Gas Safety Check Clarity Needed

Housing sector figures have called for clarity over statutory gas safety checks as access to properties is reduced during the coronavirus outbreak, with some pushing for an extension on the length of time between checks on gas appliances. Pressure is growing on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to extend gas safety certificates from 12 to 18 months to stop them expiring as contractors and housing association teams try to adhere to the government’s social distancing measures. A number of housing associations have moved to an emergency repairs only model but gas safety officers are still required to complete their annual checks as ordered by government agency HSE. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/gas-safety-check-clarity-needed-as-associations-struggle-with-social-distancing-measures-65773?utm_source=Ocean%20Media%20Group&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=11431739_IH-DAILY-26-3-2020-GR&dm_i=1HH2,6T0SB,8CKJV9,R8URF,1

New Package Of Measures To Improve Building Safety

The Government has announced that a new building safety regulator will be established, as part of a new package of measures designed to improve building safety in residential blocks. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will begin to establish the new regulator in shadow form immediately, ahead of it being full established, following legislation. The regulator will raise building safety and performance standards, including overseeing a new, more stringent regime for higher-risk buildings. Read more on the RLA website.

https://news.rla.org.uk/mhclg-announces-new-package-of-measures-to-improve-building-safety/

HSE Investigating After ALMO Left Hundreds Of Gas Safety Checks Uncompleted

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating after an ALMO failed to carry out hundreds of gas safety checks on time. East Kent Housing (EKH), which manages around 17,000 homes on behalf of Canterbury, Dover, Thanet and Folkestone & Hythe councils, has issued an apology to residents. Rosie Duffield, Labour MP for Canterbury, claimed in parliament on Monday that 544 homes had not been “regularly subjected to vital landlord gas safety assessments” by EKH. EKH said that 384 homes had expired gas safety certificates as of 7 June. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/hse-investigating-after-almo-left-hundreds-of-gas-safety-checks-uncompleted-61964