Carbon Monoxide leak - "Lives at risk"

seven-day-weekend

Callie22 wrote: »

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.

Absolutely agree, it could save your life. You can take it with you wherever you live. I have two, one up and one down - and that's in my own house where the boiler is serviced every year!

unclebulgaria

I dont know if you have already been given proper legal advice but, if you give a local solicitor a ring and ask for "pro bono" advice so long as they have the legal knowledge regarding letting you should get some free quick advice about your predicament.
Can you post what the BG engineer wrote on his warning notice, possibly a picture of the cert. Just curious as to his findings?

BennyB1

Sorry, unable to upload a picture.
It says 'WARNING IMMEDIATE DANGER' - Then he wrote something along the lines of 'Carbon monoxide seeping in to house, due to unsealed flue'

Anyway, somebody was meant to come last night, nobody did. He phoned me said someone would be here at 10am, nobody has turned up.

Ive really had enough now, he's been told how serious this is and even been told he's risking his tenants lives and he still lies and fobs us off. Case or not, i'm begining to persue legal actions against him, as this is literally unbeleiveable and gobsmacking.

dimbo61

So you need to write to the LL and LA pointing out what the British Gas man has said.
Ask for an electric shower to be installed NOW so you at least have hot water to shower and an electric kettle to brew up and wash dishes.
Speak to the student housing officer/student homes office.
Is the Letting Agent part of any body ? The LL should have a gas safety certificate before he/she can rent BY LAW

BennyB1

We didn't find the LA through university, we found the property through Zoopla. The LL is now ignoring my calls about the situation.
We also don't have a gas safety certificate present, nor have been shown one before moving in.

G_M

You've been given a whole list of actions you can take (write to LL; contact BG; contact HSE; contact Environmental Health etc etc)

Get on with it!

unclebulgaria

Hmm well a good start would be a decent audible CO alarm, don't get the sticker type as they are affected by aerosols and perfumes.
I was going to ask how the BG engineer knew that CO was seaping into the house but I would need you to explain what he was doing?
I don't mean to be stating the obvious but the BG guy isn't legally trained and if he's being a little over zealous in his report then he's exaggerated your problems.
Ring Gas Safe and ask for a free inspection 08004085500

bris

So why didn't the BG engineer fix the boiler if that's what he was there for. It's all very well him spouting off but what was his excuse for not fixing it. if I was the LL I would be wanting to know why the job wasn't done, aren't you giving your LL credit for having the engineer there to fix it? I can't see why you are giving him such a hard time when he clearly tried to put the problems right.

Werdnal

bris wrote: »

So why didn't the BG engineer fix the boiler if that's what he was there for. It's all very well him spouting off but what was his excuse for not fixing it. if I was the LL I would be wanting to know why the job wasn't done, aren't you giving your LL credit for having the engineer there to fix it? I can't see why you are giving him such a hard time when he clearly tried to put the problems right.

As usual Bris seems to have totally missed the point here.

Installation of a new flue does not come under the remit of a Gas Engineer who came to repair the boiler. Boiler may be repairable, but any gas engineer worth his salt will not repair or re-commission it whilst there is a danger of CO fumes leaking back into the house.

LL is also in breach of GSC regs, so I think time to throw book at him NOW!

alhermette

Hmm well a good start would be a decent audible CO alarm, don't get the sticker type as they are affected by aerosols and perfumes.

Very good advice indeed. Don't get a Kiddie one either as they are notorious for being unreliable. We went with an Aico alarm as they are supposed to be one of the best. You can get them from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Aico-EI208-Carbon-Monoxide-Detector/dp/B008G1H3WI