Gas safety - renting with a disconnected appliance in place

gresford

Hi, this is my first post here, I can't seem to find the info I need elsewhere so I hope you lovely people can help!
My question is this: can I let a flat out with a failed gas appliance if that appliance has been disconnected from the gas supply and therefore cannot be used and doesn't present a safety hazard. I would propose supplying portable electric heaters to the tenant as the means of heating the flat.
Some background to explain why I am considering this option.
I rent a flat out in central London and the gas fire has just failed its test and been disconnected.
The tenant had already given notice to leave before this so the flat will be vacant imminently.
Now normally I would repair the fire and re-let the flat - simple.
However, there a few complicating factors:
Firstly, the flat has been ordered to be sold as part of my divorce settlement so expect I won't be the landlord by the end of summer.
Second, the failure is because there is a problem with the chimney that will require it to be opened up and repairs to the brickwork and flue undertaken, so not a cheap repair.
Finally just to keep it interesting I now live in Sydney so have to deal with all this from Australia.
I simply don't have the cash at the moment to carry out this major work, so I would rather declare this issue when selling the flat and accept a few grand off the selling price as a result if necessary.
I am considering letting the flat on a short term let, making any new tenant aware before they sign up that the gas fire is disconnected and they will have electrical fires instead.
Is this legal?

gresford

Sorry, I should add that the hot water comes from a separate appliance which has passed so there is plenty of hot water in the flat.

anselld

It is legal, but if you are selling anyway why not just get on and sell. It will be much harder to sell with a tenant in place.

Pixie5740

Can you not just market the flat for sale now and then split the proceeds as part of the divorce settlement? That would seem easier than trying to let out the property on a short term basis and manage it from the other side of the world.

It'll be much easier to sell a property with vacant possession than to try and sell it whilst the tenant is still in-situ.

tom9980

Taking a new tenant when you know you need to sell is stupid, given its London it will sell quickly so just get on with selling an empty chain free property.

jbainbridge

Renting it out when you have been ordered to sell is just plain obstructive.

silvercar

The tenant had already given notice to leave before this so the flat will be vacant imminently.

Tenant already in situ, so I guess OP is trying to get a certificate renewed for existing tenant.

Is this a new problem with the chimney or a different gas certificater being stricter on the rules?

Hoploz

I'd agree with the others, that you've got enough on your plate without dealing with all this. Just get it empty and on the market and get rid of the whole problem.

G_M

Agree with the above.

Just sell.