Soha has a legal duty to carry out annual gas safety checks on all our properties and to make sure that all our appliances are checked every year by a registered installer.
The information below, about your responsibilities and our standards, is also contained in our Residents' Handbook leaflet "Gas Servicing" and is available as a PDF download from the Residents' Handbook page.
Gas Safety
We have worked with residents to develop standards so that we meet our legal duties to keep you safe and provide you with a good service.
We will:
- Carry out an annual gas safety check using a registered gas engineer to all gas appliances which we have fitted, or which we own. We will record, comment and advise you on your own gas appliances
- Offer you an appointment for your gas servicing and change this once if it is not convenient
- Make servicing appointments outside of office hours
- Ensure that our contractors treat your home with respect, show identification and are polite
- We will leave a resident satisfaction form and stamped addressed envelope which we would be grateful if you could complete and return
Soha Housing is responsible for carrying out annual gas safety checks on all our Properties. This is a legal requirement. We have a legal duty to make sure that all our appliances are checked every year by a Gas Safe Register registered installer under the Gas Safe Register Scheme (previously known as CORGI).
Safety checks
Under the conditions of your tenancy, you must allow our contractor access to your home to carry out safety checks.
Appointments
We will write to you when your gas safety check is due with an appointment date. If this date is inconvenient, please contact our contractor whose details will be included on the letter you receive.
Missed appointments
If you had to go out when our contractor calls, they will leave a card. Simply
ring the number on the card to arrange another appointment.
Appointments are available:
a) Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm (am or pm slot)
b) Monday to Friday 5pm – 7pm
c) Saturday 8am – 12noon
The out of hours slots under b) and c) above can be carried out at no additional cost.
Gas appliances
If you wish to connect any of your own gas appliances, you will need permission from Soha.You will also need to arrange for a suitably qualified gas engineer to carry out the work. (Qualified gas engineers should be Gas Safe registered Please check your local Thompson Directory or Yellow Pages.)
To connect or disconnect your gas supply, please contact your gas supplier. They will need around 48 hours notice to arrange their work. You will be responsible for any charges.
Gas appliances that are faulty can kill!
Gas appliances need a flue and adequate fresh air to work safely. Do not block air vents. Faulty appliances can give off poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) fumes. Low level exposure to CO over a long period can cause brain and neurological damage. Exposure over a shorter timescale may cause initial symptoms such as headaches, nausea and exhaustion through to drowsiness and flu like symptoms. Continued exposure may lead to heart palpitations, chest pain and even death.
Soha has installed carbon monoxide detectors to all properties with open flue appliances together with smoke alarms which are checked annually.
You may be aware that portable heaters using combustible fuels have been responsible for deaths from CO. We would strongly advise that if there is no other alternative and portable appliance has to be used, the greatest care is taken to ensure the following:
- The room has adequate ventilation.
- A CO detector with an audible alarm is used in the same room.
- Children or vulnerable people are never left alone with such an appliance.
- The appliance is never left on while anyone is sleeping in the room or house
You cannot see or smell carbon monoxide gas, but it can kill. If you can smell gas, it will be natural gas, in which case:
- Immediately turn off the incoming gas supply at the meter
- Open windows for ventilation
- Call Southern Gas Networks on 0800 111 999
Do not
- Use your mobile phone inside the house
- Use your intercom
- Switch any lights or sockets off or on as this could cause an explosion
- smoke
If in doubt, call the emergency gas supplier number 0800 111 999, before phoning Soha on 01235 515900 (or email housing@soha.co.uk).
External Audits
In addition to the regular checks made by the contractor and Soha on the quality of both servicing and repairs we have also appointed an external consultant to carry out independent quality control checks. If you are contacted by a company called Teknogas to carry out one of these inspections we would be grateful if you would allow them access to your home.
Leaseholders/Shared Owners
A number of Leaseholders and Shared Owners have told us they find it difficult to find a reliable heating contractor to service and maintain their gas heating systems.
Soha's contractor who undertakes the work to tenanted properties has therefore offered to extend this service to both leaseholder and shared ownership properties. If you would like further information together with the likely cost please contact Soha on (01235) 515900.
Repairs
Please report any repairs to our Customer Services team on 01235 515900
Feedback
We will ask for your feedback on our gas servicing process. Please let us know what you think, as this will help us improve our service in the future.
Win vouchers worth £50
If you keep your gas servicing appointment, you will be entered into a prize draw. At the end of the year, we will pick out two winners at random. Each one will win a £50 voucher.