About our annual gas safety checks
As your landlord, we must carry out an important gas safety check in your home each year. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about our annual gas safety checks:
What can I expect from you (Bolton at Home)?
You'll get a letter containing details of your gas safety appointment. If you aren't going to be in and you'd like to rearrange your appointment, please contact us using the number on your letter.
Do you offer out of hours appointments?
Yes. We also work Saturdays, 8am to 8:30pm, and weekday evenings from 4pm to 8:30pm.
What happens on the day of the appointment?
One of our gas operatives will attend wearing their ID badge. We check gas appliances and gas installations, smoke alarms, Carbon Monoxide alarms, heat alarms (where applicable), and we'll change any batteries as required.
Please note that we'll only carry out visual inspections on your own gas appliances (e.g. gas cookers). We will not work on your appliances.
How long does it take to do all the checks?
The appointment will be between 30 minutes to one hour. This depends on how many gas appliances are in the property.
Will I get a certificate?
You'll be handed an electronic device to sign your name, then we'll supply you with a new updated certificate to show that you are now gas safe.
You can expect your certificate to arrive in the post within 28 days.
Is the gas safety check free of charge?
Yes, this is a free service - but it must be carried out in your home each year.
Why do you have to carry out gas safety checks?
All landlords are legally required to carry out annual gas safety checks on gas installations — this includes all landlord-owned gas appliances.
What happens if I miss my appointment?
We understand that sometimes appointments are missed. If you've missed yours, please contact us to request another appointment using the number on your letter.
As this is a legal requirement, if we can't gain access — and after we've exhausted all reasonable steps — we may have to apply for a warrant to ask the courts to help us gain access. Once granted, this means we can access the property to ensure the gas installation is made safe and often results in changing your locks.
To prevent any court or bailiff actions, it's really important that you contact us to make another appointment.
What happens if a bailiff comes to my property?
Once granted, this means we can access the property to ensure the gas installation is made safe. It'll often result in locks needing to be changed.
If you're present, we will carry out the annual gas safety check.
If you aren't present, we will make the installation safe by isolating the gas supply.
If we need to apply for a warrant via the courts, it's possible that the cost of fees will be passed on to you as our customer. These could be court fees or our own fees, including bailiff costs.