Housing association tenants on Merseyside are being warned that they are putting their lives at risk by refusing to let gas safety engineers into their homes.
Social landlords have a legal duty to check the safety of all gas appliances in their properties once a year, yet despite the importance of making these checks, around 40% of tenants initially refuse to co-operate.
Andy Mason, a gas safety manager at the Plus Dane Group housing association, said: “We have a 100% success rate in getting into people’s properties to make these checks, but that statistic hides the fact that it often takes weeks of letters and visits and even trips to court to get people to let an engineer in.
“Carbon monoxide (CO) remains the most common cause of poisoning in Britain today so it is amazing that people refuse to have their gas appliances checked, a quick and simple procedure that could save their lives or prevent them from suffering serious illnesses.
“While we are in properties we also give out free CO alarms and check smoke alarms, so it really is to people’s advantage to allow these checks to go ahead – especially as refusal will eventually land them in court.
“You never know you have gas poisoning until it is too late, it’s an odourless and silent killer, but by having your appliances regularly checked and using a CO alarm, you can have peace of mind.”
Dozens of people in Britain die each year from carbon monoxide poisoning while countless more suffer illness from gas leaks.
Plus Dane staff have been out and about meeting tenants and passing on safety information at a series of roadshow events, where there was the opportunity to enter into a prize draw to win an LCD television, donated by PTS Heating, one of the group’s major plumbing trade suppliers.
Game, set and match for Medicash
(Thu 17/05)
Unique hospitality venue launched
(Mon 14/05)
Post a comment