Loft ladder to Boiler - Who is responsible?

prole23

Hi,

Just moved into a new house and there is a combi boiler in the loft, which is no problem. However, the gas inspection that took place before we moved in stated that a loft ladder needs to be fitted (I think this is a legal reauirement).

The landlord arranged for one to be fitted but the fitter failed to turn up on the day arranged. The landlord has suggested that I find someone to do this.

I don't mind doing this, but I thought that arranging for something like a loft ladder to be installed is the landlord's responsibility and not the tenant's. What if I arrange it and then something goes wrong? Am I then responsible? Or what if the landlord refuses to pay because it is too expensive?

Am I being overly cautious (I've rented for many years and that time has taught me to be cautious), or is this really something that the landlord should sort out?

Many thanks.

westv

Why oh why do people put boilers in the loft!

The ladder will be the landlord's responsibility.

casper_g

It shouldn't be your responsibility to sort this after you've moved in -- because if it's required to get the gas safety certificate then the landlord must get it done before he rents the house out, otherwise he'd be breaking the law, wouldn't he? Of course, that doesn't seem to be the way things have gone!

ic

westv wrote: »

Why oh why do people put boilers in the loft!

In my case to make my bathroom bigger - there was nowhere else to put it. My loft was already boarded out and had a fitted light and ladder. All pipes running within the loft space are lagged. What's wrong with that?

westv

ic wrote: »

In my case to make my bathroom bigger -

A boiler goes on the wall(normally) so how did it make the bathroom bigger? I'm just curious to know.

Anyway, for most boiler in loft situations this guy has an opinion.

http://www.miketheboilerman.com/boilersinlofts.htm

Amanita_2

westv wrote: »

Why oh why do people put boilers in the loft!

Didn't realise that you could! This might actually solve my problem of where to put a desperately needed new boiler. The current location doesn't meet modern regs and there is absolutely nowhere else it can logically go - which is why it is where it is!

bosseyed

westv wrote: »

Why oh why do people put boilers in the loft!

The ladder will be the landlord's responsibility.

Because sometimes its the only logical place it can go and still extract to an external wall. In my mid terrace house when we put new heating in the new boiler had to go either in the kitchen in front of the existing door to the garden or in the loft. Bathroom was too small to accomodate it. As we were changing the kitchen layout anyway, we had the existing door blocked up to locate the boiler, but if we hadn't been altering the layout then the only place to put the boiler would have been the loft.

Entirely off topic anyway - OP, I would push to get the landlord to install the ladder. I would say its their responsibility to sort, not yours.

BitterAndTwisted

prole23 wrote: »

The landlord arranged for one to be fitted but the fitter failed to turn up on the day arranged. The landlord has suggested that I find someone to do this.

Suggest to your landlord that they engage a reliable fitter who will turn up as arranged or find another one who will. Do not even contemplate arranging this yourself: it's not your responsibility.

poppysarah

There has to be something to stop the engineer falling down the hatch when he's up there.

Are they worse in the loft than in a tiny bedroom?

G_M

Is there or isn't there a valid gas safety certificate? Was it issued, along with 'advice' to get a ladder, or was the certificate refused?

Either way, it's the LL's responsibility, but in some LL/tenant relationships there is give and take around the practicalities (ie granting access, making convenient appointments) when it can be simpler for the tenant to do this. You don't have to, but it can help.

However, if you do decide to take this on, make sure you get written confirmation from the LL :
* that he is happy for you to agree what work is to be done?
* select the contractor?
* agree the price with the contractor?
* make the appointment
* that he (LL) will pay the contractor
* or reimburse you if you pay the contractor

If you don't get all this in writing it could lead to misunderstadings and arguements later