Should a tenant be expected to take a day off work for Gas safety check?

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I've never taken time off to deal with gas engineers/handy men etc. Not my problem. What is the letting agent being paid for if not to deal with stuff like this on behalf of the LL?

sooz

You don't have to take the day off.

But it does have to be done.

So the options are:

1) you wait in for the engineer
2) you permit the landlord to let the engineer in
3) you are happy for the landlord or agent to give the engineer your keys and to return them.

MissMoneypenny

Why do you have to take a whole day off? No matter what workman or delivery man comes to my house, they are told to choose am or pm.

MissMoneypenny

sooz wrote: »

You don't have to take the day off.

But it does have to be done.

So the options are:

1) you wait in for the engineer
2) you permit the landlord to let the engineer in
3) you are happy for the landlord or agent to give the engineer your keys and to return them.

For 2 and 3; it doesn't cost much to have hidden cameras in the house, just in case.

pararct

ElleR wrote: »

What a coincidence! We just had to have ours done. I got a straight to the point letter from letting agents saying we had to be in and they won't change the day, so I was forced to. But luckily I was able to work from home so I didn't waste a day's leave. It's not very fair is it? I don't know if there's another way round it unfortunately. But my landlord did contact me deirectly and ask if it was OK so maybe they were willing to housesit that day.

If you are self employed you should send the lettings agents the bill for the days loss of earnings you suffered. Headed paper and don't forget to add VAT....:cool:

You can be damn sure they would bill you if the boot was on the other foot.

I know how I would have responded to such an order in letter form arrived on my mat... They would be told to foxtrot oscar in very quick fashion.....

Emmzi

we see the other side of the coin a lot - "the landlord wants to let the engineer in when I' not here and I am OUTRAGED!"

if you are happy enough to give someone else access, tell them it's fine but you won't be about.

franklee

sooz wrote: »

You don't have to take the day off.

But it does have to be done.

So the options are:

1) you wait in for the engineer
2) you permit the landlord to let the engineer in
3) you are happy for the landlord or agent to give the engineer your keys and to return them.

4) You the landlord and the engineer have a conversation to reschedule the appointment at a time to suit. What about first or last thing so the working day isn't impacted that much, or weekends?

Emmzi wrote: »

we see the other side of the coin a lot - "the landlord wants to let the engineer in when I' not here and I am OUTRAGED!"

Hardly surprising as there is no one size fits all, tenants are people each with differing views over how they want their home to be treated. The good landlord wanting his business to run smoothly will enquire of the tenant (who is their customer) how they prefer this to be handled thus there will be no need for outrage.

theartfullodger

nancypearl wrote: »

............ Do homeowners have a gas safety check each year, and if not, why not?

Nope: Presumably they are considered to be able to look after their own safety & arrange gas safe certificates if they want to,

(On average) private rented property is worse maintained, has more repair issues, than owned/mortgaged property.

ceegee

On first reading the OP, I thought the LL had a flaming cheek!

But then I realised that I always take a half-day when my gas appliances have their annual check and service. I am a homeowner though.....I don't know if that makes a difference or not?

I can also have a chat with the engineer, too, re things like how much longer the appliances should last and things like that.

KateLiana27

Only if you refuse to allow the landlord/engineer to have access in your absence.