A sign of the need for safety checks on all gas appliances

8:41am Friday 22nd December 2006

TENANTS are being shamed into having their gas appliances serviced by having signs fixed to their homes by their landlord.

Coast and Country Housing is fixing metal signs to the outside of houses as a last resort to persuade tenants to allow engineers to check gas appliances in their homes.

The signs, which are A4 in size and are screwed securely to a prominent position, read: "Warning. This property needs a gas safety check."

They point out that Coast and Country Housing, which owns 10,500 houses in the area, has a legal responsibility to carry out annual gas safety checks.

Ronny Harris, director of housing operations, said: "All tenants are aware that we have an annual gas inspection programme. However, some fail to respond to our visits, letters and reminders.

"We have introduced the signs as a last resort, to get them to allow our engineers access to their properties. They will be screwed to the outside of houses after the fifth attempt to gain access by more discreet methods."

The message states that safety checks guard against the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, with a reminder that every year, about 30 people die from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by faulty gas appliances.

The first sign to be fastened to a house resulted in the tenant contacting the housing group immediately to arrange for a gas engineer to call.

A further two were placed on houses in the Redcar and Cleveland area this week.

Gas inspections are covered in the rent for the properties, so tenants have nothing further to pay.

Mr Harris said: "It is in the tenants' own interests to ensure that all their gas appliances are safe and well-maintained. Regular checks help to save money and avoid the breakdowns that can be caused by neglect. But most of all, they help to save lives.

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