Gas inspections (revisión) and what to do if you smell gas

Key rules

• Who inspects: Your gas distributor arranges the inspection and sends you notice; you book the date and allow access.
• Fee: The distributor bills the fee to the gas contract holder, usually a few dozen euros.
• Renting: Repairs needed to pass the inspection normally fall on your landlord.
• Missed inspection: Skipping it can lead to your gas being suspended until it is done.

How often the inspection happens

Piped natural gas installations in homes must be inspected every 5 years. This applies to piped natural gas only, not to butane bottles.

Who does it

The gas distributor is responsible for the inspection. It either does the visit itself or sends an authorised company. You do not have to find an inspector.

The distributor sends you a notice. You then book a date and make sure someone lets the inspector in on that day. The timeline below shows the steps in order.

Who pays

The fee is charged to the person who holds the gas contract, and the distributor bills it directly. If the contract is in your name, expect the bill to come to you.

If you rent, the landlord normally pays for repairs needed to keep the fixed installation in order and to pass the inspection. Who covers the inspection fee itself depends on your lease and on whose name is on the gas contract, so check both. Agree it with your landlord before the visit.

The fee is usually a few dozen euros, but it varies by distributor and region. Ask your distributor for the current figure before the visit.

If the inspection finds defects

You must fix defects within the time you are given. You can use any authorised installer. Repair work is priced separately by the installer, so ask for a quote first. If defects are not fixed in time, the supply can be cut.

If you miss the inspection

The distributor sends reminders and may then suspend your gas until the inspection is done. Regional authorities can also impose penalties. Once you pass the inspection, the supply is restored. Procedures differ by distributor and region, so ask yours.

If you smell gas

If you smell gas, open windows, close the gas stopcock, avoid switching anything on or off, and call 112 from outside.

Also:

• Do not use flames, phones or the lift inside the home.
• Leave the home at once if the smell is strong.
• Do not go back in until a technician confirms it is safe.
• Your distributor also has a free 24-hour emergency line, usually printed on your gas bill. Save the number in your phone.

Be careful with visitors who knock on your door claiming a check is mandatory. The warning below explains how to tell a genuine visit from a scam.

Timeline and deadlines

• Have your piped natural gas installation inspected: every 5 years

• Receive the distributor's notice and book a date, allowing access to the home: when the distributor sends notice

• Fix any defects with an authorised installer: within the set time given after the inspection

• Get the supply restored if it was suspended: after the inspection is passed

Checklist

• Book the inspection of your piped natural gas installation every 5 years when the distributor sends notice.

• Allow the inspector access to the home on the booked date.

• Ask the distributor for the current inspection fee before the visit.

• If you rent, check your lease and the name on the gas contract to see who pays the fee.

• Ask the landlord to cover repairs needed to pass the inspection.

• Hire an authorised installer to fix any defects within the set time.

• Leave the home if the smell is strong and call 112 from outside.

• Stay out until a technician confirms it is safe.

Fake gas inspectors and unnecessary 'mandatory' checks

Fake gas inspectors and unnecessary checks

• Doorstep visits and pressure to pay: Be wary of unannounced visits, callers who claim to be the distributor without proof, and anyone who says the check is urgent. Other red flags are pressure to pay cash on the spot, a contract to sign on the doorstep, inflated prices, or an extra mandatory check when your periodic inspection is not yet due. Genuine visits are normally announced in writing by the distributor in advance. Do not let anyone in or pay on the spot. Ask them to leave and to send the request in writing.

• How to check a visit is genuine: A genuine inspection has an agreed appointment and ends with a written receipt. The inspection is done by the distributor or by companies it contracts, and the fee is regulated and billed to you. Ask for the technician's ID and company authorisation, and check the visit was announced in writing. Call the distributor on the number printed on a recent gas bill, never a number the visitor gives you. Any installer must be authorised and listed in your regional industry department's register.

• Where to report a scam or overcharge: If you were overcharged or think you met a fraud, you can complain and dispute the charge. Send a written complaint to the company and to your gas distributor. Then go to your municipal or regional consumer office (OMIC) and to the regional industry department that supervises gas installers. If you suspect fraud or a break-in attempt, call the police or Guardia Civil. The CNMC, the national energy regulator, handles some supply disputes, but the consumer office and regional industry department are usually the first stop.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays for the gas inspection if I rent my flat?

The person who holds the gas contract is billed for the inspection, so if the contract is in your name, the distributor invoices you. The landlord normally covers repairs needed to keep the fixed installation compliant. Check your lease, because the parties can agree otherwise.

How much does a gas inspection cost?

A gas inspection usually costs a few dozen euros, billed through the distributor. The price depends on the distributor and the region. Any repair work found necessary is charged separately, so ask the distributor or your regional industry department for the current fee.

Who carries out the gas inspection and do I need to be home?

The distributor carries out the inspection itself or through authorised companies, and you must allow access. The distributor sends you a notice and you book a date.