Gas hob failed inspection in rental property

melou

Hi,

I wonder if you can help, we have been in a rental property since March 2006. We had the annual gas check done yesterday and they failed the gas hob as it has a combustible surface (kitchen cupboard) less than 700mm without a hood or 600mm with a hood above it (it is 300 - 340mm at a guess). Having done a google search it seems that it contravenes BS6172. I checked the gas certificate we were provided with when we moved in and the hob passed last year. I had to sign a form saying that I had requested for the gas supply to be left on to the hob as I need to cook although the gas inspector wanted to disconnect it. There is demonstrable heat damage on the cupboard above but we had always thought it was just a stupid design not a fire risk.

We have notified the landlord who is picking up copies of the certificates today but has made the mutterings of "it passed last year", which, to be fair, it did.

So I guess I am looking for advice as to what happens next. The units above are in one solid block. To remove one you would have to remove all. Is the landlord obliged/likely to do this? I am worried he will just disconnect the hob and leave me with nothing to cook on but an oven and a microwave. Is this possible? The landlord is a nice guy but we don't really have any dealings with him.

Any advice, greatly appreciated.

Melou

P.S. Also posted in the renting board as I wasn't sure which one it should go on.

rizla01

Depends whether the Landlord is a decent guy or someone that doesn't care about his tenants.

If he provides you with a flat that doesn't have what you want what will YOu do?

Then he will have to re-advertise the flat and be without rent for a while but he would STILL have to carry out the repair, wouldn't he?

Might suggest that you ask him what he is prepared to do as it is a fire hazzard.

His insurance policy will also probably be null & void if he doesn't have a gas certificate.

Anyway, by law he has got to rectify the problem.

Faces jail if not!

the_gasman_2

Do you still have the instruction manual for the hob. This will give you the correct location and all specs for installation. If this is not available then the engineer will refer to corgi guidelines, hence the shutting down of the appliance. I have found on many occassions that there is a great difference between manufacturers instructions and corgi's. Remember that the manufacturers instructions take precedence. They designed and tested the appliance and know its limiations. Try contacting the manufacturer for advice/instructions.

However, Your landlord is responsible for the annual gas safety report. Any remedial work to be carried out is purely upto him. An engineer can only recommend and advise best practices and ensure the tennants are safe. If it is a safety issue then I am sure that he would put it right and as the hob has been made safe/isolated from the supply my advice to you would be to remove it from the worktop and fit an electric hob.

Good luck

Razor

As far as the gas regs go, if the hob is fitted with less then the recommended clearance most engineers carrying out the test will state its 'not to current standards', if there are signs of heat damage the appliance is 'at risk' and should be made safe and if the kitchens on fire it's 'immediately dangerous'. Bit worrying its passed all those times isnt it, ask if he has the old cp12s' or landlords tickets!

Razor

As far as the gas regs go, if the hob is fitted with less then the recommended clearance most engineers carrying out the test will state its 'not to current standards', if there are signs of heat damage the appliance is 'at risk' and should be made safe and if the kitchens on fire it's 'immediately dangerous'. Bit worrying its passed all those times isnt it, ask if he has the old cp12s' or lanlords tickets!