Gas Emergency Contacts and Procedures for London Properties
Knowing exactly what to do and who to call in a gas emergency at a London property can prevent a dangerous situation from becoming a tragedy. This guide sets out the correct procedure for responding to a suspected gas leak, explains which organisations to contact, and describes what happens when the emergency services attend a London address.
The National Gas Emergency Number for London
The single emergency number for all gas escapes and suspected gas escapes in London is 0800 111 999. This number is operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by the National Gas Emergency Service, which coordinates responses from the relevant gas distribution network operator. For most of London, the network operator attending the emergency will be Cadent Gas. For parts of South London served by SGN, the same 0800 111 999 number is used, and the call will be routed appropriately. The number is free to call from any landline or mobile phone, including phones on which outgoing calls have been barred.
When you call 0800 111 999, the operator will ask for the address of the property and a description of the situation. They will advise you on immediate safety steps to take while a network engineer is dispatched. A network engineer will normally attend a London address within one hour of a call being received, and often faster in central London locations.
Immediate Steps to Take If You Smell Gas in a London Property
If you smell gas inside a London property, the immediate priority is to avoid any action that could cause a spark or ignite the gas. Do not turn any electrical switches on or off, do not use a mobile phone inside the property, do not operate any electrical equipment, and do not light any naked flame. Open all windows and doors to ventilate the property, turn off the gas supply at the emergency control valve adjacent to the gas meter if it is safe to do so without entering a confined or enclosed space, and leave the property immediately.
Once outside the property, call 0800 111 999 from a mobile phone or a neighbour telephone. Do not re-enter the property until the network emergency engineer has attended and confirmed that it is safe to do so. If you can smell gas outside the property, this may indicate a leak from the underground service pipe or street main, and you should call 0800 111 999 from a safe distance.
What the Network Emergency Engineer Does When They Attend
The Cadent Gas emergency engineer attending a London property will first carry out a gas detection survey using specialist equipment to identify the source and concentration of any gas present. They will determine whether the escape is from the network infrastructure up to and including the meter, or from the internal gas installation within the property. If the escape is from the network side, the engineer will carry out the necessary isolation and repair. If the escape is from the internal installation, the engineer will isolate the gas supply at the meter and may cap off the defective component, but will not carry out repairs to the internal installation, as this is the responsibility of the householder or their Gas Safe registered engineer.
Following an emergency attendance, if the internal gas installation has been isolated or components condemned, a Gas Safe registered engineer must carry out an inspection and any necessary repairs before the gas supply can be restored to the property. Prestige Engineers provide emergency call-out services across all London boroughs and can attend properties following a network emergency attendance to inspect the internal installation, identify and repair the fault, and restore the gas supply safely.
Gas Emergencies in London HMOs and Blocks of Flats
In houses in multiple occupation and blocks of flats in London, a gas emergency in one part of the building may affect shared communal gas infrastructure, requiring the evacuation of multiple tenants. The landlord or managing agent should have a written gas emergency procedure that all tenants are made aware of at the start of their tenancy. This procedure should include the 0800 111 999 number, the location of the gas meter and emergency control valve, and the name and contact details of the Gas Safe registered engineer engaged by the landlord for emergency call-outs. Prestige Engineers provide 24-hour emergency cover to London landlords and managing agents under planned maintenance contracts and emergency repair agreements.