As your landlord we're required by law to carry out a safety check every year. We do this in all council homes fitted with gas appliances to make sure that appliances are safe and working properly. This can also help you reduce your gas bills.
See important information about:
Carbon monoxide
Faulty appliances can be dangerous as they may cause a fire, an explosion or carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
You can't see, smell or taste CO, so it can kill, without warning, in just a few hours.
We check the safe operation of the CO alarms and fire alarms on annual service, and change them if out of date or if they fail to work correctly.
Gas servicing
Gas servicing is part of your tenancy agreement.
You must let our engineers into your home to do the service. By law a gas safety check must be carried out once a year.
We'll contact you by letter when your gas service appointment is due. We will give you at least 10 days' notice. If the time and date we give you is not suitable you must contact us to rearrange this as soon as possible on telephone: 01904 553217 or email: gasservicing@york.gov.uk.
Please note:
- morning and afternoon appointments are available Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 4.00pm
- we can arrange for your appointment to be the first one on the day, or work around school runs where available
A gas engineer will call at the arranged time to carry out the gas service. If they are delayed they will let you know.
If you're not in, the engineer will leave a card asking you to contact us to make a new appointment.
For further gas safety advice please visit the Health and Safety Executive website or the Gas Safe website.
Gas servicing appointments
Our gas service and safety checks normally take between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the condition and type of gas appliances you have.
One of our gas engineers will carry out the gas inspection and safety check. They are all Gas Safe registered and carry their Gas Safe ID card with them; they will show you their card if you ask.
What happens during a gas service
Please ensure that you have at least £5 credit on your gas meter for the system to be tested.
Our gas service and safety check covers all gas appliances in your home that belong to City of York Council.
You're responsible for the safety of any gas appliances you own, such as a gas cooker. Our gas engineer will carry out a visual check of your gas cooker, but not service it.
If, on visual inspection, the engineer finds safety defects they will issue warnings and if dangerous "cap off" the appliance. They will explain why and what they are doing, and update your property details.
Our engineers will do the following:
- carry out a visual check of your appliances, flue and gas pipe work
- check and test the flue
- ensure that your air supply and any purpose installed vents are correct
- carry out a gas test to make sure that your property has no leaks
- check that smoke and CO alarms are in working order and in date
Minor repairs will be carried out at the time of the service, but if any additional work is required that couldn’t be done during the service, another appointment will be made at a mutually convenient time.
Engineers may have to inspect any room that that has a flue passing through it, such as a chimney from a fire passing through bedrooms and into the loft, or boilers that have vertical flues that pass through rooms or loft spaces. Please ensure that there is clear access for this inspection to take place.
We will send you a copy of your Gas Certificate through the post within 2 months of your service. This lets you know your appliance is in safe working order. If you don’t receive a copy or can’t find your copy contact the Housing Repairs Team so that we can send one to you.
If your gas safety check fails
If the gas engineer finds a fault which may put you at risk, they will put a warning sticker on your appliance and isolate with your permission until it can be repaired or replaced.
Any refusal of isolation will be documented, and you would be liable for any following incidents related to the at risk appliance, not the operative or City Of York Council.
It may be the case that a part is needed which may take a few days to arrive. If the engineer deems the appliance immediately dangerous, with your permission they will "cap off" the gas supply to that appliance.
If you refuse, they will inform Northern Gas Network (NGN), who will attend and cap the gas externally for your safety. As a result any other appliances that use gas will not be able to be used due to the gas being isolated externally. When re-connection is authorised the reconnection from NGN will be charged to you.
If this happens and you have no heating, the engineer will arrange for some temporary heaters to be delivered to your home.
If the gas engineer finds any faults on your own gas appliances these will be made safe and you will be advised about the repairs needed. You will need to arrange and pay for the work to be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
What you can do to help
We want to ensure that you and your family are safe in your home. You can help by:
- giving us access to your homes at the times we agree with you
- replying quickly to letters asking to make appointments with you
- keeping the appointment time we agree with you
- letting us know as soon as you can if you can’t make an appointment so that we can rearrange it
Never attempt to repair any gas appliance yourself. It is illegal for unqualified persons to work on any gas appliance.
When the gas engineering is carrying out your gas service please:
- avoid going near the work area
- ensure all appliances and your gas meter are easily accessible
- keep any children or pets away from the work area
- keep access routes through your home clear
If you don’t let our engineer into your home
If we don’t hear from you, we'll still call at your property. If you're not in we'll leave a card to let you know we called and will send you a letter reminding you to make an appointment.
If we still don’t hear from you, we'll apply for a warrant from court, which will allow us to force our way into your home. We'll let you know when we have done this and you still have the opportunity to contact us to arrange a gas service.
Moving home
When you're considering moving home, your service does not include installation or removal of any gas appliances you own.
You must arrange for your own Gas Safe registered engineer to attend after your gas is capped or uncapped when you move.
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