Hove: Residents unable to return home after suspected gas leak

Emergency services descended on Lansdowne Place in Hove on Friday evening after carbon monoxide alarms were triggered simultaneously in Dudley Mansions.

People were evacuated from their properties and could be seen wrapped in blankets as firefighters, police, paramedics and gas engineers from Southern Gas Networks worked together to make the building safe.

Emergency services cordoned off the street (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

In an email to tenants, rental agency Spark and Sons said no gas leak had been found, but, as a safety precaution, the gas supplies to all the flats within Dudley Mansions and the surrounding residences had been capped.

Spark and Sons also said electricity has been isolated as a “further precaution” and that as a result tenants cannot return to their homes until each capped meter has been checked.

The email to tenants said engineers will not complete the work earlier than Monday evening and that the landlord is “not responsible for finding or paying for alternative accommodation”.

Firefighters, police, paramedics and gas engineers attended (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

“Now the building has been handed back by the emergency services we are responsible for ensuring the safety of the block and residents before allowing re-occupation,” the email said.

“Consequently, we are required to individually test each meter that has been capped together with all gas appliances within the building.

“This is a large undertaking, and we have instructed the appropriately qualified engineers to carry out the task. The current timescale is that the work will not be completed earlier than Monday evening. As the work progresses, we will keep all tenants informed and will let you all know as soon as you can move back to your respective flats.

“In the meantime, no-one is to move back to their flat until instructed to do so. However, short visits to collect personal belongings such as clothing, prescription medication etc are permissible.

“Several tenants have asked what the situation is regarding alternative accommodation. Where tenants are unable to occupy the property due to incidents such as this, the owner / landlord of a building are not permitted to charge rent for the period of non occupation. However, the landlord is not responsible for finding or paying for alternative accommodation.

“I understand this is a frustrating and anxious time for all tenants, but please be assured we are working as quickly as we can to ensure the appropriate measures are taken and are aiming to have all the checks and necessary certification in place.”

Firefighters detected no carbon monoxide (Image: Sussex News and Pictures)

A spokeswoman from East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed no carbon monoxide was detected on Friday.

While Sussex Police said a 69-year-old man was arrested after cannabis plants were found during the evacuation.

“During the evacuation, a number of cannabis plants were discovered,” the spokeswoman said.

“They have been seized and a 69-year-old man from Hove has been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis plants. He remains in custody at this time.”

Have you been affected? Email savannah.nicholson@theargus.co.uk