HOUSING group Torus – which includes Warrington’s Golden Gates Housing – has pledged its support for Gas Safety Week.
The aim is to raise awareness about the importance of gas safety across its 40,000-plus properties.
Various organisations are working together to raise awareness of the dangers of poorly maintained gas appliances, which can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
This year, Gas Safety Week is addressing a whole range of gas safety matters with a focus on community safety in these difficult times – from advice about how to stay gas safe, to raising awareness of using a registered engineer who is legally qualified, to ensure consumers don’t suffer from the effects of illegal gas work though lack of awareness.
Barrie Frodsham, Torus gas compliance and assurance manager said: “Having a safe place to call home has always been important, but this year it’s been more crucial than ever. We have a legal obligation to carry out an annual gas safety check on all our properties, and that was still the case throughout lockdown.
“All Torus gas safety checks are carried out by our trusted gas contractor HMS (Housing Maintenance Solutions). It’s important that our customers allow prompt access to their homes so our Gas Safe Registered engineers can complete these essential gas safety checks to keep our tenants, their families and neighbours safe.
“Any Torus tenants who do now allow access to their homes for their gas safety check are in breach of their tenancy agreement and we may be forced into taking legal action where tenants could incur court costs in excess of £1,000 or even lose their home.”
Jonathan Samuel, chief executive for Gas Safe Register, said: “It’s great to see so many people supporting Gas Safety Week this year to help share important and, in some cases, lifesaving advice about gas safety. It’s vital in these uncertain times to look out for the safety of our local communities and ensure people always use a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered engineer to work on gas appliances at their home. It’s how we can all work together to stay gas safe.’
Torus tenants could be in with the chance of winning £100 worth of Love2Shop vouchers if they allow access to their home for the first time for their gas safety check. To book or rearrange a gas safety check, contact the Torus Customer Hub on [email protected] or 0800 678 1894.
