Coastline Housing is celebrating after becoming the first to achieve 100% servicing for its heating systems across all fuel types.

The Cornwall based social housing provider that owns and manages 3,800 homes across the county has a heating servicing contract (HeatCare) that uniquely includes gas, oil, solid fuel systems and heat pumps. Coastline’s gas heating systems have been fully compliant for the last three and a half years, but this is the first time the organisation, and indeed any registered social landlord provider in the country, has achieved this for the servicing of all types of heating appliances.

By law, landlords must make sure that all gas heating systems in their properties are serviced every 12 months. However, there is no such legislation covering oil and solid fuel heating.

Mark England, Coastline’s Head of Technical Services says that he attributes this achievement to efficient partnership working between customers, staff and the contractor. “To have no outstanding servicing requirements for any of our heating systems is a major milestone and is the result of a great deal of hard work and an excellent working relationship with our partners.”

Coastline has been working with the award winning heating services provider, Blue Flame since 2003, servicing and maintaining heating systems throughout its entire housing stock. An action team, comprised of Coastline staff, board member and customers, together with representatives from Blue Flame also meets regularly to monitor the ongoing running of the HeatCare contract and to pursue continual improvements.

Derek Chapman, Coastline’s Project Engineer who manages the contract commented: “Our contract is unique in the way it operates and, together with Blue Flame’s commitment to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and the drive of our dedicated action team, this has driven customer-focused improvements in the servicing of all types of heating appliances. The ultimate benefit of this is safer homes and more satisfied customers.”