Carbon Monoxide leak - "Lives at risk"

BennyB1

Hi all,

Some of you may have read my recent post about my landlord not supplying us with hot water and completing the house to a liveable standard.

Today came a new revelation.

British Gas came out to fix the boiler, half way through his job inspecting the boiler he suddenly was very taken back. He told us the flue that leads the deadly carbon monoxide from the boiler outside, isn't sealed, therefore carbon monoxide is seeping straight back into our house. There is also holes in the wall in which he said it will be seeping through that into the cavities.

He told us this is highly illegal and demanded to speak to the landlord and that he would have to pass this on to a health and safety executive at BG. He also then left us with a Legal Safety Warning of 'immediate danger'.

Whilst speaking to the landlord, I overheard the LL pleading with the engineer to not pass on the information and that he'd get it sorted. I spoke with him aswell as the LA, who both said somebody would be round to fix it immediately. Somebody showed up, had a look, said he'd be back and has never returned. I have now been told it will take till Monday.

The engineer said as far as he is concerned, the gas should be disconnected and we should leave until fixed as our health is in risk and in his own words "our lives at risk" whilst we're here. He said us renting this house in this state is highly illegal.

He has advized we speak to a solicitor immediately to sue the LL/LA.

Does anybody have any advice on what to do next, this is a highly worrying situation, we all know the immdiate danger of Carbon Monoxide intake.

Would it be worth attempting to sue? Could this be the nail in the coffin to get out of our contract we are 2 weeks in to? We dont even have a gas safety certificate.

That aside, What actions do you advize we take once this is fixed to ensure everything is safe and no hazards so we can have piece of mind? As in some kind of visit from a safety officer or something.

zappahey

If it was dangerous, then the engineer should have disconnected it there and then. Did he?

Also, what are you going to sue for? What have you lost?

BennyB1

The gas has been disconnected, yes. Sorry for not clarifying that.
As far as sueing goes, i'm just listening to what i've been advized to do. If we hadnt of had an engineer to come round to repair our boiler, who knows how long this carbon monoxide could have been coming into the house? He has rented us a house, which according to a professional, is putting our health & potentially lives, at risk.

Callie22

Apart from anything else, please go out tomorrow and buy yourself a carbon monoxide detector (an audible one with an alarm). A few years ago my partner and I were poisoned in a rental and we were very lucky not to be killed - I will not be without a detector now and I'm evangelical about nagging other people to get one. Please go out and spent that £20.

Yorkie1

The plumber isn't a lawyer. To sue you need to demonstrate actual loss / damage. From what you've posted, you can't demonstrate that. Concentrate on getting the house sorted, rather than what is almost certain to be a fruitless court action.

I cannot recall your previous thread. Are you now without hot water and heating altogether?

BennyB1

Yes, we once again have no hot water/heating, about the 4th time in just over 2 weeks. This time, without for about 5 days now.

G_M

I too don't recall your previous posts (why start a new thread?) but I'm sure you would have been advised to put everything in writing.

Do so AGAIN.

1) Write ( a LETTER) to the LL at the address "for the serving of Notices" and cc the agent. Keep a copy. Recap the current situation, the past history, and ask what the LL's plan of action is, with timescales.

2) contact your local Environmental Health Officer

3) call BG and ask for an update - have they or have they not passed this on to the BG H&S dept?

4) contact the HSE (Gas Safety Certificate rules)

5) Sue? You will have to demontrate loss. If the property is uninhabitable and you are forced to move into a hotel, those are costs you could claim. If you have to use a launderette, those are costs. It may come to that if things are not fixed, but I think it is premature to consider suing at this stage.

It_can_get_better

Is the boiler in a bedroom? I'm not an expert on gas safety, but i think they only need to be room-sealed if they are located in a bedroom.

pawlala

Don't let landlords get away with this. How many other properties do they have that are in the same state. You might be the lucky one, another of his tenants might not. Report him on Monday to HSE.

motherofstudents

I remember your other thread. I think you've been treated very badly and the house needs to be put right. Definitely get a CO detector and report all this to environmental health. Do you have something in writing from British Gas ? You really need to get on top of this and get the landlord to fulfil his responsibilities. Please post back with the outcome.

tbs624

See https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4068817 for other thread.

OP - as before on your other thread , get on and report this LL and his shortcomings. Talk to Community Legal Advice and Shelter

As another poster has said get that CO alarm bought and put up in the meantime