From 1st April 2005, there have been two significant changes to regulations, which affect all homeowners with gas appliances. To ensure homeowners understand the changes, CORGI announced a Home Truths awareness campaign. Anyone planning to install or exchange a gas appliance must comply with the new rules. For more information and to request a brochure explaining the changes, call CORGI on 0870 401 2300.

The changes:
Homeowners will now receive a safety certificate (Declaration of
safety) from CORGI after a gas appliance has been installed. The declaration of safety will form a necessary part of the Home Information Pack, which will be a legal requirement from 2007.

Homeowners will need to inform Local Authority Building Control if they install or exchange a gas appliance, which will require an inspection and will cost up to £300. CORGI registered installers are able to notify building control direct eliminating the need to involve third parties in the process saving home owners significant costs.

“It’s really important that people understand what these changes will mean for them. When the Home Information Pack comes into force in 2007 it will be essential that homeowners in England, Scotland and Wales have kept a record of the work that they have had completed and will need to provide proof that it is safe.

Without these documents selling your house could be difficult. The new regulations may cause confusion so we wanted to offer a number of mediums which will offer help and advice. We have launched the hotline number, produced an information booklet, updated our website and are working closely with our 48,000 registered gas installers. We wanted to make sure that people receive the best service and are aware of what the new laws will mean for them” Comments Mike Thompson, Chief Executive at CORGI.

CORGI’s gas safety tips:
- Always use a CORGI Registered Installer
- Check your Installer’s CORGI ID Card (please see pic)
- Ensure gas appliances are checked annually
- Keep your gas appliance installation’s “Declaration of Safety” safe – you may need it to sell your house

Never DIY with gas
- Never block ventilation and ensure that flue terminals are kept clear at all times

For more information: www.corgi-gas.com

Home Information Pack
Under the new Housing Act, from 2007 home-owners in England, Scotland and Wales will be required to have a home information pack when marketing homes for sale, and to make a copy of the pack available to prospective buyers on request. It will also require estate agents, marketing homes for sale, to belong to an approved redress scheme.

Under the present home buying process, information about a property normally only becomes available after an offer has been made and accepted. This may mean that problems with the property only come to light several weeks later, by which time the buyer and seller may have incurred significant costs in legal fees, searches, surveys, etc. This can cause the terms to be renegotiated, delay exchange of contracts and even result in transactions failing altogether.

The home information pack has been designed to reform the home buying and selling process. More information can be found at www.odpm.gov.uk