Council housing repairs

Gas, water or electrical emergency and Gas Safety

What to do if you have a gas leak, total electrics failure or major water leak in your home. 

Gas: If you smell gas - Please call National Grid on 0800 111 999

  • open the doors and windows to get rid of the gas 
  • Turn of the gas supply and call national grid 0800 111 999.- Make sure you call from outside your home if using a mobile phone
  • check to see if the gas has been left on unlit or if a pilot light has gone out If so, please turn the appliance off 
  • don’t turn any electrical switches on or off (this includes door bells)
  • don’t smoke, use matches or naked flames

Carbon Monoxide: 

If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds or you suspect a leak please follow the guidance on the National Grid Website

Electric - If total failure: 

  • check whether other properties are affected. If yes, call your electricity supplier 
  • if not check the main fuse box 
  • check whether the trip switch has been activated 
  • if you are unable to identify the problem phone our customer contact centre on 020 8547 5003 

Water - If a major leak: 

  • turn off the stop cock; this is usually located under the sink (but could be in the bathroom, hall or under the stairs) 
  • phone our customer contact centre on 020 8547 5003 Please specify where the leak is coming from
  • think about if it could affect the electrical system? If you think it could, turn off the electrical installation at the main fuse box 

Gas Safety - The Law and What You Need To Know

Unsafe gas appliances can produce highly poisonous gas called carbon monoxide (CO) which can cause serious long term health problems or even death. Carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless so you won’t even know its present in your home. That’s why it’s so important that these safety checks are carried out.

If you have gas appliances in your home it is the law that they are checked every year by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.

  • checked every year without fail and are always only repaired by a qualified Gas Safe registered engineer. 
  • Unsafe gas appliances can produce carbon monoxide which can cause serious long term health problems or even death.
  • Carbon monoxide is odourless and colourless so you won’t even know its present in your home. 

Council Tenants

  • It is a condition of your Tenancy Agreement that you allow the council access to carry out this check. 
  • Axis, will contact you by letter when your annual check is coming up in order to make a convenient appointment with you.
  • If you fail to provide access to your home, the council can force entry.
  • The full cost of forcing entry and fitting a replacement door lock at the property would then be recharged to the tenant. Formal action may also be taken for breach of tenancy.
  •  The safety check shouldn’t take long and once it’s been done you will have peace of mind that your gas appliances are working safely.

Leaseholders

It is your responsibility to make sure you know who is responsible for maintaining the heating and hot water system at your property. This information is included in your lease.

  • Most leaseholders are responsible, under the terms of their lease, for maintaining their heating and hot water system. Any repairs to the heating and hot water system must be carried out by a Gas Safe qualified engineer.
  •  If you, the leaseholder, let your property you have the responsibility to ensure an annual Landlord Gas Safety Record Check is carried out each year.
  • The only exception to this is if your lease says RBK is responsible for the maintenance of your heating and hot water system, in which case you will be contacted in the same way as a council tenant.

Last Modified: 13/03/2023 16:30:38

Housing Contact Centre

You can get in touch with our Contact Centre

Address: Guildhall 2
High Street
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1EU

Telephone: 0208 547 5003