Gas and carbon monoxide
By law, it is essential that we inspect all gas supplies and appliances in your home within every 12 month period – this could save your life. If an appliance is poorly maintained, it can produce carbon monoxide.
All gas safety checks are a free service to tenants. When your home is due for a gas safety inspection, our gas contractor will contact you directly to make an appointment. You must allow them access to carry out the inspection.
This is a condition of your tenancy agreement and, if you refuse, we may force access to carry out the inspection. If we do this, we will seek to recover any costs incurred from you.
How to spot signs of carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide cannot be seen or tasted and does not smell, but it is poisonous if breathed in, even for a short time. Carbon monoxide is difficult to detect but there are a number of ways that you can see if an appliance is faulty, including:
- the boiler pilot light continually going out an orange or yellow flame (pilot light and gas cooker)
- a black, brown or scorched area on the appliance
- a musty smell or signs of soot
How to reduce the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning
You can reduce the risk of Carbon monoxide poisoning in your home by:
- always allowing engineers in to your home to carry out safety checks of your gas appliances
- never covering the appliance, vents or flues as they provide the air the appliance needs to work properly
- never sleeping in a room with a gas fire
- buying a carbon monoxide detector and checking it regularly
If you have doubts about the safety of gas appliances in your home, call the Repairs Helpdesk on 0800 052 6140 without delay.
If you do not have any smoke alarms, please contact the Fire Brigade who may be able to install one for you.
Fire
You can take the following precautions to reduce the risk of fire in your home:
- never leave cigarettes burning
- never smoke in bed
- keep matches away from children
- never leave the room when a hob or grill is on
- regularly check electrical appliances and their leads
- do not overload plug sockets
- make sure you know where your door and window keys are
- if you have battery-operated smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector, check them regularly
If a fire breaks out in your home, call 999 immediately and follow the advice they give you.
Gas heaters and flammable substances
You will need written permission to store potentially flammable or explosive substances, such as gas canisters and oxygen cylinders, in your home. When you seek permission, we will write to you with some guidance on how to prevent accidents and keep safe.
Although accidents involving oxygen cylinders are very rare, when they happen, they can cause serious injury or death through fire and explosion. Always follow instructions given to you about your oxygen equipment carefully.
Due to the risk to other residents from explosion in flats of a particular construction, tenants must not use bottled gas in the flats listed below.
- Dudeney Lodge
- Heron Court
- Falcon Court
- Kingfisher Court
- Kestrel Court
- Nettleton Court
- Swallow Court
- St James’ House
If you live in these properties and require further advice, please contact your housing office.
Electrical safety checks
Electrical safety checks are a free service to tenants. Your homes electrical wiring will be checked every five years.
When your home is due for a safety inspection, we or one of our contractors will contact you directly to make an appointment. You must allow them access to carry out the inspection and any remedial works. This is a condition of your tenancy agreement and, if you refuse, we may force access to carry out the inspection and any remedial works. If we do this, we will seek to recover any costs incurred from you.
Legionella
Legionella bacteria are common in natural sources of water, as it can grow on limescale and in still water. Under certain circumstances, legionella can be a risk and a pneumonia type infection can occur, but this is extremely rare.
To protect against the risk of legionella descale and clean taps, shower heads and hoses every three months. Take the shower head and hose off then place them in a bowl of diluted disinfectant, white vinegar or a descaling agent for 30 minutes. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.
If you are away, or don't use a water outlet for longer than a week, before using it again you should:
- cover the taps and shower head with a towel so you do not inhale any water spray, then run the water for a few minutes
- close the lid on your toilet and flush it twice
Asbestos
Asbestos can be found in any house or building built before the year 2000 as it was widely used in a variety of building materials. Tenants should therefore be aware that there may be asbestos in your home.
Asbestos is only dangerous when it is disturbed and fibres are released into the air. This can happen when it is cut, sanded or drilled. This is why it is important that you contact us for permission before starting any improvements.
If the asbestos in your home is not likely to be disturbed, we may decide not to remove it.
A list of potential asbestos containing materials can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website. This list doesn’t contain all possible materials containing asbestos and the only way to know for sure is to test it.
If your home has any of these items, it doesn’t mean they will contain asbestos. However, if you suspect that there is asbestos in your property, please report it to the Repairs Helpdesk by calling 0800 052 6140 or 01273 294 409.
Lead pipework and paint
If your home was built before 1972 it may contain lead, such as in lead pipes or paint, which is dangerous when disturbed.
You need to contact us before doing any structural or maintenance work. We may need to visit you to check for any risks. We'll also be able to tell you if your home has been checked in the past.
If your home has any of these items, it doesn’t mean they will contain lead. However, if you suspect that there is lead in your property, report it to the Repairs Helpdesk.