Heating
Boiler Replacement
Central Heating Servicing and Maintenance
Servicing and Landlords Check
Gas Legislation
Records
Gas Safety
For the past 7 years we have been working on a Gas Boiler Replacement Programme and so far have replaced over 4500 old boilers with high efficiency condensing gas boilers.
Before any work is started our contractor will contact the tenant to fix a date for a survey and discuss matters with regards to the location of the new boiler and associated controls.
The programme is still ongoing but if you feel you may have been missed out please call 01462 633269 for advise.
And in addition to this we still operate an emergency boiler replacement programme which involves the replacement of around 50-100 boilers per year.
Problem with a new boiler?
If your boiler develops a fault within the first 12 months of being installed please contact TSG and ask for Sarah Fever on 01992 626211.
Central Heating Servicing and Maintenance
Under present legislation, NHH has to ensure that all gas, oil, electric and solid fuel appliances within our properties have an annual service and landlords inspection carried out. The contractor we use to undertake this work is a company called TSG Ltd they not only carry out the service but will also deal with breakdowns.
If you find you have no heat, no hot water or a leak in your heating system; please call TSG immediately on 01462 678881. All emergency breakdowns will be visited within 24 hours.
If you smell gas or believe you have a leak either contact Transco direct on 0800 111999 or call TSG on 01462 678881.
When a service / landlords check is due, TSG will contact you to arrange an appointment at a time and date that is convenient. As a tenant you have a legal obligation to allow us access to carry out these safety tests.
If for any reason an appointment is missed the contractor will do their best to re-arrange it and re visit. However if they are continually unable to gain access, this will be seen as a breach of your tenancy agreement and will result in legal proceedings being taken.
Since October 31st 1998 regulations came into force that placed a wide range of responsibilities for people installing, servicing, maintaining or repairing gas appliances and other gas fittings, as well as suppliers and users of gas, including landlords.
Regulation 36 (Duties of Landlords)
This regulation places important duties on Landlords of residential properties to ensure that gas appliances and flues are maintained in a safe condition, that annual safety checks are carried out, and records kept and issued (or certain cases displayed) to tenants.
We have the responsibility to confirm that the gas installer undertaking the maintenance and safety checks will be Gas Safe (formerly CORGI) registered and hold the relevant qualifications.
There are occasions when tenants will not co-operate with North Hertfordshire Homes with regards to access to the property. In such cases, North Hertfordshire Homes will keep a record of their actions to demonstrate the steps taken in discharging their duty i.e. a recorded delivery appointment letter, a possible personal visit, explaining reasons why access is required. Should access still be denied NHH will seek access via the Courts and possible eviction of tenants not co-operating.
Any gas appliance a tenant owns but leaves at the accommodation and is retained by NHH, becomes NHH’s responsibility for maintenance and safety checks.
NHH will not delegate its duties in anyway to the tenant or, through a tenancy agreement.
There are two main duties in Regulation 36:
1. Ongoing maintenance
2. Annual safety checks
Regulation 36(2) places a duty on NHH to ensure that all gas fittings and flues, which serve the gas appliances, are maintained in a safe condition.
Appliance and flue manufacturers’ instructions will normally provide this information. In most cases, it will advise that a full annual service should be undertaken.
Without affecting statement (2) above, Regulation 36 (3) goes onto state that the gas fittings and flues must be checked for safety within 12 months of being installed, at intervals of not more than 12 months.
When tenants vacate premises NHH will ensure that the gas fittings and flues are safe before re-letting.
NHH will also implement a quality control and gas management system to confirm that the gas work is being undertaken to the current gas regulation standards.
All gas safety checks carried out will be by a Gas Safe (formerly CORGI) registered gas installer holding the correct proof of competence. All NHH contracted installers carry Gas Safe (formerly CORGI) ID cards, and the reverse of the card indicates which areas of gas work that operative can undertake.
Regulation 36 also requires the following:
- North Hertfordshire Homes will retain the Landlords Gas Safety Record Form for 2 years from the date the checks were carried out.
- Give a copy of the record to each existing tenant of the relevant premises within 28 days of the check being carried out.
- Give a copy of the record to any new tenant of the relevant premises before the tenant occupies the premises.
Regulation 36 was introduced to increase gas safety and reduce CO-related deaths and injuries. More than 30 people die in Britain every year from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.
As with many regulations, it is essential that both NHH and its tenants works within the spirit of these regulations and actively works to implement gas safety.
North Hertfordshire Homes inspects and services all gas appliances that are owned by the association. The exception to this is gas appliances that the Tenant is entitled to move. By law the gas inspection/service must be carried out on an annual basis.
Any alterations or additions to the heating system, boiler or flue must first be applied for via the Neighbourhood Office. Should NHH find any alterations or additions not pre agreed with them this will result in NHH removing them.
Any tenants wishing to make alterations to any part of the heating system including removal of gas fires, re-siting of radiators or opening old chimney flues must first contact the Heating section to obtain written permission. This is to ensure the safety of the tenants as well as to safeguard the structure and integrity of our property.
