Landlord Fitted A Boiler Hes NOT Corgi Registered, need Legal Advice

JJ-07 · 28 July 2007 at 11:33PM

Hello All.

Basically i live in a student house, im due to start college in september in my local town. We heard loud clanging noises coming from the boiler and pipes and informed the landlord.

He came out and went to fixed it, before he went ahead i said:

'Are you corgi registered to do the job'?

He replied:

'Ive fitted 5 of these boilers in the past and loads before that, i know what im doing, i promise it will be safe, i will get someone from the gas board to look at it after to make sure'

I said ok and left it at that. He done the job, took him 2 days. But i dont trust him, he came out to fix a light before and couldnt fix it so he fitted a wall light instead because it was quicker and easier. After he fitted the boiler he bricked up the hole where the pipe went to the outside and it really looks crap, which is why i dont trust him. Also he hasnt connected the electrics to the pump for the boiler and in the attic there is a pipe thats been disconnected and is just hanging, i dont know what its for but i dont remember it being like that before. Oh and the shower is playing up now, and you have to manually release the pressure on the boiler every now and then.

Also when he fitted it i asked when someone is coming to look at it and his reply was:

'Why? have you had a bad experience before, dont you trust me' which is a change to when he said at first that he will get someone to look at it.

2 of the housemates text him today to ask him when the person from nation grid, corgi or british gas will be coming out and no reply.

Im really worried because all it takes is one leak to cause serious health problems. I want to call the gas people but dont know if he will kick me out because im going behind his back.

Also, if the gas people say its unsafe, do i have rights to take him to court for putting our health at risk? i did ask him before hand and he didn't listen to me and he really annoys me. If it is at risk i want to sue him because at the moment im that scared and worried.

If i grassed him up for fitting the boiler even though he isnt registered canhe kick me out? can he kick me out if i seek legal aid?

My life is more important then he is. He just dont care the house is unfit for renting and i want to put these cowboys who love money where they belong, NOWERE!

Generali · 29 July 2007 at 12:22AM

I had to put up with LLs like this when I was a student: they'd happily put their money ahead of my life.

Things have changed though. The LL needs to provide you with a gas safety cert. Ask for it. If he doesn't have one report him to the local council and your Student Union housing dept.

Also, report the workman to CORGI. Call toll free - 0800 915 0491. It's immoral to put profit before human life IMO.

You can't get kicked out if you have a contract on the house.

PS Also check that your deposit has been secured in one of the approved schemes. If not you can also sue your LL for 3x deposit. (S)he sounds like a real cowboy.

MarkyMarkD · 29 July 2007 at 12:48AM

But the landlord will probably have a gas safety certificate from before when he botched up the boiler. So I'm not sure that will necessarily help.

Certainly check that he has a current one, though.

Emma37 · 29 July 2007 at 1:27AM

If a landlord allows appliances to be used knowing they're unsafe it's a criminal offence with a £6,000 fine and/or 6months imprisonment. He has to have a Landlord Certificate (CORGI installers safety check report) and has to give each tenant a copy so ask why you haven't been given one. All maintenance work has to be carried out by a CORGI registered gas installer so he's breaking the law.

Get in touch with the Gas Board immediately and tell them of your concerns. Ask them to send someone as soon as possible to inspect his work and report him as another poster advised.

Read these links so you know exactly where you stand and print them out:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg285.pdf

http://www.leakfixers.co.uk/Landlord%20Certificate.htm

Don't worry about him throwing you out, it's more than he dare do. But personally, I'd be looking for somewhere else to live. You don't have to sue him, the Health and Safety Executive will bring proceedings.

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD · 29 July 2007 at 2:34AM

Your LL MIGHT be allowed to carry out DIY gas work ( if he is competent ) because he OWNS the property .

New gas Installations do not require a CP12 LLs certificate untill the appliance is one year old .

But if he knows you are SPOOKED then he should have the new boiler independently tested and a new certificate issued , lets face it he's saved himself a fortune .

Canucklehead · 29 July 2007 at 8:23AM

Good morning: All new boiler installations must be notified to Building Control..when did your LL 'install' the appliance?
Landlord's responsibilities http://www.trustcorgi.com/obligations/Documents/Landlord%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

Tenant's rights http://www.trustcorgi.com/consumer/iamatenant.htmx

Unfortunately your situation is not unique..you wouldn't believe what my OH, Corgi Guy has seen in his 30+ years in plumbing/heating...his CORGI magazine, Gas Installer, features choice photos of gas bodge jobs every month. New gas regs and consistent enforcement of the law are in order IMHO. The LL has saved himself some money, at the moment, but in the long run his attitude could cost him big time!

HTH

Canucklehead

Primrose · 29 July 2007 at 10:54AM

Remember that sad story of the family in Greece who died from a faulty boiler? Don't risk your life. If you and your fellow students are worried about going behind your landlord's back, why don't you all get together, make up a story about thinking you can smell gas and call out the Emergency Gas Leak line, especially if it's late at night and you're worried about being gassed in your beds. He can hardly complain then, and hopefully the Gas Board might take action because the boiler hasn't been sorted by an approved fitter.

MrsPhillips_2 · 29 July 2007 at 10:57AM

Our old landlord was a complete dunce where the gas fire was concerned so we called British Gas out to come and have a look at it and it didn't cost us anything. Might be worth giving them a call?

Emma37 · 29 July 2007 at 11:19AM

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD wrote: »

Your LL MIGHT be allowed to carry out DIY gas work ( if he is competent ) because he OWNS the property .

New gas Installations do not require a CP12 LLs certificate untill the appliance is one year old .

But if he knows you are SPOOKED then he should have the new boiler independently tested and a new certificate issued , lets face it he's saved himself a fortune .

All work has to be carried out by a CORGI registered fitter. Why would it be all right for a non-CORGI unprofessional person to risk peoples' lives just because he owns the property. That doesn't make sense.

kathleenryd · 29 July 2007 at 11:51AM

My student daughter and 4 friends signed up and payed a deposit on a house
3 moinths ago. They signed up early in order to get a house that was safe traveling distance from places of work (my daughter has part time work in a city centre restaurant and returns by bus late at night). The also handed over two post dated checks for the first two months rent (July and August).
They were assured that they could move in on 1st July.
On 1st of July I took my daughter and all her sgtuff to the house - we met up with her friend who had driven all the way from Felixstowe with all her stuff to find out that the landlord had decided to extend and remodel the interior and there was no way they could move in (outside walls had been knocked down and there was no water , bathroom, tiolet, kitchen etc).
We called the landlord and he attended the property and under duress he offered them the use of another property until July 30th. The other property was ok but was not located in a place that was safe to travel to by public tansport late at night so my daughter is now staying with a friend.
She went to see the proprty today and there is no way that it is habitable - again no facilities and the landlord has gone on holiday for a month.
He has also divided what was to be my daughters bedroom into two so her space is now much reduced.
She originally sourced the property through an agency but the landlord then told them he was not dealing throught the agency anymore so the deposit etc was paid directly to him.
Aparently he owns 12 houses and the one my daughter is renting we discovered is in his sons name who is also a student.
What can we do - my daughter now says she doesn't want to live there as she doesn't trust him.

Kathleen

Doozergirl · 29 July 2007 at 12:09PM

You can DIY but it does need to be signed off by building control.

I would call your local council tomorrow morning and ask to speak to someone in building control. Inform them that a new boiler has been fitted, not by a competant person, and that you understand the work needs approval. They will come out to inspect it, I am sure and if it does not comply they will be the ones to jump on your landlord's back in legal form.

The gas company will simply cut the supply and leave you.

Landlord Fitted A Boiler Hes NOT Corgi Registered, need Legal Advice

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