Gas Servicing

Havebury is responsible for the annual gas safety check of appliances. The gas safety checks are free to tenants.

Our duty as your Landlord
We will ensure that:
• Gas fittings, appliances, pipe work and flues installed by Havebury are maintained in a safe condition.
• All installations, maintenance safety checks and annual gas servicing is carried out by a Gas Safe Registered gas installer.
• A gas service is carried out on each appliance/flue that is owned by Havebury in your home every year. When you move in all gas appliances/flues will be checked or when a gas supply is available after you move in.
• A visual inspection is completed on your own appliances eg, cookers and gas fires.
• We keep a record of each annual gas service and we will send you a copy of the current gas safety certificate.

Your duty as a tenant of Havebury
You will ensure that:
• You allow us access to your home to carry out maintenance or safety checks on our gas appliances.
• If you want to replace a gas appliance (owned by you) always seek permission first from us. You should always use a Gas Safe Registered, gas engineer to carry out any work to a gas installation in your home.
• If you have any doubt about the safety of gas equipment, it should be turned off and you should contact us immediately.
• Failure to give us reasonable access is dangerous for you, your family and neighbours. It is also a breach of your tenancy conditions, which could result in us taking legal action.
• If for any reason you are using a room with a gas appliance in, such as a bedroom please contact us for further safety advice.

If you think you can small gas or fumes, turn off the gas at the meter, open windows, put out naked flames, don’t use electrical switches and call Havebury on 0300 3300 900. Alternatively, contact the National Grid on 0800 111 999.

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide gas is highly poisonous both to people and animals. It is difficult to recognise because it has no colour, smell or taste.

If you experience drowsiness, headaches, nausea or chest pains when using a gas appliance, report it immediately to Havebury on 0300 3300 900.

You will be instructed to:

• turn off and make safe the appliance causing the problem, as well as
any others that may start to produce carbon monoxide as their air
supply becomes contaminated

• ventilate the property to disperse the carbon monoxide

• evacuate the property

• contact a doctor and mention the possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning

Havebury will contact our gas contractor to attend the property immediately.

Havebury Gas Servicing Procedure:
• Our Contractor will send you a letter, 10 working days before they are due to visit and carry out the service visit. The service visit will be 2 months from the anniversary of the last service date.
If the date is not suitable, an alternative date can be arranged.
• The gas engineer will attend on the agreed date and providing that access is granted, the annual service is completed.
• If access is not granted, the engineer will leave a card asking you to make contact within 5 working days to arrange an alternative date. If no contact is made a second appointment letter is sent out.
• On the second visit, if no access is gained, our Contractor will leave a second card and fit a gas warning sticker over your door lock. The address is then referred back to Havebury for action.
• Havebury will write to you, phone on 2 occasions and attempt a personal visit if there is no contact from you.
• Havebury will then pass the details to our legal team to start court proceedings to gain access.
• If no access is allowed the case will go to court for an injunction to gain access, resulting in all costs being awarded against you and these can be as much as £500.
• Ultimately if no access is gained by Havebury, we can take possession or force access to your home.

Gas safety tips:
• Never try DIY with gas appliances.
• Make sure your gas meter is clear of obstructions.
• Don’t block up ventilation outlets and ensure that flue terminals are kept clear at all times.
• Never use a gas appliance if you think it’s not working properly and never cover appliances.
• Whenever draught exclusion, double glazing or a conservatory extension is fitted to a room containing a gas appliance, the appliance should subsequently be checked for safety.
• Be cautious if buying second hand gas appliances—don’t scrimp on safety.
• Always follow user instructions.

If you have any queries or concerns about gas safety or servicing please contact us on 0300 3300 900.