Newbie renter access question

G_M

Bobby's approach is both legal, and responsible, in that he's on top of the gas safety issue.

Guest's approach is both the above, plus more considerate.

I'm with Guest on this, not just because the tenant will appreciate the options, but also for selfish reasons - some tenants value their privacy highly, and/or are concerned about stranger-risk in their homes, so oiling the wheels of the LL/tenant relationship a bit pays off in a multitude of ways over time. And costs so little.

lisyloo

Clearly it is the tenant's interests to facilitate the servicing of the boiler...

Of course it's in our interests but if the boiler men don't work during the hours we're home then that's an issue for everyone.
We're not unreasonable people but neither of us are in a position to "pop back". It's pretty slow going getting all the way across central London.
I can see it from all sides.
Some tenants will want to be there because they fear their stuff being nicked or the boiler man looking through their knicker draw. I'm not bothered about that because it's a bolt hole not our home.
It would have been good if our landlords had arranged it before they rented out the flat, but then there might be good reasons why their circumstances didn't permit them to be properly prepared.
Our landlord is abroad so I would have expected the agent (who I believe is local) to attend and not let a tradesman in the house unattended (unless they knew the tradesman).
The guy came on a Saturday in the end, which meant some waiting in, but I was interested in how it works because whilst it's obviously in our interest I would have thought it wasn't our "problem" to sort out.

silvercar

I ask the tenant permission to give their mobile number to the gas safety guy and get them to arrange a time between them.