Unsafe gas appliances are most commonly found in homes that have changed hands recently, according to new analysis of gas safety inspection figures.
Gas Safe Register has warned of a ‘new home danger zone’ for this year’s new 800,000 homeowners who may be putting on the heating in their new home for the very first time.
Of properties in which inspectors found faulty gas appliances over the past year almost half had new owners in the last five years, over a quarter had been purchased in the two years prior to the inspection, and 17% had changed hands in just the past year.
The findings were supported by new research conducted with 1,700 of the country’s Gas Safe registered engineers, showing 94% want more priority to be put on gas safety in the home moving process.
To help prevent potentially-fatal hazards, including gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning, that can result from unsafe gas appliances such as cookers, boilers and gas fires, Gas Safe Register has also joined forces with TV presenter and football icon Dion Dublin.
Dion said: “From buying and selling properties over the last 20 years, I know just how stressful moving can be as well as keeping a property up and running – especially in the colder months. But the excitement of finally getting those keys and dreaming about your interior decorating plans, can mean that less exciting aspects of a move – like health, wellbeing and safety, unintentionally take a backseat. No one wants something to go wrong with their new home, which is why I want everyone to get to know their gas better this winter.”
Jonathan Samuel, chief executive officer of Gas Safe Register, added: “With the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, people may delay putting on their heating this winter. As the clocks going back often prompts people to start to use their heating, we are urging householders to get clued up on the gas safety basics now, especially if they’re approaching their first winter in a new home, or if price increases are making them consider avoiding gas safety actions they would usually take, like getting gas appliances serviced.”