100% Gas Compliance over 14 consecutive years
A social housing programme improving gas compliance across the London Borough of Waltham Forest
- 100% gas safety compliance record
- Gas safety compliance across 8,000+ properties
- Working collaboratively to overcome any obstacles and keep full compliance
- All residents received a new gas safety certificate before expiry
- An efficient communication cycle to coordinate access
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is celebrating 14 consecutive years of 100% gas safety compliance across social housing properties, thanks to its partnership with Aston Group.
Maintaining gas safety is paramount to ensuring the safety of residents and properties, but achieving 100% gas safety compliance is no easy task, particularly when a large number of social housing properties are involved.
With the pandemic, it is fair to say that Waltham Forest Council and Aston Group’s gas engineers faced significant barriers to success. With both organisations committed to maintaining the 100% safety record, working collaboratively became the key to overcoming any obstacles and keeping full compliance.
The Challenge
Over the last 14 years, the Aston Group team has had to contend with plenty of change. This included new safety measures for Covid-19, which made residents reluctant to grant access to engineers.
Regulatory changes have included a new emphasis on the dangers of carbon monoxide, which meant that carbon monoxide alarms became mandatory for housing associations. The Aston Group team had to quickly adapt to a huge demand for alarms, which rapidly became in short supply.
There have also been changes regarding access to flues in voids. These flues now need to be visible, which meant that Aston Group needed to cut into sealed boxes in order to maintain Waltham Forest Council’s gas compliance.
The Solution
Putting the right processes in place: The greatest challenge to maintaining gas safety compliance relates to resident communication. Explaining why gas safety checks need to happen – and when – ensures greater cooperation from tenants. Our efficient 10-month communication cycle makes this as smooth as possible.
By following our specific process, Aston Group ensures that all residents get a new gas safety certificate before their old one expires.
- 100%
- Gas safety compliance record over 14 consecutive years, in partnership with Waltham Forest Council
- 8,000+
- properties
The Results
Reflecting on a 100% record: Given the big changes in gas safety and their inherent challenges, we are rightly pleased with our 14-year success story. The company’s strong partnership with Waltham Forest Council has also been essential to maintaining such a long period of 100% compliance.
“It’s a proud moment. It’s been really challenging, but when you have a team that wants to achieve, and has the motivation and drive to do so, it’s possible.”
An award nomination for our team: As we celebrate the 100% gas compliance record with Waltham Forest Housing Services, our success has been recognised with a Housing Executive Awards 2026 finalist shortlisting for our Repairs & Maintenance Team - a great acknowledgement of their hard work and dedication.
