1 Safety
Electrical Safety
You need to ensure that the housing has safe and proper electricity supply.
You can ascertain this by asking your landlord to show you any professional
certificate of electricity, such as NICEIC. The NICEIC certificate ascertains
that the house has undergone a continuous check of electricity for the last five
years. However such certificates are not a legal requirement.
Fire Safety - Furniture and Furnishings
You need to verify that the furniture and furnishing supplied in let
accommodation comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety)
Regulations 1988 that has been with effect from 1 January 1997. The
regulations require that all the furniture and furnishings in the housing to be
rented must fulfil the fire and safety standards mentioned in it. Further, these
regulations cover all the residential places, including flats, bed-sitters, and
houses where furniture is provided as part of the tenancy. The furniture’s
variety that comes under the regulations is: any furnished furniture including
chairs, sofas, beds, head boards, children’s furniture, mattresses, scatter
cushions, seat cushions, and pillows. Garden furniture also comes under the
regulations if it is furnished under the rent to be used in the dwelling.
However, the regulations do not cover carpets, curtains, and bedclothes.
Gas Safety - Credentials
You must ensure your landlord fulfils all the responsibilities of gas safety. You
need to check whether the gas appliances supplied by your landlord are in
good condition or not, however it is the legal responsibility of the landlord to
do so. It is also required that your landlord must arrange for a Gas Safe
registered engineer to check these gas appliances every 12 months. The Gas
Safe Register is an approved list of qualified gas engineers able to work
safely and officially on gas appliances. This register has replaces the CORGI
registration. So you need to check the fitting, fixing, and servicing of gas
appliances are done only by Gas Safe registered engineers.
You should always do the following
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Request a copy of the landlord’s gas safety certificate record before
you dwell in any accommodation
Cooperate with your landlord in arranging access for a Gas Safe
registered engineer to carry out gas safety checks or servicing
Ask for the ID card of the gas engineer that comes in your housing to
work on the gas appliances. You need to ensure that the engineer is
Gas Safe registered.
If you think a gas appliance is faulty or you can smell gas turn it off
immediately and let your landlord know. In an emergency call the Gas
emergency helpline on 0800 111 999. If you feel unwell, seek medical help
immediately.
For more information and to find and check an engineer go to
www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500. Better Gas Safe than
sorry.
In an emergency: If you smell gas or think there might be a gas leak turn off
the gas at the meter, extinguish naked flames, open windows and leave the
house. Seek medical advice if you feel unwell. Call the Gas Emergency
Freephone Number 0800 111 999.
Carbon Monoxide
Carbon Monoxide is a gas that is highly dangerous to people and animals and
is produced by appliances that burn fossil fuels such as gas or coal. Even an
appliance that has been serviced regularly can produce Carbon Monoxide.
NEVER COVER OR BLOCK AIR VENTS.
Even if a property has a safety certificate problems can still occur. Carbon
monoxide is difficult to detect because it has NO taste NO Smell and NO
Colour.
LOOK OUT FOR THE DANGER SIGNS
Sooting or staining marks on or around the appliance.
A yellow or orange lazy flame - needs to burn crisp and blue.
Condensation in the room where any appliances are installed.
SYMPTOMS OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
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Drowsiness.
Weakness.
Headaches
Nausea.
Lethargy.
Chest Pains.
If unsure, consult your GP.
IF YOU SUSPECT A GAS LEAK OR CARBON MONOXIDE YOU SHOULD:
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Open doors and windows to let the gas escape.
Check if the gas supply to an appliance has been left on unlit or if the
pilot light has gone out
Turn the gas supply off.
Do not use matches or naked flames.
Do not smoke
Do not turn electrical switches on or off
Telephone the Gas Emergency Line on 0800 111 999.