s really important that people are in when our engineer pops by as checking gas appliances is not only a legal requirement, it ensures boilers are safe for our tenants, their family, visitors and neighbours.

“When the engineer calls, always check their identification. All our engineers carry an identification card with their photo which they’ll happily let you see.

“This service is offered to tenants free of charge and they must allow our engineers access to undertake this essential maintenance as it helps save lives.”

Safety tips

If gas appliances, including cookers and boilers, are not maintained or installed correctly they can cause gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning and even explosions. To help keep you safe in your home, follow the Gas Safe Register’s ten top tips