No gas safety certificate for ten years rented

BettyBoop17

Please help,

I am a disabled woman and live with my disabled daughter whom has a serious illness (she is an adult). We have rented privately for ten years. In those ten years the landlord has never had a gas safety check carried out. Recently the hot water tank was making a loud noise so the landlord sent around a repair man to fix it. Since he had been the problem has been worse, it makes a very loud noise and the hot water is scalding hot. I have to turn the boiler and hot water off at night otherwise we can’t sleep. I have asked the landlord for permission to pay myself for British Gas to complete a safety check but received no reply. I’m really scared that this is a fire risk. Should I be worried?

Out,_Vile_Jelly

The main worry with knackered boilers is carbon monoxide, not fire. For peace of mind, buy an alarm for a few quid from your nearest hardware shop. Then write to the LL asking for your copy of the gas safety certificate, which by law they are required to provide.

Assuming you are in England: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/gas_safety_in_rented_homes

BettyBoop17

We’re in a privately rented house and haven’t had a gas safety certificate for ten years. We are scared to ask the landlord for a certificate in case he threatens us with eviction.
The landlord recently sent a boiler repair man to fix the hot water tank and he seemed like a complete cowboy. The problem has got worse since he’s been and the hot water is now scalding hot. Is there a chance the hot water tank could explode?

Jeanie_84

As a landlord myself I would be panicked to think there was a potential safety risk to the tenants. You are right to be concerned, even if it's not life threatening you should have a properly working boiler. The landlord should also be concerned.

They need to step up and resolve it. When you say they have not responded, is this by email? Do you call them? Text? Something more immediate.

Pixie5740

It's not impossible but it's unlikely as there should be safety devices in place to prevent it. As Out, Vile Jelly says the most dangerous thing about a faulty boiler is CO so if you haven't got a detector then get one ASAP.

Does the hot water tank have a thermostat on it? Do you know if the "cowboy" who carried out the work is a Gas Safety Registered engineer?

You don't need your landlord's permission to hire your own GSR engineer to look at a boiler in your home. It's illegal for your landlord not to have a Gas Safety Certificate for the property so you could report him to HSE.

You say you've lived in the property for 10 years but when did you last sign a tenancy agreement?

BettyBoop17

Thanks everyone,

We signed the tenancy ten years ago and since then the previous landlord sold the house to a new person. I don’t know the address of the new landlord and haven’t had a new contract.

Pixie5740

You don't need a new tenancy agreement when there is a change of landlord it just continues the same as before. However, your landlord is required to provide you with an address in England or Wales for the serving of notices otherwise you can legitimately withhold rent until one is provided.

Pixie5740

If you need things repaired in the property don't be afraid to escalate matters to the council. Even if your landlord serves you with a Section 21 there are plenty of things that could invalidate it.

https://markprichard.co.uk/content/documents/170522-Section-21-checker-tool.pdf

InterestedParty2018

Please, please, please consider your safety first.
If the gas appliances in your home have not been formally checked and certified, you are at risk.

You must surely have some communication with the landlord. How did he know to send over someone to repair the defective tank? Who do you pay your rent to?

It sounds like you are concerned that if you "make a fuss", the landlord will terminate your tenancy - which is a possibility... if your tenancy allows for termination. The type/nature/terms of your tenancy will define who can give who notice and when. I cannot offer advice without knowing all the info.

Demand a copy of the gas safety certificate (and EPC whilst you are at it)....If it is not forthcoming within a reasonable time, prepare to move to a home which is safe for you and your daughter.

m0bov

This is potentially life threatening, do speak with LL or write. Go and by a CO alarm today.

ProDave

A "boiling" hot water tank is very unlikely if being heated by a boiler. If the boiler thermostat has failed to the point the hot water is boiling, then the radiators will be scalding hot as well.

Are you in fact heating the hot water with an immersion heater? They (their thermostats) fail much more frequently, and are also very easy and cheap to replace.