WILL YOUR HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION BE SAFE?
Self-catering holidays across the UK will again be the preferred choice for many British families heading off on their summer holidays with Visit Britain estimating that, annually, over 80 million nights are spent in UK holiday cottages, flats and apartments. But significant numbers of these properties used for holiday lets will have old boilers and other gas fired appliances. The Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES), who operate the free consumer advice service the Heating Helpline (www.heatinghelpline.org.uk), warns of the dangers of older appliances and urges holiday homeowners and letting agents to have them checked and serviced.
10 June 2014 – Self-catering holidays across the UK will again be the preferred choice for many British families heading off on their summer holidays with Visit Britain estimating that, annually, over 80 million nights are spent in holiday cottages, flats and apartments. But significant numbers of these properties used for holiday lets will have old boilers and other gas fired appliances. The Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES), who operate the free consumer advice service the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk), warns of the dangers of older appliances and urges holiday homeowners or their letting agents to have them checked and serviced.
Roderick Pettigrew, Chief Executive of B&ES comments, “Hardly a week goes by without another report of someone killed or made seriously ill by fumes from an old or poorly maintained gas boiler and each year, in the UK alone, almost 50 people still needlessly die from carbon monoxide poisoning, with thousands more admitted to A&E departments from suspected CO poisoning. Often the primary culprit is an older, defective gas appliance such as gas cooker, heater or boiler.
“Anyone that rents out holiday accommodation must ensure that gas appliances are maintained in good condition and are subject to annual safety checks; failure to properly maintain fuel burning appliances means that, apart from putting holidaymakers’ lives at risk, owners and landlords could face serious punishment because courts have the power to impose severe penalties in respect of each offence.
“Gas appliances in rented accommodation should be serviced annually in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions by a Gas Safe registered installer in addition to having annual gas safety checks carried out on them.
“Anyone renting holiday accommodation in the UK has a right to ask the owner or landlord of the property to see a copy of the gas safety certificate that is issued after the annual safety check, and the holidaymaker should not hesitate to contact the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) if the landlord cannot provide this; indeed we suggest that it is in the holiday home owner’s interest to display this certificate prominently for all their clients to see.
“Legislation is also likely to come into effect in the near future that will make it compulsory to fit carbon monoxide alarms in all rented accommodation. But we advise landlords and holiday home owners that for peace of mind they should take action now and ensure that at least one CO alarm is fitted in any property they own or manage.”
To locate a reputable, registered heating engineer in your area, contact the free Heating Helpline on 0800 810 8303 or visit the website at: http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd
Media enquiries to: Heather Lambert. Tel: 44(0)1256 472020;
Fax: 44(0)1256 471010; E-mail: heather@nextstepmarketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services including domestic heating and renewable technologies.
B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.
B&ES members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.
B&ES operates the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk) to provide consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating.
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