The intervention of the Denbighshire HMO (Houses in Multiple Occupation) multi agency team is likely to have saved the lives of several tenants in a property on West Parade in Rhyl.
Following a referral from the local Community Beat Manager, the property was inspected by the multi-agency team. It was discovered that the boiler was faulty and leaking gas and may have been doing this for three months from when it was installed.
The National Gas Emergency Service was called out. The boiler was immediately condemned and the gas supply switched off. Fortunately none of the occupants were smokers, as there could have been the potential for several fatalities.
Following the team’s intervention the landlord has now repaired the boiler and obtained a valid landlord gas safety certificate.
The HMO Multi Agency Team was established two years ago to improve housing conditions in the private rented sector, by encouraging close working relations between all relevant partner agencies to ensure private landlords throughout the County meet their obligations to their tenants.
Councillor David Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Regeneration, said: “This is a prime example of how working in partnership can improve the lives of the county’s residents.
“The team provides advice and guidance to private landlords that let out out their properties, to make sure that the health and safety of residents are complied with. People have a right to live in standard accommodation and the multi-agency team will not hesitate in taking enforcement action against any landlord that does not comply with health and safety laws”
If you live in a rented property with gas appliances, your landlords is obliged to provide you with a copy of a landlord gas safety certificate, please ask your landlords for a copy in the first instance”.
If the landlords fails to provide the certificate you can either contact the Housing Enforcement Team on 01824 706389 or the Health and Safety Executive on 02920 263176 who will take action to ensure that the gas appliances are tested. If you need to check if the engineer who carried out the gas safety check is registered, please visit the Gas Safe Register website www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk or call 0800 408 5500.
If you smell gas or are worried about gas safety, you can call 0800 111 999* at any time, day or night. Your call will not cost you anything**. Just pick up the phone, dial the number and you will be put through to a trained operator who will take all the details. Further information can be found on the National Grid website www.nationalgrid.com
*All calls to the National Gas Emergency Service and National Enquiry lines may be recorded and monitored.
**Some mobile phone network operators may charge you for the call.
