Tenant can't be in for safety inspection

John6

Hello all

The house I rent requires an electrical safety inspection within the next month or so. The estate agent has been trying to organise a day to get this done, but unfortunately I cannot take the time off work to be present (unless it's unpaid...!), so asked if there can be a weekend or evening slot booked, but unfortunately not. Last year, the agent let them in which I had no problem with, but that's not an option this year, apparently.

The landlord has suggested in hiring someone to be present for the inspection, and says they will charge me for it. I'm pretty sure they can't do this, but please correct me if I'm wrong...

I don't know how to approach this, as I don't want to sour relationships with the landlord, but feel a bit annoyed as he wants to charge me for something that I see as his responsibility... after all isn't this one of the benefits of renting?! The only option I really have is to take unpaid time off work which I don't want to do... but would rather that than get charged... Can I invoice him my hourly rate?

Thanks for any help or advice any of you can provide...

Miss_Samantha

Hi John,

You do not have to be in.
If you are fine with the inspection taking place without you then just reply that you have no problem with them entering the property at the agreed time in order to carry out the inspection and leave it at that.

davidmcn

If the agency have keys, can't they just lend them to the contractor?

[Deleted User]

My LL used to get someone to come in in the evenings? Surely this is possible?

I'd be unhappy about paying for someone else to be there as well. But I'd also be unhappy about someone coming to my house when I wasn't there too. Personally, as its the LL's responsibility to pay for the gas safety inspection, I'd assume it was his responsibility to pay for any associated costs too. He's the one that owns the property and needs to comply with regulations.

John6

Thanks for the help all - I'll ask if they can just lend them the keys. I'd rather not let them in on their own but I want to keep everyone happy and if anything goes missing... we'll know who it was!

deannatrois - apparently they are unable to do evenings or weekends... not sure why

Guest101

John6 wrote: »

Hello all

The house I rent requires an electrical safety inspection within the next month or so. - Are you sure, I belive this is only a requirement in Northern Ireland. The estate agent has been trying to organise a day to get this done, but unfortunately I cannot take the time off work to be present (unless it's unpaid...!), so asked if there can be a weekend or evening slot booked, but unfortunately not. Last year, the agent let them in which I had no problem with, but that's not an option this year, apparently. - Well that's unfortunate. You aren't obliged to facilitate this in any way (other than grant access in Northern Ireland, subject to other restrictions) - granting access just means giving permission

The landlord has suggested in hiring someone to be present for the inspection, and says they will charge me for it. - Buahahahahaha tell them no thanks. I'm pretty sure they can't do this, but please correct me if I'm wrong...

I don't know how to approach this, as I don't want to sour relationships with the landlord, - just say no thanks, it's your job to do this, not mine. but feel a bit annoyed as he wants to charge me for something that I see as his responsibility... after all isn't this one of the benefits of renting?! The only option I really have is to take unpaid time off work which I don't want to do... but would rather that than get charged... Can I invoice him my hourly rate?

Thanks for any help or advice any of you can provide...

Northern Ireland?


if England or wales, just explain that this isn't a legal requirement, and even if it were you are not obliged to comply. He or she is, that's part of being a landlord.

Miss_Samantha

Even if the property is in England, I would think that such inspection falls within the scope of the right of access the landlord has for inspecting the condition and state of repair of the property. Thus the tenant is indeed legally obliged to 'facilitate', although this just means doing what I suggested in post #2.

Guest101

Miss_Samantha wrote: »

Even if the property is in England, I would think that such inspection falls within the scope of the right of access the landlord has for inspecting the condition and state of repair of the property. Thus the tenant is indeed legally obliged to 'facilitate', although this just means doing what I suggested in post #2.

I'd rather not enter into a debate about this.


This check was done last year and the last guidance I read was a check every 5 years is suggested (not required), so the reasonableness argument would be an endless debate.


I do agree that the limit of any facilitation is simply to give permission to enter (which is what I said)

Miss_Samantha

There is no debate. The landlord or someone directed by him wants to enter to check the condition and state of repair of the property.

Guest101

Miss_Samantha wrote: »

There is no debate. The landlord or someone directed by him wants to enter to check the condition and state of repair of the property.

...There's always a debate....


However this isn't the thread for it.

Lunar_Eclipse

Unless you have a unique tenancy agreement where this is detailed, it's not your responsibility to be present. This falls squarely with the landlord (& in practice the agent might be the one present.)

Inform the agency that you understand it needs to be done, you can't be present but of course you authorise supervised access. If this is problematic, consider offering to take a day's leave to facilitate and let them know what that cost will be, based on how much you earn, or whatever value you are prepared to sell a day's leave for and definitely make it worth your while (& get paid upfront!) Think they'll sort it pretty quickly!