Figures from the Health and Safety Executive show that approximately 30 people die every year in the UK from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues which have not been properly installed or maintained. Many others also suffer ill health.
When gas does not burn properly, as with other fuels such as coal, wood or oil, excess carbon monoxide is produced which is poisonous. You can’t see it, taste it, or smell it but carbon monoxide can kill.
For your safety, every year, we need to carry out essential checks on the gas appliances we have fitted in your home. And we need your help to arrange appointments so that we can carry out these gas checks and keep you and your family safe. We have a legal responsibility to perform these safety checks.
The gas appliances checked will be the ones installed by Maidenhead and District Housing Association, Bridgewater Housing and Furnival Housing.
This includes boilers, gas fires and gas supplies. The checks will not cover any gas appliances fitted by the tenant. Every year we will write to you when the safety checks are due requesting that you contact us to make an appointment so the work can be carried out.
Outlined below are details of how we will contact you to make an appointment to carry out these safety checks. Please make sure you respond promptly to our letters, asking you to make an appointment for a gas safety check. These letters are very easy to see, as the envelope will be marked:
If you do not respond and we are unable to get access to your home to carry out these safety checks, we may be forced to take legal action to get access to your property to check the gas appliances which have been fitted by us.
Here is our five stage procedure for gaining access to your home for gas safety checks:
STAGE 1: A letter is sent to tenants at least 31 days before the gas safety check is due. Tenants are asked to phone our Customer Contact Centre or visit our offices to book a mutually convenient appointment for the service.
You can’t miss this letter – it carries the following warning:
We will do our best to arrange a mutually convenient appointment time for this service, which will take about an hour.
STAGE 2: If no response is received to the first letter within 10 calendar days, then a second letter will be sent to the tenant. The second letter reinforces the importance of the safety check and asks the tenant to get in touch to arrange an appointment. Again the envelope is stamped with the warning information.
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