As you may be aware, the council services the gas boilers and gas appliances for its secure tenants. However, once the flat/maisonette has been bought under the Right to Buy scheme repair of internal non-communal parts of the flat/maisonette such as gas boilers becomes the leaseholders? responsibility.

Despite this the council, as your landlord, retains overall responsibility for managing the blocks and estates. This includes checking that the individual leaseholders are complying with their internal repairing obligations and if they are not, taking appropriate action to ensure safety for all residents.

Over the past few years we have had many queries from leaseholders as to whether the council are able to provide a gas-servicing/gas repairs scheme. Leaseholders have approached us to see if they can be included in the current contract with Building services that services over 24,000 properties and we are pleased to say that this is now possible. Due to the large number of properties covered under the contract the prices we are offering are also highly competitive:

What we are offering

• Sliver Service - Service Gas appliances, check and bleed radiators gas safety record, gas t ightness test, smoke alarm check
• Gold Service - Repairs up to the value of £200 (labour and materials) per annum, service gas appliances, check and bleed radiators, gas safety record, gas tightness test, smoke alarm check
• Platinum Service - Emergency call out, repairs up to the value of £200 (labour and materials) per annum, service gas appliances, check and bleed radiators, gas safety record, gas tightness test, smoke alarm check

How to join the scheme

If you would like to join the scheme or would like further information, please contact the Home Ownership Team.

What happens next

We will then send you the agreement. Silver Service - you will need to sign the agreement and return it to us with a cheque for the full amount of the service. You will then be contacted by Building Services to make arrangements for them to carry out the service.

Gold or Platinum Service - you will be visited by one of our energy officers who will survey your appliances. Once this visit has taken place you will then need to sign the agreement and return it to us with a cheque for 50% of the total cost (you can pay the whole amount if you choose to). The remaining 50% will have to be paid within 6 months. You will then be contacted by Building Services to make arrangement for them to carry out the service.

We will keep a record and contact you again once your annual cover is close to expiring. Should have an existing contract you are able to join the council scheme later in the year if you so desire.

If you do not want to join the scheme

We will then send you the agreement. You do not have to use our contractors to carry out your gas servicing, but we strongly recommend that you arrange for your gas appliances to be checked annually by a suitably qualified Gas Safe registered gas contractor, for your health and safety and the health and safety of your neighbours.

If you sublet your property, it is a legal requirement for you to have all gas appliances checked annually, and to issue your tenant with a certificate.