A commercial heating and plumbing firm will enter the domestic market after launching a HomeServe franchise.

Dartford-based GCSI Ltd, which employs nine people, will begin offering boiler installations and gas services to residential customers across north Kent.

While it will keep its GCSI brand for commercial work, any domestic projects will be carried out under its new HomeServe North Kent brand.

Managing director Grenville Clay said: “Combining our team of locally-based, highly-skilled engineers with HomeServe’s nationwide network of specialist engineers and rich home assistance experience means we’ll collectively be able to help even more local people, installing new boilers and providing heating services throughout the region.”

HomeServe has franchises across England and Scotland but mainly in the North West, Midland, London and Yorkshire.

Chief operating officer Richard Shepherd said: “The creation of this new partnership to form HomeServe North Kent is an important step forward as we look to expand our franchisees across the UK to offer increased boiler installations and heating services.

“HomeServe North Kent will help provide effortless service to our customers across the region, through our combined local, specialist skilled engineer networks.”