Supporting South Devon Through a Gas Outage
How Effective Property Management Kept South Devon Holiday Homes Safe During a Major Gas Outage
In January 2026, a farmer accidentally damaged a major gas main while installing a fence post triggering widespread outage that left 4,800 homes across Kingsbridge, Marlborough, and Salcombe without heating or hot water - just as night-time temperatures fell to –7°C.
For holiday homeowners who weren’t nearby, this incident underscored just how essential reliable property management is - especially when a local emergency impacts both residents and visitors. Strong and proactive property management became a vital link in ensuring the entire community could recover quickly.
Why Property Management Matters in Emergencies
When the gas network failed, Wales & West Utilities needed to follow strict safety rules before they could begin repairs. One critical requirement was gaining access to every affected property to shut off the internal gas supply. Without that, the wider network simply couldn’t be restored.
For unoccupied or remote holiday homes, this step is difficult without a trusted local team. Property management became the difference between rapid restoration and long delays.
How Our Team Stepped In
The moment the outage occurred, we mobilised our emergency response approach. Our teams:
• Provided an accurate, fully verified list of all managed properties to Wales & West Utilities.
• Coordinated access for engineers across all holiday homes.
• Ensured internal safety steps were completed in every property.
• Acted as the on‑site representatives for owners who were miles away.
Because each property required an internal visit to safely shut down, purge, and later reactivate the gas system, having a management team ready with keys, codes, and local knowledge was essential.
Clear, Consistent Communication for Owners
Holiday homeowners needed reliable updates, especially with early estimates suggesting repairs might take several days.
We kept owners updated with:
• Regular scheduled communications
• Immediate alerts whenever new information became available
• Clear explanations of the process and timelines
This ensured owners felt supported and informed - even if they couldn’t be here in person.
Fast Access, Faster Recovery
Within five hours, we had accessed every single property we manage across all three towns and completed all required safety steps. This rapid action enabled Wales & West Utilities to move forward with repairs, helping the whole area return to normal as quickly as possible.
The Power of Reliable Property Management
This incident demonstrated how essential professional property management is - not only for property owners, but for the wider community.
By ensuring fast access, clear communication, and complete coordination, we helped:
• Keep local residents and properties safe
• Speed up the restoration of essential services
• Reduce pressure on emergency teams
• Support the resilience of the towns we’re part of
Most importantly, it showed that managed holiday homes are not separate from our communities. They’re woven into the fabric of our communities. They sit alongside permanent residences, support local economies year‑round, and rely on the same essential services as everyone else. Property management became a vital link in ensuring the entire community could recover quickly.
