by Inhouse Reporter
7. September 2012 10:22
NALS is pleased to lend our support to Gas Safety Week 2012.
All National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) licenseds firms already pledged their commitment to consumer protection. NALS licensed firms must meet defined standards of customer service, be part of a Client Money Protection Scheme and have a customer complaints procedure in place offering complainants independent redress.
Now NALS is supporting Gas Safe Week, in its aims to raise awareness of gas safety and the importance of taking care of your gas appliances.
Badly fitted and poorly serviced gas appliances can cause gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning. Every year thousands of people across the UK are diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning. It is a highly poisonous gas. You can’t see it, taste it or smell it, but it can kill quickly with no warning.
By taking care of your gas appliances properly you are taking care of your home and your loved ones. Follow these top tips to help keep you and your family gas safe:
- Make sure only a Gas Safe registered engineer works on your gas appliances. Illegal gas fitters can put your life at risk.
- Always check the engineer's Gas Safe Register ID card.
- Make sure gas appliances have a regular service and a gas safety check every 12 months.
- Look out for warning signs that your gas appliances aren’t working correctly e.g. lazy yellow or orange flames instead of crisp blue ones, black marks on or around the appliance and too much condensation in the room.
- Know the signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning – headaches, dizziness, breathlessness, nausea, collapse and loss of consciousness.
- Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm.
- If you smell gas call the gas emergency number on 0800 111 999.
Isobel Thomson, NALS Chief Executive comments:
“It is vital to ensure that gas appliances are properly maintained as it can really be a matter of life and death. It is also important that consumers only use Gas Safe registered engineers in any maintenance or servicing work. NALS is proud to support Gas Safety Week.”
For gas safety advice or to find and check an engineer visit the Gas Safe Register website at www.GasSafeRegister.co.uk.
Alternatively call the free helpline on 0800 408 5500. To find out more about NALS visit www.nalscheme.co.uk
NALS is an independent licensing scheme for letting and management agents. It was set up in 2001 with the remit to raise standards in the private letting sector and to help protect the interests of tenants and landlords.
NALS plays a vital role in the industry, leading by example and ensuring good governance. NALS agents must therefore be compliant in three core areas:
- meet defined standards of customer service
- be part of a Client Money Protection Scheme
- have a customer complaints procedure in place offering complainants independent redress.
One of the main benefits of choosing a NALS’ licensed letting agent is the financial protection it gives landlords and tenants.
Before signing up, agents must evidence that they have Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance, have a designated client account, and meet clearly defined accounting standards. Once part of NALS they are covered under the NALS Client Money Protection (CMP) scheme.
A CMP scheme offers recompense to consumers if an agent misappropriates or fraudulently uses landlords or tenants money. Landlords and tenants can find out full details from their lettings and management agent or at www.nalscheme.co.uk
