Get your home winter-ready with gas and electric checks | Tenant news

Winter can be hard on homes, so it’s a good idea to check your electricity and gas systems to keep your home safe and warm.

Taking a few steps now can help prevent problems and may even save money on your energy bills.

Gas safety checks

Habinteg carries out a gas safety check in every home connected to the gas network at least once a year. It’s a legal requirement and helps make sure that boilers, cookers, and other gas appliances are safe to use.

A qualified gas engineer will each home to carry out the check, and tenants will receive a letter to let them know when the appointment is due.

Between services, keep an eye on your gas appliances and report any faults immediately. You can report issues to our Customer Services Team by calling 0300 365 3100 or email direct@habinteg.org.uk.

Even if your heat and hot water come from a communal boiler, it’s important to alert us to any problems so they can be fixed quickly.

Talking to neighbours can also help identify whether an issue is just in your home or affects more than one property.

Also be sure to check that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working. Replace batteries if needed and test the alarms regularly.

If you smell gas, open doors and windows to let fresh air in. Turn off the gas at the mains tap near the meter by moving the handle a quarter turn until it’s at 90 degrees to the pipe.

Leave the building and call the National Gas Emergencies number on 0800 111 999. The number is free and available 24 hours.

Follow the advice you’re given and wait outside for a gas engineer to arrive.

Electrical safety

Habinteg carries out electrical safety inspections in your home every five years to help keep you, your family, and your neighbours safe.

These inspections, called Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICR), check the condition of the wiring and other electrical systems in your home.

An EICR highlights any problems or potential risks, such as outdated wiring, overloaded circuits, or defective work. It also shows areas that may need improvements.

If we find any issues during the inspection, we will contact you about repairs. The report helps prevent electric shocks, fire hazards, and other safety problems.

There are also some ways to keep your home safe between inspections. You should:

• Never try to alter wiring, sockets, or light fittings yourself.
• Always switch off appliances when not in use and disconnect TVs at night.
• Check plugs and cables regularly, and don’t use damaged ones or run them under carpets or rugs.
• Avoid plugging more than one appliance into a single socket and never run appliances from a light fitting.
• Don’t overload extension leads and make sure that extension leads on a coil are always fully unwound before use. 

Russell Grainge, Habinteg’s Director of Assets, explains why winter safety checks are so important: “As a landlord, Habinteg has a moral and legal duty to ensure gas and electrical safety checks are completed on time,” Russell said.

“Most home fires are caused by cooking appliances and faulty electrical installations. As we enter a time of year when both are used more, it’s even more important to complete safety checks and show tenants how to reduce the risk of fires.”

Reporting an emergency

If you notice a burning smell of smoke from a socket or fuse board, turn off the main power immediately and call us to report it.

If water leaks through a light fitting, do not touch it or switch it on. Contact our Customer Services Team right away on 0300 365 3100.

If you think an electrical appliance is faulty, check the model and serial number or look for the model data label. You can also see if the appliance has been recalled using the Electrical Safety First website.

You can find more gas and electrical safety advice on our website at www.habinteg.org.uk/health-and-safety.

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