If you smell gas
If you smell gas or you think an appliance is dangerous, contact: National Grid right away. They will give you the appropriate safety advice depending on the circumstances.
Unsafe or faulty gas appliances
It is illegal for anyone to use a gas appliance if they suspect it is unsafe. The most dangerous appliances still in use are open-flued gas appliances. These are not sealed and the burnt gases (carbon monoxide) can escape into the room and contaminate the air.
By law, your landlord is responsible for making sure:
- all gas pipe work, appliances and flues in the property are maintained in a safe condition;
- and are inspected often.
Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
This can be caused by gas appliances in the home that:
- have not been installed correctly;
- have blocked flues;
- or do not have enough ventilation.
Every year 30 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of gas appliances incorrectly installed or not properly maintained. People who sleep in rooms containing open flued gas appliances that are left burning at night are most at risk.
What the danger signs to look out for are
- Staining, soot or discolouring around a gas fire or around the top of a water heater or central heating boiler.
- A yellow or orange flame in the gas appliance.
- For the tenant, the onset of symptoms such as tiredness, headache, nausea, giddiness, pains in the chest and stomach. (These symptoms can often be mistaken for cold or influenza).
What you can do
- Make sure there is enough ventilation in the room.
- Fit an audible carbon monoxide monitor to alert you when the level is too high.
- If think your gas appliance, gas pipe work or gas flue is unsafe contact your landlord right away.
- If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning:
- Get everybody out of the house and into fresh air.
- Open all doors and windows to ventilate the property.
- Do not turn off electrical switches.
- Extinguish all naked flames. (Do not smoke, strike matches or do anything to cause ignition.)
What we can do
- Provide support, advice and guidance if your landlord refuses to carry out repairs.
- We may be able to take enforcement action against your landlord. (If they fail or refuses to maintain gas pipe work, appliances or flues in a safe condition.)
For more about unsafe gas appliances in properties, visit: Gas safety (HSE).
Gas certificates
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 2004 applies to all rented property that have gas appliances.
All landlords must:
- Make sure all gas pipe work, appliances and flues are inspected once a year. This has not be someone who is registered with Gas Safe (Gas Safe has replaced CORGI).
- Keep gas safety record (was called the gas safety certificate) for 2 years.
- Give tenants with a copy of the gas safety record. This should be within 28 days of the tests being carried out or before they move in.
Landlords are responsible for repairing any defects which are identified on the gas safety record. All repairs and maintenance on gas appliances must be undertaken by a registered engineer.
For more details, visit: Gas Safe.
What you can do
- Ask your landlord for a copy of the current gas safety record.
- If you own any gas appliances in your property, you are responsible to get them checked. (Your landlord may be responsible for the maintenance of any gas pipe work to the appliance or flue from it.)
- If your landlord refuses to undertake safety tests on your appliances, you can report them to the Health & Safety Executive.
What we can do
If your landlord will not do work recommended on the gas safety record, we may be able to help.
Please contact us:
Report a repair problem with a private landlord
For more details about the above, visit: Gas safety - tenants (HSE).