Gas safety check without our permission

Innys1

G_M wrote: »

Rather than getting in a tizz, be grateful you have a LL who takes his responsibility for your safety seriously.

We see many posts here from tenants with LLs who have not done gas checks for years - frankly that is a much worse sin.

Granted he should have givien you advance notice, both out of politeness and strict legal process, but don't send your LL/tenant relationship into a downwards spiral over this.

A friendly, polite letter or email, thanking him for undertaking the inspection, and then asking if he could let you know in advance next time he needs access for any maintenance or inspections.

I'd suggest enclosing a slice of cake in the letter, but that might be OTT!

Quite.

While the LL should, out of courtesy, sent some form of written notice, he could have just not bothered with the GSC at all. Yes, he'd be breaking the law but he wouldn't be unique in that respect.

kinger101

Innys1 wrote: »

Quite.

While the LL should, out of courtesy, sent some form of written notice, he could have just not bothered with the GSC at all. Yes, he'd be breaking the law but he wouldn't be unique in that respect.

You're presenting a false dilemma though. The LL should get the GSC and have given notice. Personally, I think it's the agent who has behaved appallingly. They should have known better, and have informed the LL of the correct process. Better still, they should have organized the thing themselves and just tell the LL when it's done. Otherwise, what's the point in appointing an agent?

franklee

kinger101 wrote: »

Personally, I think it's the agent who has behaved appallingly. They should have known better, and have informed the LL of the correct process. Better still, they should have organized the thing themselves and just tell the LL when it's done. Otherwise, what's the point in appointing an agent?

Depends if the agent did the tenant find only or if they are managing the let as well. From the OP that's not clear as on the one hand the OP is ringing the agent and on the other hand has written "It was rented through an Estate Agent, but the Landlord is our point of contact from now on".

OP, first step is to establish who is managing the let, is it the agent, is it the landlord?

Then make sure you know the address for the service of notices, is that the agent? If not you need to get your landlord's address.

Then write to the address for service of notices explaining that the gas service was done without notice. Suggest asking how this can be prevented in future to give whoever is managing the tenancy a chance to improve their organisation. Include that you require notice in future. Setting it in writing gives you a paper trail to defend yourself with should you need it e.g. if it happens again and you need to take more firm actions like lock change. I would also include in the letter that you were upset, I get that not everyone would be but you were so I'd say that. However do keep the letter polite and professional.

BTW the way my old landlord's agent did this was to email me the gas inspection was due and let me ring and make the appointment with their choice of gas firm directly. That way both ends knew what the other was doing which saved any miscommunication.

mleach101

bod1467 wrote: »

Thanks for the reminder ... I'll look at doing that when my daughter moves into a rental place next month.

Absolutely do this! I rented a flat where small cheap things were mysteriously going missing over the course of a few weeks and it wasn't until my laptop walked I realised something was going on. Turns out the previous tenant who'd been evicted had kept his set of keys and was letting himself in while I was at work.

It was a really sad story in the end, he had mental health issues and was sectioned for it in combination with other incidents. Police didn't charge him and he got the help he needed but I vowed never to rent again without changing the locks straight away.