Gas engineer refused to turn boiler on, now have no heat/hot water. What do i do!!

petridish

Hello, i have posted about so many problems with my rented house but today's problem is by far the worst yet!

I had an emergency engineer come out after my prepayment meter broke so the gas ran out. He came inside to turn pilot back on so i could finally have some heat and hot water after 2 days of freezing (they didn't come out on the original day they were supposed to) but has just left after writing me a notice saying that due to there being no ventilation the boiler is a risk to me and my 9 month old and that it is too much of a danger to use it!

My landlord is away till next week although i have tried calling and have left an email but he is absolutely useless, im still waiting for him to do work required after an environmental visit in December trfdsfrom the council due to rising damp and electircal problems in the house.

What exactly do i do now? I can't go on having no heat or hot water and i have no one that i can go and stay with. I won't be able to contact the lettings agent till tomorrow but in the past they have told me that they are nothing to do with the property and that i need to go straight to LL.

Please help!

silvercar

Do you have a gas safety certificate?

viv0147

Get in touch with the local council I believe they would have to supply some sort of emergency heating

roger196

Not having adequate ventilation is immediately dangerous as there is insufficient air( oxygen) to burn with the gas. This results in the boiler producing large amounts of carbon monoxide which will kill you.
Most modern boilers do not require separate ventilation as they import their air direct from the outside down the one of the tubes of the flue pipe. the other tube takes away the products of combustion.
You need to check whether your boiler is of this type or not. Suggest you post your boiler make and model on www.diydoctor.org.uk under central heating ask someone to look up the manufacturers instructions on ventilation.
If your gas safety certificate did not correctly diagnose the ventilation requirements ( assuming they were needed), ring the gas safe register and complain.

silvercar

It seems a fairly drastic reaction by the gas engineer. I would have thought leaving a safety note that ventilation is inadequate and the appliance must only be operated with a window open until proper ventilation is fitted would be sufficient.

poppysarah

silvercar wrote: »

It seems a fairly drastic reaction by the gas engineer. I would have thought leaving a safety note that ventilation is inadequate and the appliance must only be operated with a window open until proper ventilation is fitted would be sufficient.

Cos he probably knows that people ignore the silent deadly killer ...

I suspect rules say he's done the right thing.

MrsManda

What contact details do you have for your landlord? Have you tried calling him?
If you rent through an agency it's probably worth trying to contact them as well.

The engineer has done the right thing even though you find it an inconvenience - better than one of you dying. It is your LL's responsibility to get this fixed. Do you have a gas safety certificate from a previous inspection?

• What should I do if my tenant's heating and hot water has been switched off due to a gas safety check or maintenance?
  
  If a gas appliance has been switched off by a Gas Safe Registered engineer [10] it is because it is unsafe and should not be used. No matter how inconvenient the situation is for the tenant such action helps to ensure their safety. If a heating appliance has been disconnected then you must provide your tenant with emergency heating, for more information on this contact your local authority [11] whilst arranging for appropriate remedial work by a Gas Safe Registered engineer.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqlandlord.htm#faq9

It may be worth contacting your Local Authority if you cannot get a reply from your landlord.
http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqtenant.htm

clutton_2

""still waiting for him to do work required after an environmental visit in December trfdsfrom the council due to rising damp and electircal problems in the house.""

if this landlord is ignoring Environmental Health - your only real option is to find somewhere else to live.. and do it quickly - he is not a decent landlord and you need to consider the future of your family's health and safety.

I hardly EVER say this as a LL - but if you have to do a runner and go live somewhere else.... do it.. This landlord is appalling and will not change

Do let us know h ow you get on


whilst we can appreciate Roger196's advice... please do not even think about turning on your boiler again... Gas engineers are highly qualified, and they do not turn off boilers unless there is a clear and present danger... you must take his word that this is a dangerous boiler...

Dangerous gases are smell free and you simply wil never know if they are building up

start looking for a new home tomorrow..... if you have no deposit go talk to the council Bond Board and explain your situation .

petridish

Thank you for the advice so far, i did have a gas safety check done last February and nothing was mentioned about ventilation. I said this to the man today and he said that any competent gas man would have noticed straight away which is a bit worrying.

I am in the process of trying to find a new home but without anyone willing to be my guarantor anymore and no deposit(although im sure i could apply for bond), plus the fact that i am a single mum on benefits, it is near on impossible!

I did manage to get a guarantor for this house which is why i can't just stop paying rent or leave immediately, it will all come down on my step-father and he will be absolutely livid!

Am going to go to council tomorrow and try to speak to someone in the environmental department but my experience of them so far hasn't been that great, i don't think they will see anything as urgent unless i am literally almost killed by something in my house!

Will also call the lettings agent first thing in the morning, maybe they have an emergency number for LL as his normal number is going straight to answer phone.

clutton_2

Petgri - i really feel for you - please go and talk to your step father and explain the position this man has put you in.... he is an ally of yours - that is why he coughed up the guarantoring this time.. he will NOT want you to be living in a dangerous house...


if you go to environmental health tomorrow - take your gas safety certificate with you and they can easily check if it is real or not - if it has been done by a registered GasSafe engineer...

in the meantime - ask step dad if he can buy your a couple of halogen heaters.. they are very very cheap - surely you could stay at mums for a night or two ? Have they seen the house ?

petridish

clutton wrote: »

Petgri - i really feel for you - please go and talk to your step father and explain the position this man has put you in.... he is an ally of yours - that is why he coughed up the guarantoring this time.. he will NOT want you to be living in a dangerous house...


if you go to environmental health tomorrow - take your gas safety certificate with you and they can easily check if it is real or not - if it has been done by a registered GasSafe engineer...

in the meantime - ask step dad if he can buy your a couple of halogen heaters.. they are very very cheap - surely you could stay at mums for a night or two ? Have they seen the house ?

Thank you for your advice!

The problem is that after my mum and step-dad split very recently he wants nothing to do with me anymore and therefore most definitely wont be guarantor!

My mum lives in a tiny flat, there literally isn't even space for a travel cot in the lounge but she might be able to move things around for me for a couple of nights till i hopefully get this sorted.

Will look into getting a halogen heater, thank you for the recommendation, i did have a look at various heaters online earlier but they all looked so expensive!!