Gas servicing

If you are a St Albans District Council tenant we have a legal obligation under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) regulations 1998 to service all gas appliances and check gas pipes in your property every 12 months (but not cookers or tenants' own fires). Fires may be serviced if the tenant is disabled or an O.A.P. This also applies to approximately 5000 other properties that we own.

Even though there may be no gas central heating in your property, perhaps because you have electric storage heaters, we will still need to check the gas meter and supply pipes once a year. This is the case even if you just have a gas cooker.

If gas appliances are not in a safe working order then they can be potentially dangerous. It is therefore important, for your own safety, that we take this matter seriously.

Who carries out the service?

We have a specialist Gas Safe registered contractor who carries out the servicing. The Contractor will have staff who are suitably qualified and experienced to carry out this work. They will always carry a valid identity card which you should ask them to produce

From May 2010 Quality Heating Services were awarded the contract to carry out the Annual Gas checks on our council properties. Quality Heating are a Gas Safe registered company and can be contacted on telephone : 01494 795025 or freephone : 08000 214411

Will I receive advance notice?

When your service is due an appointment will be made for the contractor to visit your property. If you are not in, a card will be left for you to complete and return giving an appointment for the contractor to call. It is vitally important that if a card is left you respond immediately.

If you do not make an arrangement for access then we set a time for the contractor to call at your property. This will be confirmed to you in writing.

If we are still unable to gain access then because of the dangers and the Health and Safety regulations we will have no alternative but to pursue legal action against you in order to gain access.

What will the service involve?

The gas service will normally take about 30-45 minutes. All gas appliances and pipes, and gas meters will be checked. At the end of the service you will be required to sign a certificate. A copy of this will be left for your information and a copy forwarded to us. If any appliance is considered unsafe, the contractor will ask permission to disconnect the appliance and will advise us so that we can initiate repairs. If it is your own appliance you will be advised to have it repaired by a Gas Safe registered contractor.

What if the annual service reveals that work is required to the heating system?

We will be given a copy of the service certificate which will list any works required to the heating system. These will be discussed with the appropriate repair contractor to agree how best to deal with them. in non-urgent cases this may be 2-3 weeks

What if I have just had a new boiler fitted?

The gas system will still need to be checked even if new boiler or other works have been carried out recently.

How can I help to maintain my gas central heating system?

Although during the warmer months the central heating system may not need to be used, it is always advisable to start up the heating system perhaps once or twice to avoid being “caught out” when there is a sudden cold spell.

All you need to do is turn on the heating for a limited period (perhaps one or two hours) and check that the radiator valves are working.

This will prevent the system from seizing up and you having to report a fault when the system is turned on during the colder months.

What should I do if I wish to fit my own appliance?

Following a new tenancy or after a mutual exchange, you may wish to fit your own gas appliance fitted.

For safety reasons this must be carried out by a fully qualified person. Details of Gas Safe registered contractors can be found in the telephone directory.

What if I think there is a gas leak or if my Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector is activated?