Landlords and letting agents are being urged to do more to teach tenants how to turn off the utilities in an emergency.
Direct Line home insurance says that by doing so, landlords will not only protect their tenants' safety, but also their property too.
Research found that more than 22 million people across the UK don't know how to turn off their gas, electricity or water supply.
Landlords should inform tenants
The head of Direct Line Home Insurance, Dan Simson, said: "Our research highlights how important it is for landlords to show their tenants where to switch off their utilities in the event of an emergency.
"It may seem like a small thing but knowing where and how to switch off your water, electricity and gas is potentially life-saving and could certainly help prevent a lot of damage to your home."
He added: "Domestic emergencies can happen at any time, so it's important that everyone in the household knows in advance how to switch off utilities quickly and safely."
Lack of tenant awareness
The insurer says that in an emergency, being able to shut off utilities quickly can prevent serious damage to a property or even save lives.
Yet Direct Line found that one in 10 homeowners couldn't locate their internal water stopcock, and twice as many were unsure where to find the external one.
Tenants were even less confident with more than a quarter of renters with gas in their homes admitting they wouldn't know where to turn it off in the event of a leak.
Only two-thirds said they could locate their electricity consumer unit, compared to nearly four-fifths of homeowners.
Knowledge could save money
In total, 1.4 million homeowners and 1.1 million tenants don't know how to shut off their electricity.
Half of those who needed to turn off their gas during an emergency said they were unable to do so, while almost a third couldn't find the water stopcock when it mattered most.
Direct Line's findings underline a clear message for landlords and letting agents because ensuring tenants know where shut-off points are isn't just good practice but could save cash too.
It says that a burst pipe can cost thousands in repairs, and a gas leak can lead to fire or explosion if not handled swiftly.
How to turn utilities off
To help prevent such risks, Direct Line advises landlords and tenants to familiarise themselves with the utility shut offs.
Water stopcocks are often under the kitchen sink or in a hallway.
Turning the valve clockwise will stop the flow of water, and opening taps will drain any remaining fluid from the system.
If tenants smell gas, they should turn off the mains tap near the meter, open doors and windows and avoid using switches or flames.
They should also call the landlord and the gas supply company to report a leak.
For electricity, locate the consumer unit, which is typically found under the stairs, in a hallway cupboard or near the front door, and flip the red mains switch to cut the power completely.
Student landlords will protect their investment
Simon Thompson, the managing director of Accommodation for Students, said the findings should act as a wake-up call for both landlords and letting agents in the student accommodation sector.
He said: "Students move frequently, often into unfamiliar properties, so they're far less likely to know where safety features like stopcocks or fuse boxes are located.
"Something as simple as showing tenants where to turn off the gas, water or electricity could prevent a flood, fire or even a major insurance claim."
Mr Thompson added: "Taking five minutes at check-in to point out these essentials isn't just about safety, it's about protecting your investment and avoiding needless damage."
