Gas safety is something no tenant should have to take chances with. That is why BCH is proud to support the 16th annual Gas Safety Week, taking place from 14th – 20th September 2026.
Coordinated by Gas Safe Register, the official list of engineers who are legally qualified to work on gas, Gas Safety Week helps people understand the simple steps they can take to stay safe at home.
This year’s theme is Take No Chances. For tenants, that means knowing what your landlord is responsible for, understanding what you can do yourself, and acting quickly if something does not feel right. A few simple checks can give you confidence that your home is safer and help protect everyone in it from risks such as gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning.
| Allow access for your gas safety check |
As your landlord, we are legally required to ensure that maintenance and annual gas safety checks are carried out on the appliances in our properties by a Gas Safe registered engineer. This includes the boiler, smoke detectors and CO detectors.
As a tenant, it is your responsibility to allow us access to complete these essential safety checks, and this is a condition of your tenancy agreement. We will always give you notice that we intend to visit you, and we will give you the opportunity to arrange a convenient appointment. If you do not allow us access to your home, this could affect your safety and the safety of your neighbours, and we may need to take legal action.
All BCH staff and contractors will carry ID when we visit you. If you are unsure, you should ask to see ID. You can contact the Repairs Team on 01253 477900 (select option 2) to confirm the identity of any BCH staff or contractors.
If you have a gas cooker, it is your responsibility to have this serviced and maintained by a Gas Safe Registered engineer, as we will only inspect the pipe the cooker is attached to.
| Know the signs of Carbon Monoxide |
Unsafe gas appliances, whether badly fitted or poorly serviced, can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions, and CO poisoning. CO is a highly poisonous gas that can kill quickly and without warning, as you cannot smell it, see it, or taste it.
What are the signs of a Carbon Monoxide leak?
- Floppy yellow or orange flame on your gas hob, rather than a crisp blue flame
- Pilot lights that frequently blow out
- Dark, sooty staining on or around gas appliances
- Increased condensation inside windows
What are the physical symptoms of Carbon Monoxide poisoning?
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Breathlessness
- Collapse
- Loss of consciousness
If you suspect CO poisoning, get into fresh air immediately and call the emergency services.
| What to do in an emergency |
If you smell gas, think you have a gas leak or are worried that carbon monoxide fumes are escaping from a gas appliance, call the gas emergency number immediately on 0800 111 999.
- Do not smoke, strike a match or operate light/switches
- Turn off the gas at the control valve (usually near the meter)
- Open the property’s windows
- Report the gas leak to BCH once you have contacted the emergency gas number