A suspected gas smell should always be taken seriously. If you smell gas or think there may be a gas escape, do not spend time trying to find the source yourself. Ventilate the property where it is safe to do so, avoid flames and electrical switches, leave if you need to, and contact the right gas emergency service straight away.
For England, Scotland and Wales, that means the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, free of charge, 24 hours a day. In Northern Ireland, call 0800 002 001. What follows explains each step in order, the numbers to use, the duties that fall on homeowners, landlords and tenants, and when an appropriately qualified Gas Safe registered engineer needs to attend.
What should you do first if you smell gas?
If you smell gas, call the gas emergency service immediately and follow its instructions. Open doors and windows if it is safe, avoid flames and electrical switches, and do not try to find the leak yourself. Your priority is protecting people, not diagnosing the fault.
National Gas advises people in Great Britain to:
- 1Call 0800 111 999.
- 2Do not smoke or light matches.
- 3Do not operate electrical switches.
- 4Open doors and windows.
- 5Turn off the gas at the meter control handle if it is safe and accessible, except where this would mean entering a cellar.
If you are not sure whether it is safe to stay inside, leave the property and follow the emergency service's instructions. Our emergency gas leak investigation service covers what happens once the immediate danger has been dealt with.
What should you not do when there is a suspected gas leak?
When a suspected gas leak is present, avoid anything that could create a flame, spark or ignition source. Do not investigate pipework or dismantle appliances, and do not repeatedly operate electrical equipment. Call the emergency service and leave the technical work to the emergency engineer and qualified Gas Safe professionals.
Northern Ireland guidance takes the same approach: do not operate electrical equipment, turn off the gas supply and open windows and doors.
What number should you call for a gas smell in the UK?
The number depends on where in the UK you are. England, Scotland and Wales use the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Northern Ireland has its own gas emergency service on 0800 002 001. Both handle suspected gas escapes and gas emergencies.
| Location | Gas emergency number |
|---|---|
| England | 0800 111 999 |
| Scotland | 0800 111 999 |
| Wales | 0800 111 999 |
| Northern Ireland | 0800 002 001 |
The Great Britain number is free to call and staffed 24 hours a day, including weekends and bank holidays. Keep it saved in your phone so you are not searching for it in the moment. If you would rather not call, the National Gas emergency contacts page lists the service details.
Should you call a plumber or the gas emergency service first?
If you can smell gas or suspect an active escape, call the gas emergency service first, not an ordinary plumbing company. The emergency service exists to deal with the immediate safety risk. Any repair to the appliances or installation pipework should then be carried out by an appropriately qualified Gas Safe registered engineer.
This distinction matters. A heating company may be able to do remedial work afterwards, but a suspected active escape should first go through the emergency system. Our gas services page explains the work we can carry out once a property has been made safe.
If you have no heating or hot water once the gas has been isolated, our emergency heating services can help you plan the next step.
What will the gas emergency engineer do?
The emergency response focuses on making the situation safe rather than completing every permanent repair. The attending engineer may investigate the reported escape, isolate unsafe parts of the installation, or advise that further work is needed before the gas installation or appliance can safely be used again.
If equipment has been isolated or labelled unsafe, do not reconnect or use it yourself. Permanent remedial work may then need a Gas Safe registered engineer who holds the right qualifications for that appliance or type of gas work. Our emergency gas engineer service covers what a call out involves.
What are a homeowner's responsibilities after a suspected gas smell?
Homeowners are responsible for keeping their own gas appliances and installation safe, and for arranging competent maintenance and repairs. If a suspected leak occurs, the immediate duty is to report the emergency and avoid unsafe DIY work. Any regulated gas work should be done by a properly registered and competent engineer.
Useful preventative measures include:
- arranging regular appliance servicing
- acting promptly on unusual appliance behaviour
- keeping ventilation openings clear
- fitting correctly positioned carbon monoxide alarms
- checking an engineer's Gas Safe credentials before work begins
A carbon monoxide alarm is an important safeguard, but it does not replace proper servicing. Our annual boiler servicing keeps an appliance in safe working order, and our homeowner gas safety checks cover the wider installation.
What responsibilities does a landlord have for gas safety?
Landlords in Great Britain have legal duties under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. Broadly, they must maintain relevant gas pipework, appliances and flues in a safe condition, arrange annual safety checks on the appliances and flues they provide, and use appropriately registered Gas Safe engineers.
The main duties include:
- maintaining relevant gas appliances, flues and installation pipework
- having required gas safety checks carried out every year
- using a Gas Safe registered engineer
- keeping gas safety records
- providing existing tenants with the record within 28 days
- giving new tenants the relevant record before they move in
HSE states that landlords must keep gas safety check records for at least two years. You can read the HSE landlord gas safety guidance for the full detail, and our landlord gas safety certificate service for how the annual check works in practice.
What responsibilities does a tenant have if they smell gas?
A tenant who smells gas should deal with the emergency first rather than waiting for permission from a landlord. Call the relevant emergency service, follow the safety advice given, then inform the landlord or managing agent so any required repair and follow-up work can be arranged.
Tenants should also:
- report gas safety concerns promptly
- not interfere with gas appliances or safety devices
- allow reasonable access for required safety and maintenance work
- avoid using an appliance that has been identified as unsafe
- look after any gas appliance they personally own
HSE confirms that landlords have statutory duties relating to equipment they provide, while tenants remain responsible for their own appliances in certain circumstances.
Do landlord gas safety rules apply across the whole UK?
Gas safety duties exist throughout the UK, but Northern Ireland has its own legislation. England, Scotland and Wales principally use the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, while Northern Ireland uses the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004.
Northern Ireland landlords must maintain gas appliances and fittings, arrange annual safety checks and use Gas Safe registered professionals. This is why nationwide content should not describe every UK gas rule as coming from the 1998 Regulations.
What are the carbon monoxide alarm rules for landlords?
Carbon monoxide alarm requirements vary across the UK, so landlords should check the rules that apply where the property is. A carbon monoxide alarm is an extra warning measure. It does not detect every natural gas leak and does not replace maintenance, annual gas checks or emergency reporting.
England
Relevant landlords must provide a carbon monoxide alarm in rooms used as living accommodation that contain a fixed combustion appliance, excluding gas cookers. Faulty prescribed alarms must be repaired or replaced once reported and found defective.
Scotland
Scottish standards require carbon monoxide detection where fixed combustion appliances are present, with requirements extending beyond rented property under Scotland's tolerable standard.
Wales
Landlords must ensure a working carbon monoxide alarm is present in rooms containing gas, oil-fired or solid fuel combustion appliances under the Renting Homes framework.
Northern Ireland
Separate Northern Ireland housing and gas safety requirements apply. Landlords should follow current NI Direct and HSENI guidance for the property concerned.
Is a gas smell the same as carbon monoxide?
No. A natural gas smell and carbon monoxide are different hazards. Natural gas is deliberately given a distinctive odour so escapes are easier to notice. Carbon monoxide is colourless, tasteless and odourless, so you cannot rely on smell to detect it.
If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds, or people in the property are becoming unwell, leave the affected area and seek the appropriate emergency and medical help. National Gas advises treating a suspected carbon monoxide incident seriously rather than assuming that stepping into fresh air resolves any exposure. Our gas appliance servicing helps keep combustion appliances working safely.
Can National Plumbing repair a gas leak once the emergency is over?
Once the immediate emergency has been dealt with, an appropriately qualified Gas Safe registered engineer can investigate and carry out eligible remedial gas work. The engineer must hold the correct categories of competence for the appliance and the type of work involved, rather than simply being registered under an unrelated category.
HSE recommends checking that the engineer is competent for the specific type of work shown on their registration credentials. You can read the HSE guidance on who can carry out gas work. Our gas pipe repair service and gas appliance repairs cover the follow-up work that may be needed.
Frequently asked questions about a suspected gas smell
What should I do if I smell gas but I am not sure there is a leak?
Treat an unexplained gas smell as possibly genuine rather than trying to prove a leak exists before reporting it. Contact the appropriate gas emergency service and follow the advice you are given.
Can I wait until morning if the gas smell is faint?
No. A suspected gas escape should be reported when you notice it. The Great Britain National Gas Emergency Service runs 24 hours a day, and Northern Ireland also has a 24 hour emergency service.
Should a tenant call the landlord before the emergency service?
No. Deal with the possible emergency first. Call the emergency service and follow its instructions, then contact the landlord or managing agent so any follow-up work can be organised.
Can a normal plumber repair a gas leak?
Only someone legally permitted and appropriately qualified for the relevant gas work should work on gas fittings or appliances. Ordinary plumbing work and regulated gas work are not the same thing.
Can I turn the gas back on after an engineer has switched it off?
Do not restore an installation or appliance that has been isolated because it is unsafe unless the remedial work has been completed and you have been told it is safe to use again.
What should you do next?
If you currently smell gas, do not use an enquiry form or wait for an appointment. Call the emergency number for your part of the UK straight away. Once the immediate emergency has been made safe, National Plumbing can help with suitable follow-up heating, boiler and gas work where it falls within our engineers' Gas Safe qualifications.
For follow-up work once the property is safe, call National Plumbing on 0330 043 3748 or send an enquiry.