Who Is Responsible For Gas Safety Checks?

Diamond78

Hi There

Looking for some advice please.

I moved in to a new built housing association flat last year in March. All tenants are with a gas company called Switch2. Not the best company, not cheap and certainly not convenient but we was all told we had no choice. A lot of tenants had problems, including me, although not major.

However, I had a visit from environmental health officer about my complaint against the H.A due to disrepair and other things. He said that all the tenats should have had a yearly gas safety check but we haven't had that. The only person who comes is a housing officer, who visits once a month for his "Defective Meter Reading". His been doing it since last year.

The officer said he could not enforce anything but would write to them about my complaint regarding the disrepair to a leaking heater( it has been leaking for a month, until this day) and issues and safety of communal bins/area.

So my question is, are we suppose to have a yearly gas safety check or are Switch2 that forward in tecnology in which they do not need to do a yearly check?

One more thing. My heater leaks water when it is turned off. I only noticed because it leaked through to the communal ceiling. And the reason it took so long to see is my hallway is very narrow and a normal energy saving lighbulb will not fit. Only the expensive ones that housing companies by. Because of having no lightbulb, which I told them about, we never noticed. A plumber was sent out, he titghtened the valve at the top. The next day, the same thing. Another plumber came, done the same thing. It continued to leak, although they assumed it stopped. My towels are ruined, have had that heater on constantly so it doesn't leak. Its been a month. Now the Housing officer saw the environmental health officer, they arranged someone to come over tomorrow to fix it. BUT, they don't seem to know what they are doing. Plumber is a contractor. Who is responsible for this? Gas company, Willmott Dixon or HA?

Sorry for the offload. I had to type real quick as I have to dash for the school run. Thanks in advance.

lemontart

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/renting_a_property/for_landlords.aspx?gclid=CKLO8rrPhrcCFXMctAodVnQAUQ

It is the landlord, in your case the HA responsibility to carry this out. Not yours as a tenant. It is a legal requirement under the gas act 1998 - there are penalties for not doing so.

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/news/gas_safe_register_news/landlords_fined_%C2%A38,300.aspx

I would contact the asap and if they fail to act contact hse regarding this as they are the people that would bring legal action.

macman

As above, non-provision of an annual GSC to a tenant is a very serious offence. For an HA to neglect it is unforgivable. Report them.

southcoastrgi

as both said above

dogshome

All tenants are supplied with Gas by Switch 2 ?

Seems a bit strange as Switch 2 are 'brokers' in the industry and not suppliers

molerat

They do it all
http://www.energ-group.com/district-and-community-heating-solutions/

District and Community Heating Systems

We are in the business of delivering complete energy services for residential and mixed-use developments on community and district heating schemes.
We can provide an all-encompassing range of energy management services from the initial design and funding of a project to the full operational contract management of community and district heating schemes.
Our expertise working with a range of customers including residents, housing managers and commercial developers ensures that we continue to deliver low carbon, equitable and sustainable heating schemes for the future.
We have more than 30 years' experience providing services to the industry, and our legacy of data ensures that we model schemes based on actual operating data over the lifetime of different projects.

The_Shadow

Diamond78 wrote: »

Hi There

Looking for some advice please.

I moved in to a new built housing association flat last year in March. All tenants are with a gas company called Switch2. Not the best company, not cheap and certainly not convenient but we was all told we had no choice. A lot of tenants had problems, including me, although not major.

However, I had a visit from environmental health officer about my complaint against the H.A due to disrepair and other things. He said that all the tenats should have had a yearly gas safety check but we haven't had that. The only person who comes is a housing officer, who visits once a month for his "Defective Meter Reading". His been doing it since last year.

The officer said he could not enforce anything but would write to them about my complaint regarding the disrepair to a leaking heater( it has been leaking for a month, until this day) and issues and safety of communal bins/area.

So my question is, are we suppose to have a yearly gas safety check or are Switch2 that forward in tecnology in which they do not need to do a yearly check?

One more thing. My heater leaks water when it is turned off. I only noticed because it leaked through to the communal ceiling. And the reason it took so long to see is my hallway is very narrow and a normal energy saving lighbulb will not fit. Only the expensive ones that housing companies by. Because of having no lightbulb, which I told them about, we never noticed. A plumber was sent out, he titghtened the valve at the top. The next day, the same thing. Another plumber came, done the same thing. It continued to leak, although they assumed it stopped. My towels are ruined, have had that heater on constantly so it doesn't leak. Its been a month. Now the Housing officer saw the environmental health officer, they arranged someone to come over tomorrow to fix it. BUT, they don't seem to know what they are doing. Plumber is a contractor. Who is responsible for this? Gas company, Willmott Dixon or HA?

Sorry for the offload. I had to type real quick as I have to dash for the school run. Thanks in advance.

If you are a sitting tennant, the landlord ie the hosing association are responsible for carrying out the yeraly gas safety check. you should also be in possession of a safety certificate within a month of you moving in

Diamond78

Thank you for all your replies.

I sent an email to Switch2 and they told me to contact the H.A. I emailed them the same day I posted on here & asked for my current gas safety reports. I asked another tenant if she had a yearly gas safety check but she said no also.

Is the defective meters reading a Gas Safety Check? Because that is the only thing the H.A have been doing for several months. Thanks.

southcoastrgi

look at the links in post #2 the HA is your landlord, so must comply with the first link, no reading a meter is not a Gas safety check

macman

The gas safety certificate is a piece of paper that the LL has to provide you with within 28 weeks of taking up occupancy, and then every 12m months thereafter. Nothing to do with your meter at all.

Diamond78

I have never been given a gas safety certificate. I requested a gas safety report last week, so not sure what else I can do. Thanks for all the advice and links.