Wellingborough Homes to pursue property access for gas safety

Wellingborough Homes carries out a free annual safety check in every home it manages where gas appliances are installed, but some tenants fail to keep appointments or give access.

Unfortunately this currently applies to some 200 Tenants who are potentially putting their lives of their children or those of their family at risk.

Wellingborough Homes is asking all tenants who have not responded to them regarding gas servicing to contact them as a matter of urgency to keep their family and neighbours safe.

Each year, nationally, around 20 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by gas appliances and flues, which have not been properly maintained. More than 200 cases result in people being hospitalised.

Simon Favell, Wellingborough Homes’ Director of Operations, said: “It is a legal requirement for us to carry out a gas safety check on each of our properties every year. As a responsible landlord it is fundamental to keeping our homes and tenants safe.

“The gas safety checks are free of charge. The Contractor undertaking the checks are flexible and do their utmost to make appointments at convenient times to suit  tenants.’

“Unfortunately some residents still to continue to refuse access, or break appointments, these are the people we intend to target with a campaign of legal action.

“We expect that this action will enable us to ensure that 100 per cent safety checks are undertaken, so that customers can rest assured they are safe in the coming winter months.”  

We will apply for court injunctions to gain access to carry our gas services and we shall also apply to the court for costs to be awarded to us where tenants have repeatedly not let engineers in to carry out checks on their gas appliances.

Unfortunately, this means that those tenants that we take to court or that refer to our solicitors could end up with a bill of approximately £400.00.

If you are a Wellingborough Homes tenant and have not had a gas service or safety check in the last twelve months you must contact us on 01933 234450 immediately to make an appointment.