Council alerts residents to changes in gas registration

On 1 April the new Gas Safe Register replaces the CORGI gas registration scheme as Great Britain’s gas safety authority.

By law, from 1 April, only Gas Safe registered engineers should be employed to carry out work on gas installations or appliances – CORGI gas registration will not be valid.

The 120,000 engineers currently verified under the CORGI scheme are now registering with Gas Safe Register so they can continue to work legally from April.

Registered engineers will be identified with the new yellow Gas Safe Register logo, and every engineer will carry a Gas Safe Register ID card with their own unique licence number.

Rochdale Council wants to make sure residents are aware of the changes and how to protect themselves in the future.

Andy Glover, Interim Public Protection Manager, Rochdale Borough Council said: “Keeping the public safe is our top priority. If someone other than a Gas Safe registered engineer carries out gas work at your home, you could be risking the safety of your family and your property.”

Finding a Gas Safe registered engineer will be simple. From 1 April, you will be able to find an engineer in your area online at www.gassaferegister.co.uk or by calling 0800 408 5500.

The council is taking extra steps to make sure landlords know about the changes to gas safety legislation and their new responsibilities to their tenants.

The Gas Safe Register is top of the agenda at the council’s next Landlord Forum on 26 March, where a qualified professional will be speaking about how the upcoming changes will affect landlords and anyone using gas appliances within their properties. The meeting is open to landlords from across the borough and will be held at Rochdale Football Club at 6.30pm.

Councillor Doreen Brophy-Lee, cabinet member for housing said: “We’re proud of the high profile events we hold for landlords in the borough and this further cements our attempts to work with the private sector landlords to ensure the health and safety of local tenants is upheld at all times.”

For further information, or to confirm attendance at the Landlord Forum, please contact the council on 01706 926 623 or email landlord.accreditation@rochdale.gov.uk