Can you get a gas leak from oil-fired central heating?

[thedisgraceofitall]

We called out the National Grid to our house (rented) because of a smell of gas. We are oil central heated, but when they got here they said our boiler was faulty and that it was leaking small amounts of harmful gases. Because they are an emergency service they wrote a small report, and put "do not use - UNSAFE" signs on the boiler and the flue, told us to evacuate the house and contact our agent in the morning.

We contacted the agent to do something about it and they have simply replied that the house is oil-central heated and therefore there is no possibility of a gas leakage.

Because it is only our word against theirs, I am not sure quite what to say. Am I being stupid? Can oil-fired central heating have a gas leak?

The boiler burns the oil and produces a gas smell/leak

It's still faulty and needs sorting

Ask owner to have his own inspection for ASAP

The boiler burns the oil and produces a gas smell/leak

It's still faulty and needs sorting

Ask owner to have his own inspection for ASAP

Info form eon

the oil burns which in turn produces gas...

Thank you very much everyone. I am a lot more clear on this now. The wonders of mumsnet!

your landlord needs to get an OFTEC-registered technician out to you ASAP.

there's no equivalent to the gas-safe certificate rules for rentals with oil fired heating. Odd, really. I'm not even sure if a CO monitor is mandatory but it sounds like you should get one.

oil boilers must be serviced annually. Has this been happening?

I think if you avoid using the word "gas" and describe it to the agents as "a smell of fumes, seemingly from a leaking boiler flue inside the house" it will be slightly more difficult for them to brush you off.

Agents don't like having notifications of possible danger on record and in writing, it makes it harder for them to play "I didn't know" when the Coroner asks them.