Tenants not living there?

zaksmum

There's a house opposite ours which belongs to a housing association. It's had a stream of dreadful tenants and a huge amount of antisocial behaviour there.

The last tenants were basically chucked out after the complaints against them escalated to ridiculous levels, and the house was refurbished to an excellent standard at great expense.

In November the local councillor told us the house had been let, but there's definitely nobody living there.

Now there's a warning sticker on the front door saying there have been several attempts made to gain entry for a gas check, and threatening legal action as the gas supply may be unsafe.

Presumably there's some sort of scam going on, which isn't what worries me...at least if the house stays empty there's no antisocial behaviour there! I'm concerned about the gas safety issue though as if that house has a leak we could all be affected.

Would it be over reacting to get back on to the housing association, who insist it is tenanted, and tell them about the gas safety warning sticker?

olly300

If the property is owned by a Housing Association then they would be responsible for ensuring the house has annual gas safety checks so would be told if the house has to be broken into for a check to be conducted.

Eventually the firm they hire will break into conduct the check once they get permission from the courts, as the HA doesn't want to be responsible if the occupants die for CO poisoning. This is more likely then the gas fittings harming you.

However if you think someone is scamming the HA because the house is definitely empty and has been for sometime then ring up and tell them. You need to state clearly if there is furniture in the house and if you saw any occupants in November otherwise they would just think the house is empty due to it being Xmas.

zaksmum

olly300 wrote: »

If the property is owned by a Housing Association then they would be responsible for ensuring the house has annual gas safety checks so would be told if the house has to be broken into for a check to be conducted.

Eventually the firm they hire will break into conduct the check once they get permission from the courts, as the HA doesn't want to be responsible if the occupants die for CO poisoning. This is more likely then the gas fittings harming you.

However if you think someone is scamming the HA because the house is definitely empty and has been for sometime then ring up and tell them. You need to state clearly if there is furniture in the house and if you saw any occupants in November otherwise they would just think the house is empty due to it being Xmas.

We have actually told the HA there's nobody at the house - they insist tenants moved in in November. There's a TV there and one chair and a pile of dumped rubbish actually outside the front door which has been there a month. No lights on - ever - and definitely nobody living there. Several people have knocked there but getting no answer and then asking neighbours if they know where the tenants are.

Today a scary looking man in a massive black X5 with blacked out windows was hammering on the door, again without response.

Mikazaru

A lot of the time tenants will get the keys and then not move in for weeks because they are decorating it or making changes. They may well have told the HA that this is what they are doing and are planning to move in in the new year. You could contact the HA again and mention that no ones ever visits the property. However if theres warning stickers been left on the door then it's quite a way into the gas safety process so they'll probably already be investigating it.

G_M

This is a non issue.
Whether or not is rented out is not your business. Let the HA run their business.
Whether or not new tenants move in is not your business.
Whether or not a GasSafe engineer gets access to someone else'd property is not your business.

This is almost certainly a routine annual inspection that the engineer has not been able to do. The most likely risk, if any, is of carbon monoxide poisoning for the inhabitants - hence the warning.

Ignore it and find something more meaningful to worry about.

clutton_2

on the other hand - if the tenants are claiming LHA and living elsewhere then benefit fraud is happening.. If OP feels strongly enough they could report it to the benefit fraud line....

zaksmum

G_M wrote: »

This is a non issue.
Whether or not is rented out is not your business. Let the HA run their business.
Whether or not new tenants move in is not your business.
Whether or not a GasSafe engineer gets access to someone else'd property is not your business.

This is almost certainly a routine annual inspection that the engineer has not been able to do. The most likely risk, if any, is of carbon monoxide poisoning for the inhabitants - hence the warning.

Ignore it and find something more meaningful to worry about.

It is actually my business if there's a potential gas leak. It's directly opposite my house and if there IS a gas leak my house could get blown up along with theirs.

tbs624

Agree with G_M's post.

OP - you and your neighbours have probably had just cause to complain to the HA about previous tenants but, as you say, why not enjoy the current peace and quiet and get on with your own life.

If the gasman's notice gives you sleepless nights then simply phone the HA or drop them a line, then leave it be.

N79

G_M wrote: »

This is a non issue.
Whether or not is rented out is not your business. Let the HA run their business.
Whether or not new tenants move in is not your business.
Whether or not a GasSafe engineer gets access to someone else'd property is not your business.

This is almost certainly a routine annual inspection that the engineer has not been able to do. The most likely risk, if any, is of carbon monoxide poisoning for the inhabitants - hence the warning.

Ignore it and find something more meaningful to worry about.

Hit nail head.

flashnazia

Yeah, we should all mind our own business and not care about anything....

Even empty properties.....who cares about the housing shortage and the homeless

Even possible benefit fraud... who gives a damn about the taxpayer eh.

I'm sorry if this come across as rude btw.

Foggster

To be fair to the OP, I see nothing wrong with what they are doing.

We all know that social housing is at an all time low and this house has been refurbished and let out except no-one appears to be living there.

I see no problem with the OP telephoning the HA and telling them what has happened over the last couple of weeks and let the HA take it from there.

I am a little confused by the gas check because this should have been done, along with the electrics, before it was let again - this certainly happens in my experience of HAs.