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Safety in your home

You have certain responsibilities to keep your home safe and secure.

This section talks about the importance of knowing what to do if you have a problem with gas, electricity or fire.

Gas servicing - work that could save your life

By law we will service your gas boiler and fire(s) once a year. We will also check the gas supply to your property is safe and check the supply pipes to your gas cooker. However, we won't service it as this is your responsibility.

You can find out more by reading our gas servicing leaflet called 'Stay serviced - stay safe'.

How do I get the servicing done and what happens if I am not in?

We will write to you with an appointment which will be allocated within a 2-hour time slot. If you need to rearrange the appointment to a more convenient day or time, please ring the number on the letter or send us an e-mail. Appointments are available from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 4pm on Saturdays. 

By keeping your appointment we will enter you into a prize draw for £100. This is held every three months.

Every year a small number of tenants make it difficult for us to enter their home to do the servicing. It is a condition of your tenancy that you must let us in - if you don't allow us to do the work we will take court action to get access to your home. You will have to pay the court costs.

Find out more by reading our appointment letter and 'no access' procedure.

If you smell gas

do:

• turn the gas off at the meter
• open doors and windows
• call National Gas (formerly Transco) FREE on 0800 111 999. The textphone number is 0800 37 17 87
• read our information about carbon monoxide.

don't

• do not turn lights, electric switches on or off or use an intercom system
• do not light matches or cigarettes.

If Transco tell you there is a problem with a council-owned gas appliance phone the Repairs Contact Centre 0115 915 2222 to arrange a repair.

Carbon monoxide can kill

You cannot see or smell it, but if you breathe it in you will quickly become tired and dizzy, possibly with a headache and chest pain.

If you have a carbon monoxide alarm, test it regularly. Do not paint it or cover it up.

If the alarm sounds or you have any worry about carbon monoxide escaping, immediately call the National Gas Emergency Freephone Service on 0800 111 999.

Switch off all your gas appliances and open all doors and windows.

Find out more about gas safety by taking a look at the information provided by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). You can calso find out more about carbon monoxide in this information provided by Gas Safe (replaces CORGI).

Electricity

When you move in we will tell you where the consumer unit and mains electrical switch are in your home. You should unplug electrical equipment if you are not using the appliance, particularly when you are going to bed.

You should also make sure you use good-quality plugs which are properly wired and fitted with the correct fuse.

Do not:

• use an appliance with a damaged lead
• use plugs or sockets that are chipped or cracked
• run an appliance from a light fitting
• overload sockets with adaptors
• hang clothes over a storage heater or gas fire.
  

Fire safety

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue offers a free home fire safety visit to help you identify potential fire risks and provide advice on how to reduce or prevent fires. Book a home safety visit by going to the Notts Fire and Rescue website or call them on 0115 967 5948 (NOT 999 which is for emergencies only). These visits are completely free and you may also be eligible for a free smoke alarm.

Smoke alarms

Regularly checking your alarm every week by pressing the test button. Do not climb to reach it. You could press the button by using a sweeping brush handle, a garden cane or a walking stick. Do not, under any circumstances, check the alarm using a naked flame.

If you discover a fire

If you live in a house:

• Raise the alarm
• Calmly leave by the nearest safe exit as soon as possible
• If it is safe to do so close all doors and windows as you leave
• Exit to a place of safety
• Call the Fire Brigade by dialling 999.

If you live in a flat:

• Calmly leave by the nearest safe exit as soon as possible and raise the alarm
• If it is safe to do so close all doors and windows as you leave
• Call the Fire Brigade by dialling 999.

If the fire is not in your flat and you hear an alarm:

• Stay in your flat / block and keep all doors and windows closed unless you receive instructions from the Fire Brigade to leave the building by the nearest safe exit.

If you cannot leave because of a fire:

• Stay in your house / flat / block, call the Fire Brigade by dialling 999 and await rescue
• Place a damp towel against the bottom of the door to reduce smoke getting in.

Do not take risks or re-enter the building until the fire service tell you it's safe. Do not stop to collect personal belongings. Do not try to put out the fire.