Is it legal to rent out a property if the boiler is held together with gaffer tape?

Cakeguts

Smodlet wrote: »

CG, it's called the internet... the same way I found a house to buy 70-80 miles from where we lived; it's called rightmove (other property websites are available) but you are right, I can do no more, and people like you are making me wonder what the point of trying to address financial injustice is... then I remember this is MSE and Martin Lewis, O.B.E. began it for just that purpose, as far as I am aware. If I've got it wrong, I'll apologise to him.

I don't know where you live but there are some places in the UK where there isn't a shortage of council houses. Where I live if you don't have a deposit the council will provide you with one so that you can rent from a private landlord. Many councils also have a list of private landlords who they work with to provide housing for tenants who can't get a council house.

The point is that as this lady is an adult she is expected to make her own decisions and to be capable of going to her local council to find out what they can do to house her. For whatever reason it appears that she chose not to do that and instead move 80 miles to get a house.

What is very important at this stage is to make sure that she has managed to change doctors as she will need to be registered with one as soon as possible because she is pregnant. So perhaps you could help with that.

There is a lot of protection for tenants. Councils do prosecute landlords who don't provide safe accommodation.

TBagpuss

OP, it sounds as though youare trying to help your nihbour. You could ofer to help her write to the landlord, formally raising the issues, paticualrly the boiler and electricity issues.

In terms of the boiler, she should ask for the gas safety certificate. She should have been given this before she moved in.

If the landlord can't or won't provide it, then she can contact HSE. (they have a sample letter to a landlord on their site which she could use to request it, and she can also download and fill in the form to report it ) http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqtenant.htm

If she is concenred it is unsafe she could consider calling out gas engineer heself, but I appreicate that this incurs further costs.

Speaking to Shelter is a good place for her to start, I'd suggest that she also contact her local housing ofice and get registered, so she can join the waiting list ofr a more suitable property.

Smodlet

Thank you, Cakeguts, for your input. I don't know where you live but suspect it is not the SE commuter belt. Turns out the young lady and I both moved here from the same city (not London) Having been a council tenant there thirty years ago, I know how hard it was to get a place then, and I was single so needed only a one-bedroom flat. The situation has only worsened since, due in no small part to immigration, population increase, rising rents, etc. As stated, I have passed the info provided on and let her know we are willing to be good, supportive neighbours. And yes, she has a hospital appt booked this week, she is not stupid, just disadvantaged and we do not know enough about her personal circumstances to judge, which we have no right to do anyway.

Thanks again for your time. Afterthought: Yes, there is indeed more to this story, only a little of which I know, but it is irrelevant to the legal situation except inasmuch as neither she nor her boyfriend seemed to have any idea of their legal rights. I have said she is terrified of being evicted if she complains and, while the law may be on her side, while LLs like this one exist, they will break the law and get away with it. Apparently he/they have been doing so for years so why should they stop now? This next is not directed at you personally since you are clearly just trying to help however, the forum rules state these boards are to offer assistance, not judgement; perhaps they need to go even further, where some are concerned and say, if you cannot help and cannot help judging, keep your own counsel. Thanks again for caring enough to come back, it is appreciated.

Smodlet

TBagPuss, thank you also for your assistance. I was unaware of most of the legal information which has been gratefully received. Thank the gods I have not had to rent at all for nearly two decades and privately for three. My experiences of renting privately were horrible too, with one notable exception so I do know there are decent private LLs in the world. I am yet to be convinced they are in the majority, unfortunately but that is based on personal experience and therefore biased.

OH has spoken to the lady and her boyfriend since I passed on the info and it seems he is considering acting on it (BF, not OH:)) About time, i.m.o. She has better things to do this week, like bring a new life into the world.

TBP, CG and all other cool people in this thread, this next is not directed at you:

Note to those who might: If I get one post with a word like sponger or scrounger or burden on the state in it, I will report it.

marksoton

G_M wrote: »

Must restrain myself...... no - can't!

spelling?

Passing an Act of Parliament?

:silenced:

I can't be perfect all of the time!

Smodlet

Stirring it now but, when G_M proposes this Act, I will second it. And your tea break is over now, Marksoton, so it is time to get back to being perfect! :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

I agree that when you look at the group of LL's who will rent to benefit tenants, there are a proportion of them that do this because they know full well they don't have anywhere else to go (no second deposit if they manage to find somewhere else which is a mammoth task in itself when on benefits). They can take advantage and are slow/don't do repairs they should. Was in a bit of a situation myself with a private LL.

However, I am wondering what you mean by boiler being held together with gaffer tape. They must get the LL to send a Gas Safe certified engineer round to inspect the boiler or get a copy of the certificate. However, I had a boiler that broke down frequently, was fitted with the wrong circuit board eventually, had many promises from LL to replace it (unfulfilled) but it still managed to pass the safety checks. I have no idea how, but it did. I know it set off the C02 alarm at least once.

If your neighbour is having a baby the house does need to be cleaned (by them) as a matter of urgency. I managed to install a floor of ceramic tiles a couple of weeks before giving birth lol. It wasn't pleasant but had to be done. She CAN clean (with gloves on). Again, I was in an emergency hostel with a five year old who later turned out to have special needs, and pregnant, cleaning you know what off the toilet walls. Horrible, but had to be done again. I also scrubbed a bath for hours that had been condemned by the council workers (was told they didn't know when it would be replaced, so if I wanted to bath my son, I had to get it in useable condition - and it sparkled afterwards. I did this inspite of constant painful cramps and various health problems that caused me to collapse - just kept resting). Yes there was supposed to be a cleaner but cleaning the harder stuff obviously wasn't on his job description. I wanted it clean for my child, so I did it. No one else was going to.

Smodlet

Thank you, DeannaTrois, your post is inspirational and the young lady in question has indeed been doing as you advise/did yourself. This is made clear in this thread if you have time to read the whole thing but appreciate you may not.

She is, in my opinion, being extremely brave and working very hard, just like you.

I sincerely hope your situation has improved now.

milasavesmoney

It's nice that this young couple have neighbors such as you and your OH. Community is almost a lost idea in many ways. It's wonderful that you are doing your part to create a caring neighborhood atmosphere for this young scared mother to be. Good job both of you!!!

:wave: Waves from New Mexico in a neighborly sort of way.

[Deleted User]

Would love to know how you and the young lady are doing.

I so wish tenants in this position were able to stand up for themselves.., how are they to do so if there's little protection (legal aid for example, I know from what happened to me when trying to get help from Shelter, they closed the case on me when I said I didn't see the point in 'fighting' the S21 except for increasing my court fees, now I need help again getting the council to do what they should.., there's nothing).

I hope the birth went well and she is doing ok.