is this legal? - urgent advice wanted on plumbing when renting, please

Geenie

carolt wrote: »

What a load of utter piffle.

I don't know know what world you live in where mould spores take more than 2 weeks to develop.

In the real world, mould spores will form on damp surfaces very quickly, certainly within a couple of days if it's as warm as you all claim it is. :rolleyes:

More to the point, all the moaners on this page appear not to have reading my OP, whic was not a complaint about my landlord replying too slowly - that is a figment of clutton's overactive imagination.

My OP raised 2 points - 1. was it legal for anyone to undertake work involving the whole central heating system, Corgi registered or not? Still not had an answer to that, from anyone with a clue to what they're talking about.

And 2. how long should I be required to wait by law for a copy of my gas safety cert? This point was very helpfully answered by Miss Moneypenny - my landlord is clearly breaking the law. End of. I didn't invent the law. Presumably it's there for a good reason. If landlords like clutton object to the law, they should lobby the relevant bodies. Or ignore it, if they so choose, and face the legal consequences. I believe I've read on here that's jail.

Obviously the law has a rather different view of landlords' duties than clutton.

I wonder who should take precedence? Clutton or the law?

Difficult one, that..... :rolleyes:

It's not difficult Carolt. Google and you will find all the information you need rather then getting into heated discussions on here.

A starting point..........http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/gas_safety.htm

clutton_2

i have no objections with any legislation concerning my tenants health and safety.

Having said that i also have forgotten on occasion to hand over a certificate swiftly enough - i'm human - i occasionally forget things.

You have had the gas safety check done - that is the important bit - of course the certificate is important and a legal requirement. As already advised by several folks - ask your landlord again - its not rocket science.

You have also been advised several times that it is perfectly legal for a non-GASSAFE-registered plumber to work on water pipes and repair leaks - you have just chosen to ignore it.


You appear to have been moaning because the plumber turned up too fast - with 15 minutes notice today .........

""and the landlord figured it would be difficult to get hold of anyone at the weekend - but 15 minutes? On a Saturday morning? I wasn't even dressed, nor were the kids; luckily it's all tidy, as I had left the house tidy while we were away, and unpacked everything since we got back...but 15 minutes does seem rather a liberty.""

franklee

Emmzi wrote: »

were you in when the gassafe bloke came round to do the gas check, and did he say it was ok? I assume so or he would have condemed the boiler. IMHO that it has been done, is more important than having a bit of paper to say it has been done.

If you weren't in and you don't know, then do pursue the certificate, but generally if there is a risk they turn the gas off so you can't hurt yourself.

The tenant being in or not, being told this or that makes no difference.

I'd put forward this law is in place so that the tenant has written confirmation of who did the check, on what date and that it passed. The tenant can then look up the details of the engineer to ensure that they are properly registered.

Best to put any lack of compliance in providing the certificate in writing to the landlord, and follow it up if necessary. If the safety check was done by a properly registered engineer and if all gas appliances (boiler, fire etc) passed then I really can see no reason why the certificate hasn't been handed over, especially after the tenant has asked for it.

Whenever I've been present the engineer has filled out the form and handed me one of the copies on the spot, they are careful to get this important only a bit of paper right, as they should well be.

I'd be most concerned if an engineer wasn't willing to fill in the form so the landlord should have it so there should be no problems producing it.

clutton_2

i agree it is a crucial bit of paper - but the LL is under no legal compulsion to supply it until 28 days after the inspection has taken place. This give him/her time to discuss any remedial action with the Gas Engineer and arrange to have it repaired. I accept that Carolt should have had hers sooner - as we all keep saying - ask again and as Franklee says do it in writing this time.

All tenants can ask the gas engineer who calls to have a look at their Registration Card. -

CORGI cards specified on the back the engineers CORGI number and which appliances the engineer was qualified to work on and QED - which he was not. I have not seen a GASSSAFE card so cannot comment on what data appears on theirs.

Geenie

clutton wrote: »

i have no objections with any legislation concerning my tenants health and safety.

Having said that i also have forgotten on occasion to hand over a certificate swiftly enough - i'm human - i occasionally forget things.

You have had the gas safety check done - that is the important bit - of course the certificate is important and a legal requirement. As already advised by several folks - ask your landlord again - its not rocket science.

You have also been advised several times that it is perfectly legal for a non-GASSAFE-registered plumber to work on water pipes and repair leaks - you have just chosen to ignore it.


You appear to have been moaning because the plumber turned up too fast - with 15 minutes notice today .........

""and the landlord figured it would be difficult to get hold of anyone at the weekend - but 15 minutes? On a Saturday morning? I wasn't even dressed, nor were the kids; luckily it's all tidy, as I had left the house tidy while we were away, and unpacked everything since we got back...but 15 minutes does seem rather a liberty.""

Clutton, how dare you be human and forget to do things! I'll think you are a doctor next, with super human powers who is not like the rest of us and can never make a mistake! :rolleyes:

Seriously though, never not get certificates in order and in place on time. Staying on top of everything is paramount as a LL today.

clutton_2

fortunately i have great tenants who are very understanding and who work with me - as i tell them all on my inspection visits - if i dont write it down it wont get done..... so they always remind me to write it down.

Emmzi

carolt wrote: »

Er, no.

I don't think expecting the landlord not to break the law is actually me being demanding. I don't see why I should have the massive inconvenience of moving, when my landlord can have the rather smaller inconvenience of providing me with a piece of paper in accordance with the law.

Can you?

Are you a landlord too, by any chance, Emmzi? :rolleyes:

No, I'm not, and never will be. I'm just a woman who thinks there are 2 sides to every story and you catch more wasps with jam than vinegar :-)

so, DID the safety inspection happen and you're just waiting on a certificate?

PayDay

clutton wrote: »

Having said that i also have forgotten on occasion to hand over a certificate swiftly enough - i'm human - i occasionally forget things.

If you give that same excuse to the taxman, you will get fined.

Emmzi

carolt wrote: »

Obviously the law has a rather different view of landlords' duties than clutton.

I wonder who should take precedence? Clutton or the law?

Difficult one, that..... :rolleyes:

the law, but I would tend to take guidance from clutton on interpreation of it. s/he is usually pretty sensible and offers many people solid advice.

I am not sure your personal attack is warranted, just because you don't agree. Is it possibe to disagree nicely?

misskool

carolt wrote: »

Yes, but you are also a landlord and I have a feeling you are arguing with your landlord hat on and not your tenant hat on.

It's easy to say - you are not asthmatic and you and your 9 year old were not facing several days and nights of being unable to breathe properly. That is no joking matter, believe me.

Tolerance and patience are nice, but I actually think that professionalism is what is needed. I'm not 'mates' with my landlord, I pay a lot of money for a safe and maintained roof over my head, and that's what I expect to receive.

What would have happened if it was your own home and you couldn't get a professional out to repair it for 2 weeks? Would you sue yourself for having to sleep with the mould?

No one can magic up a professional repairman, professional landlord or not. Stuff happens, you can call the landlord to request that you have the mould professionally cleaned and invoice him or split the cost with him but you really shouldn't expect more than what you can reasonably provide for yourself.

I'm impressed you got someone out within 24 hours tbh, especially on a weekend. When we had no hot water/heating in our rented property, the landlord only told us we could charge her a b&b after 7 days. She did later waive the rent for the 7 days (which was completely OTT btw as it wasn't her fault, that's another story for another day)