Gas and electrical safety

Your tenancy agreement states that you must allow access if you are given reasonable notice for the purpose of a gas inspection. Our specialist Gas Engineer will make you aware when your gas safety check is due to take place and will contact you to make an appointment. If you are not going to be available when the annual check is scheduled, please let them know or contact Brunelcare.

If you smell gas you should:

• Open doors and windows
• Do not turn electrical switches or lights on or off, or pull an emergency pull cord if near the suspected leak – this could result in a spark which could cause an explosion
• Do not smoke, light matches, use naked flames
• Leave your home, moving to a place of safety
• Contact National Grid on the gas emergency number: 0800 111 999
• Contact Brunelcare as soon as possible

If your property has a gas boiler, Carbon Monoxide alarms are installed by the service contractor and are tested as part of the gas inspection.

Carbon monoxide cannot be seen, smelt or tasted. If your alarm sounds or you suspect a leak you should:

• Inform Brunelcare if you have a gas boiler and do not have a carbon monoxide alarm or if your alarm is faulty
• Stop using all appliances, switch them off and open doors and windows to ventilate the property
• Leave the property immediately, moving to a place of safety
• Call the National Grid’s gas emergency number on: 0800 111 999
• Not go back into your property, wait for the advice from the emergency services
• Seek immediate medical help

Brunelcare is required by law to ensure your property’s electrical installation and wiring is safe when you move in and that it is maintained in a safe condition throughout your tenancy. We test and inspect all properties we manage, including communal areas, at least once every five years and inspect properties before re-letting them to new tenants.

Brunelcare’s electrical contractor make you aware when testing is expected to happen. After testing takes place, any repairs identified through the check will then be carried out. You should contact Brunelcare if you have any electrical problems within your property and they will arrange for an electrician to come to your home

Residents are responsible for maintaining electrical items that are brought into the home. Inspect your electrical equipment and fittings to ensure they are in good condition:

• The cable should be firmly secured in the plug
• None of the pins should be bent and plugs should not ‘rattle’
• Plug casings should be free from cracks
• Look for burn marks or any signs of overheating
• Plugs should fit tightly into sockets

How to keep your home safe:

• Never overload sockets or plug adaptors
• Take care with second-hand electrical items; ensure they have been safety checked and are not listed on the product recall register
• If you are concerned about the safety of a product, stop using it and make your concern known to the retailer or Trading Standards office
• Never store combustible materials near your fuse box or electricity meter
• Never take mains power electrical items into the bathroom
• Switch off electrical items which are not in use

You can see how Brunelcare helps ensure that water is safe in our properties by reading our full Gas Safety and Electrical Safety Policies.

Electrical Safety First has lots of useful information about keeping your electrical appliances safe: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/