Gas Safety Check and annoyed LL (him not me)

GotToChange

OK - so I am the tenant. Been here 10 years. LL lives next door (not the most comfortable arrangement for a myriad of reasons).

The GS Insp was in January (anniversary of me moving in) for a number of years. He used to arrange it and I would go along with whatever day it was scheduled for. Gradually, this became earlier and earlier (now early Nov) and the planning of it fell to me, which is fine by me (the earlier part not so much).

As soon as the reminder pops through the door, he will start to telephone me to tell me to get it done. Due to not having a fixed schedule of my own and knowing that BG would probably only offer a limited window, I left the booking for a few days - also not wanting to bring the anniversary (?) of it even further forward. As both I and the LL receive a reminder #2, he called me when it came, leaving a message saying that "...as I had done nothing about it, would I please get on with it....".

Booked it in for last Wed, Engineer came in the am as promised - all good. He checked the only two gas appliances that remain (the fire was taken out a couple of years ago, due to cracked flue, even though it was only installed when I moved in) - gas hob (about five years old) and combi boiler (about 3 years old tops). The only real issues (which have never been raised before) were a couple of screws which should be in the flue as it exits the boiler and passes into the loft. The Engineer would have done them but when he looked in the loft, there are no floorboards so he is not allowed to go up there due to H&S. ( Also the plug (for ignition and running of the oven I guess) of the cooker should be a 3amp....).

For this, he had to leave yellow advisory sign but as no safety issue, he did not turn off the gas supply and told me that it was a "get it done in order to comply but that's all" issue.

As there is a plan in place to replace the rotten landing window (promised five years ago), the do-it-all builder will be at the house in the next week or so; my thoughts were that he would be able to fix the screws.

As my LL was away this weekend, I had attached a note to the Engineer's report which I would put through the letterbox with the rent (which MUST be in cash don't you know) on my way out this lunchtime.

Instead, having received the same letter as I from BG (summary of Report and indicating that the issues are advisory and that the appliances hgave indeed passed the Inspection), the LL has again been on the phone - shouting at me this time, that I should have told him IMMEDIATELY, that I am now living there ILLEGALLY and hanging up with a bang. I called him straight back to be told "I'm not sure that I want to talk to you" and he drowned out anything that I tried to say, ranting again about how "WE weren't told, your'e living there illegally..." (again) so I had to end the call.

The relationship is not good for reasons that pre-date this - but I do feel that he has over-reacted and I don't know how to address the situation. He is a gentleman who is the same age as my Father and I have always hoped that matters could handled with mutual respect and professionalism but he has breached this many many times.
(This is the only rental property that he owns so it is not as though he is a career LL, he is retired.)

This is a bit of a hard luck tale, I know - and I guess that LLs on here may not be understanding of my upset, but I am certain that even were there no Inspection in place, I would not be living in a property illegally - it is just a nasty phrase to use on his part......

......or am I totally wrong.



(Note: Sorry for the saga.)

anselld

The best way to handle it is not to get involved. It is entirely the LL responsibility and a criminal offence (by the LL) not to have a valid safety certificate.
You have been sucked in to dealing with it for him; just tell him that was obviously a mistake and you are not going to deal with it any more.

princeofpounds

What on earth is he upset about?

GotToChange

anselld wrote: »

The best way to handle it is not to get involved. It is entirely the LL responsibility and a criminal offence (by the LL) not to have a valid safety certificate.
You have been sucked in to dealing with it for him; just tell him that was obviously a mistake and you are not going to deal with it any more.

Really....?
He told me that I can - or should - do it - and that I am breaking the law if there isn't one in place.

anselld

GotToChange wrote: »

Really....?
He told me that I can - or should - do it - and that I am breaking the law if there isn't one in place.

Yes really! That is why it is called a Landlord's Gas Safety Certificate.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/landlords/index.htm

princeofpounds

anselld is right, it is his responsibility, not yours.

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/gas_certificates.aspx

GotToChange

princeofpounds wrote: »

What on earth is he upset about?

That I didn't tell him IMMEDIATELY



But he has been away for the last four days - and historically speaking, he does not carry out things quickly. Landing window being a case in point; he said that it would be done (more than?) four years ago.

But, at the other extreme, he took it upon himself to trim down some branches of an overgrowing shrub from the shed roof. he left a pile on the patio and then, when he wanted (his choice, I wasn't bothered, could have done it) to come and remove them, knocked on the door, no warning. I didn't answer as not decent - my side gate is locked - and the next thing I saw was him, having climbed over the fence, strolling up the garden! (Invasion of privacy or what?)

theartfullodger

GotToChange wrote: »

.........get on with it....".

.............

As my LL was away this weekend, I had attached a note to the Engineer's report which I would put through the letterbox with the rent (which MUST be in cash don't you know) on my way out this lunchtime.

........

Call me old-fashioned but really?? Does the tenancy agreement say "Cash only" (if it does then maybe..). I take it you don't get a receipt for rent paid??

Is it weekly-paid & if so do you have a rent book (required by law..).

In my experience landlords who demand cash only are up to no good, if only not declaring rental income to tax man (Lord knows I understand the pain - I'm doing my tax return now...).. if so wonder what else he's "forgotten" to do?? - Insurance, etc etc..

Of course, there's nothing to stop you anonymously advising HMRC of the rental income
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/reportingfraud/
---If, as I'm sure is the case, he's already reporting his rent income they'll be no problem...

If tenancy does not say "cash only" you can pay by other means..

In your shoes next rent day I'd give him a cheque, with a covering letter, taking a copy of each first.. Why do you take the money to him??

Personally I much prefer tenants to pay money into my bank account: They can do it as and when & how it suits them (standing order, bank transfer, cash paid in at counter..) and both they & I can prove who paid what when.. (My letting agent, one let house only, is the one I get most problems with over payments... but to be fair that's admin errors,he says...)

GotToChange

anselld wrote: »

Yes really! That is why it is called a Landlord's Gas Safety Certificate.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/landlords/index.htm

Well, I did think so - and you would thinking after 10 sodding years of living here, I would have got it right. Hmmm.

G_M

So, on the one hand you have a landlord who is rude, aggressive and OTT. Nasty.

On the other hand you have a landlord who takes his legal obligations seriously (ensuring inspection done, chasing up when there's a delay) and is concerned by the the potential H&S issue. Much better than a LL who doesn't care!

In your position I would:

a) stop ringing - communicate politely by letter. Don't hand deliver, use post and get "proof of posting" (just in case!)
b) don't take on the LL's job. Arranging the repairs is his job so making suggestions about linking it to the landing window is his job not yours.
c) stop paying cash (I assume you always get a receipt?). Post a cheque as above with "proof of posting". If he complains, off to pay by bank transfer or standing order if he'll kindly give you his bank details, but explain you are uncomfortable carrying large anounts of cash 'in these dangerous times'!
d) consider moving. Living next door is always uncomfotable - in fact I' recently advised a poster here who was thinking of going into letting property NOT to buy the house next door!

GotToChange

artful -
yes, most other things are above board, monthly (calendar) rent, rent book in place etc. I have no doubt whatsoever that he is dodging the taxman - and yet, as a pensioner, wonder if he would actually have much concern in that regard?

He WILL NOT WILL NOT WILL NOT (my frustration as I have asked him soo many times, that I will no longer subject myself to the embarrassment) have anything other than cash - and the reason it goes through the l/box is because he would take the greatest pleasure in counting it out infront of me (oh crikey, the fuss when I accidentally left £40 under my laptop and paid him "short") and then telling me that he now "off to an antiques fair". Painful.

As they take quite a few extended holidays per year, I have again asked to pay by Standing Order (he does decree that I am "in arrears" when he is away) - but he always refuses with a chortle, no doubt loving the fact that he will return to the best part of a thousand pounds on his door mat.
Excuse slight bitterness in tone.