moved in 5 months now landlady still hasn't got gas certificate. take action on her?

heroconan

I moved in to my flat at the end of May. Landlady didn't have a gas certificate at the time, but she promised she would get it soon for me. 3 months later, no sign of the certificate so I chased her, she then got a gas inspector who said that she had to replace the old boiler first before she could get a certificate. 2 more months has gone now, in spite of my numerous phone calls and emails she still hasn't sorted it out. She's sent a few gas enginnerers here to check the old boiler then give her quotes, but everybody was too expensive according to her, so she is still looking around and can not give me a firm date when the new boiler will be fit in.

Now the problem is, with the winter approching, we're having the heating on a lot. It's a 2 bedroom flat and last night's gas usage is about 7 pounds (heating's off during the day, and none of us are cooking). That means I have to pay 200 pounds a month on heating alone?! Surely something is not right?!

I wonder if there's anything I could do to push her, and if it's possible to get some compensation from her.

Any advise will be much appreciated!!

whatatwit

I would contact your local council, possibly enviromental health/services, they might have some powers to enforce the legislation.

heroconan

Thanks for the reply.

Btw, just checked, we used up 6 units/66 kwh of gas in 1 day (no cooking, heating on for the whole night), for a two bedroom flat is that too high?

spiro

The money is not the problem its your safety. If the engineer has said the boiler needs changing make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector, you cant smell it but it can kill you. As a landlady she is breaking the law by not having a certificate from day one. The only problem is that if you pursue it via the HSE she could try and throw you out. A quote from their site, note the bit that you should get a copy BEFORE you move in;

Landlords must arrange maintenance by a CORGI-registered installer for all pipework, appliances and flues, which they own and have provided for their tenants use. Landlords must also arrange for an annual gas safety check to be carried out every 12 months by a CORGI-registered installer. The landlord must keep a record of the safety check for 2 years and issue a copy to each existing tenant within 28 days of the check being completed and issue a copy to any new tenants before they move in. HSE strongly advises that all gas consumers should have their gas appliances serviced regularly for safety by a CORGI registered installer.

heroconan

Thanks Spiro. Before I moved in I asked for the certificate from landlady, she said she would get it for me within 2/3 weeks. Everytime I called or emailed her, she always said she was sorting it out and asked me to be patient. Every once in a while she would get someone to come check the boiler, which made me believe she was really working towards it.....Well well, next time I rent I know what to look for! I'm not that worried about her kicking me out, I'm fed up with her and the place.

Some updates - called the gas emergency line in the morning, they sent someone here to check. He confirmed that there're multiple leak points in the flat - first one is the fire place in loft, second one is the gas meter, and maybe also the boiler.

Called Health and Safety Executive line to complain about landlady, but the guy who's in charge of my areas hasn't arrived at work.

Will keep posting here!