Campaign to ensure all Tameside rental properties are gas safe

A local property manager has pledged support for Gas Safety Week this week to ensure every Tameside landlord is aware and compliant when it comes to gas safety in their rental properties. 

As part of the tenth year of Gas Safety Week, from 14 to 20 September, organisations from across the UK are working together to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances - which can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.

This year, Gas Safety Week is addressing a whole range of gas safety matters with a focus on community safety in these difficult times - from advice about how to stay gas safe, to raising awareness of using a registered engineer who is legally qualified, to ensure consumers don’t suffer from the effects of illegal gas work though lack of awareness.

Tracy Wardle, Director at Abode Property Management in Hyde, said: "As we approach the autumn and winter months, Tameside homeowners and tenants will be firing up their boilers and heaters following the summer lull.

"Gas Safety Week’s goal is to raise awareness among homeowners and landlords about the crucial importance of having these gas appliances serviced every year.

"As part of this campaign, I am striving to encourage each and every Tameside landlord, whether they use my services or not, to ensure they have gas safe properties." 

People cannot lawfully start a tenancy unless a gas safety check has been carried out and a certificate - sometimes called a landlord's gas safety record - issued, to show everything is in good working order. 

The penalties for being caught without one can include invalidated insurance, up to £6,000 in fines, six months in prison and court action. 

Jonathan Samuel, chief executive for Gas Safe Register, said: "It’s great to see so many people supporting Gas Safety Week this year to help share important and, in some cases, lifesaving advice about gas safety. It’s vital in these uncertain times to look out for the safety of our local communities and ensure people always use a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer to work on gas appliances at their home. It’s how we can all work together to stay gas safe." 

Gas Safe Register's top safety tips include: 

• Know the symptoms of CO poisoning; headaches, nausea, breathlessness, collapse, dizziness and loss of consciousness.
   
• If you smell gas or think there might be a gas leak, call the free 24-hour national gas emergency number immediately on 0800 111 999.
   
• Never attempt to work on a gas appliance yourself, always seek the help of a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer who can work on your gas cooker, boiler or fire in a safe way.
   
• Don’t cut corners - only employ a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer when having gas work carried out in your home.
   
• Always ask to see your engineer’s Gas Safe ID card. Make sure you check the back of the card, which will state which gas appliances they are qualified to work on.

Tracy continued: "Tameside landlords cannot lawfully start a tenancy unless a gas safety check has been carried out and a certificate (sometimes called a landlord’s gas safety record) issued, to show everything is in good working order.

"The penalties for being caught without one are severe, as they should be. It is every Tameside landlord’s responsibility to ensure their properties are compliant."

Mossley benefits from having the least amount of unsafe gas appliances, whilst Hyde has the largest number of appliances that have been checked.

Find out more here: https://tamesideproperty.expert/tameside-landlords-how-gas-safe-is-your-rental-property/.