A Gas Access Injunction has been granted against one of our tenants by Manchester Magistrates’ Court after they repeatedly refused to let us in to do a gas safety check.
The injunction will remain in place for the lifetime of the tenancy.
The tenant will be told in writing about future gas servicing and safety appointments. If they don’t let us in for the arranged appointment, the Injunction allows Southway to enter their home to complete essential gas safety works, by forced entry where necessary.
We must carry out gas and electrical safety checks by law and letting us in to do them is part of your tenancy agreement.
These checks help keep you and your household safe. Faulty gas appliances can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, fires and explosions. Faulty electrical wiring and sockets can also cause fires.
Going to court is always our last option. Before taking legal action, we make many attempts to arrange access, including:
- Appointment letters
- Pre-court warning letters and other legal correspondence
- Emails and text messages over a period of several months
- Contact with the tenant’s next of kin, where appropriate
- Visiting the home and trying to speak with tenants
In this case, we made every possible effort to work with the tenant but unfortunately, they still didn’t co-operate. Given the risk to their safety, we had no choice but to take them to court so we could get the check done.
Working together to keep you safe
Carl Talbot-Davies, Assistant Director Asset Management, said:
“It’s vital tenants let us in to do all essential safety inspections, not just gas and electrical checks, and carry out any works needed to protect their safety and the condition of their homes.
"We know having someone come into your home can be inconvenient, and our priority is always to work with you. If you need extra support, have a health condition or there are other personal circumstances that make it harder for you to let us into your home for appointments please contact us on 0161 448 4200. We’ll provide any help we can to make sure essential safety checks can be completed without any further action.”
if you don’t let us in despite our attempts to support you, we may need to consider legal action and you may have to pay our court and legal costs, like the tenant who received the gas injunction.