“I’m absolutely flabbergasted at the decision by the government” AGSM members fight back in response to dismissive comments
from Housing Minister about Gas Access waste
5 November 2014
Members of the Association of Gas Safety Managers (AGSM) have fought back strongly in response
to the Housing Minister’s comments last week that further powers are not needed for housing
providers to allow them to gain access to properties to carry out statutory gas safety checks.
In a survey of AGSM members, who collectively are responsible for two million social housing
properties in the UK, strong views were expressed by the people who see first-hand the waste
involved in trying to gain access to properties.
The Gas Access Campaign, which is being led by the AGSM, CORGI Technical Services and Home
Group, is calling for changes to legislation to allow easier access to properties to carry out annual
safety checks. The Campaign calculates that currently around £50 million a year in public money is
being wasted by housing providers who are forced to go to great lengths to gain access to properties
to carry out gas safety checks within the legal 12 month period – resulting in a huge financial burden.
“I’m absolutely flabbergasted at the decision by the government,” said Dave Horrocks, Heating and
Mechanical Manager at Eastlands Homes. “Gaining access to properties is costing social housing
providers significant sums of money and putting some of the most vulnerable people in society in
danger. The neighbours of people failing to give access are being put at risk. We really do not need
another ‘Dominic Rogers’ tragedy. I would like to urge the Minister to meet with the AGSM and the
Gas Access Campaign so that he can see the whole picture and understand the issues!”
Adding his voice, Gareth Davey, Quality and Compliance Manager at North Lincolnshire Homes said:
“The dismissive comments from the Housing Minister are disappointing and surely born out of
ignorance to the facts. Housing Associations across the country know that ‘Access’ is a very real
issue. Not only is public health being put at risk, but vast amounts of money are currently being
wasted year after year and the AGSM have the statistics to prove this! The question should be, what
can we do to solve this problem? I hope that Mr Lewis acknowledges this problem and takes the
opportunity to become part of the solution by listening to the AGSM/Gas Access Campaigns
proposals”
Gas safety campaigners are calling for a meeting with the housing minister, Brandon Lewis MP, to
help him fully understand the unnecessary wasted millions spent on gaining access to homes.
The call comes after the Minister revealed that the Department of Communities and Local
Government hasn’t carried out any research into the costs to housing associations which are forced
to secure court orders as a last resort to gain access to a property to carry out annual gas safety
checks.
At present it can take as long as four months for social landlords to gain legal access. The campaign is
lobbying for a change in the law which would allow legal access within 24 hours – the time taken for
local authorities to gain access.
Sophie Tuffin, Senior Surveyor at Raglan Housing added: “This doesn’t seem a logical or forward
thinking decision by the Minister. Large amounts of time, money and effort go into gaining access to
properties within social housing where safety is the main driver. The current process is arduous and
does not take into account the safety of other residents or members of the public where a small
minority fail to allow access. The Gas Access Campaign looks to make a positive change to this
process, so I fail to see that this or the current problems of non-access has been fully understood.”
Other comments from the survey included:
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“This campaign is of real value to both landlords, tenants, their families and neighbours. The
money and manpower used for gaining access could be better used improving the
community.”
“Please come and listen to the AGSM, to people on the front line who know. Please educate
yourself to the facts before another serious incident occurs. You wouldn't want to find
yourself telling a victim’s family that there is no issue with access Mr Lewis, so please be
proactive and do the right thing.”
“I have numerous examples of tenants who do not allow access for no good reason.
Including a lady, with no known health issues, who simply slams the door in the face of
housing officers and gas engineers. And a lady who stole the boiler and left an uncapped gas
supply pipe in the property.”
”How many people have to die before someone wakes up and ‘smells the coffee’ - because
some people will not be able to wake up if overcome by CO.”
“In the current economic climate where we are all trying to be productive and efficient, and I
think the issue of gas access over the years has been overlooked, the costs involved of £50
million per year is not acceptable, a lot of affordable homes could be built with this money”
Claire Heyes, CEO of the AGSM commented: “Our members have said many times that Access is one
of the most challenging and expensive issues that they face in carrying out their roles. We would
urge the Minister to listen to the first hand experiences of our members so that he can understand
what needs to be done and why. The industry has come together to voice concerns which cannot be
ignored.”
The survey gathered opinions from the c500 AGSM and AGSM Gas Forum members during the week
of 27th October 2014.
To sign up to the campaign and put your name to a petition calling on the Government to alter the
Gas Safety (Installation & Use) Regulations 1998 visit: www.gasaccesscampaign.org.uk
ENDS
For further information contact Sue Dormer on 0118 976 0543 or 07774 267280 email
[email protected]
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Association of Gas Safety Managers
The Association of Gas Safety Managers (AGSM) is for managers in Social Housing and Facilities
Management organisations who are responsible for all aspects of gas safety. The Association was
been set up by CORGI in response to a demand from gas managers for a professional Association
which can address industry issues with key stakeholders and create one voice from the sector to key
government departments. It also provides members with support, networking opportunities,
training and many other benefits. All members are undertaking or have completed CORGI’s Level 4
VRQs in Gas Safety Management or have an equivalent level of qualification or experience and
collectively look after the gas safety management of nearly two million homes across the country.
www.agsm.uk.com
CORGI Technical Services Ltd
CORGI Technical Services Ltd has over forty years of technical expertise in all aspects of gas safety.
With comprehensive site audits, training for employees, a family of VRQ gas safety qualifications for
management, gas auditors, front line housing staff and tenants, legal advice and expert witness
testimony, CORGI Technical works with local authorities, housing associations, private landlords,
contractors, energy suppliers and the travel industry to support them with their gas safety
obligations, compliance and continued improvement. www.corgitechnical.com
About Home Group Limited:
•
Home Group is one of the UK’s largest providers of high quality housing and supported
housing services and products.
•
Home Group is a social enterprise and a charity (Charitable Community Benefit Society No.
22981R) with a turnover of £327m.
•
Our mission is “to help our customers and clients to open doors to new opportunities and
healthy lives.”
•
We provide general needs housing and supported housing services targeted towards helping
some of society’s most vulnerable people take control of their own lives. We:
•
–
house more than 120,000 people a year in 55,000 homes across 200 local authority
areas in England, Scotland and Wales.
–
work with almost 30,000 vulnerable people through 500+ supported housing, justice
and health services each year.
Care and Support services focus on housing related support, criminal justice and health
services.
For more information:
http://www.homegroup.org.uk
Join us:
www.twitter.com/homegroup