‘Landlords giving up on gas due to the high costs’

The first price increase in three-and-a-half years was announced by Guernsey Gas last week.

The 1.9% rise, which will be added to bills from June, is a result of a 22% increase in the price of the liquid petroleum gas which is brought to the island.

Jeff Guilbert, chairman of the Guernsey Private Residential Landlords Association, said he had already made moves to replace the gas supply in a number of his properties with electric because of the cost of the energy source.

‘You have to do more and more checks, a gas monitor, a landlord’s check, which is a requirement by law, while the gas board book to do a service.

‘The thing that is turning landlords off is the fact that under the new charges it’s £600 a year standing charge before you even turn it on, around £1.63 a day, and that can be higher.

‘Other landlords are turning away from it, I have given instructions for it to be removed from two properties.

‘For the layman it’s quite difficult to get a like-for-like comparison, but in private houses electricity is just as efficient as gas,’ he said.

Kate Raleigh, manager of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Guernsey, said that although the price increase had not been the subject of any calls from the public as of yet, it was something for people to bear in mind.

‘If you are at risk of going behind with your gas payments we can help to negotiate, but it is important to note, not only do you risk getting your supply cut off but you will have to pay to be reconnected,’ she said.