What would you do in this situation?

HampshireH

Starb wrote: »

They have given me the country they have moved to, which is within the EU. The estate agent they have the house up for sale with doesn’t even have contact details for them. They have been very elusive to date, and a second viewing on the house which has been scheduled has been done through me as the EA cannot get hold of them.

All I can do is keep asking I suppose. I know that if they haven’t provided a valid address then I can withhold rent, but this makes me feel uncomfortable. As soon as the council open after Xmas I shall contact their housing department. Hopefully they can help.

........... Ok lets break this down;

• They employed a dodgy gas man
• They didn't pay said dodgy gas man
• They are happy to leave you with no heating
• The dodgy gas man allowed you to leave you boiler on..... You could have died.
• You have no address for them
• You have no address for them or means of contacting them should they decline to answer their phone

Carbon Monoxide poisoning is extremely serious. In addition to the above the general rule of thumb is to get checked out if you have had any form of expose to a CO leak.

...........Put the money aside and follow GM advice. They are the ones who should be feeling uncomfortable. Read again - You could have died. Then they would have had more than a dodgy boiler to worry about.

Also - they may have been HMRC registered but now that they are abroad - this is what tenants need to do;

If your landlord lives abroad and you pay over £100 a week, you need to register with HMRC and deduct tax from your rent.
You also need to register with HMRC if you pay a UK representative of your landlord, such as a friend or family member, who isn’t a letting agent.
You don’t need to deduct the tax if HMRC has told you in writing that the landlord can receive the rent with no tax deducted, but you must still register with HMRC and complete an annual report.

They are not doing you a favour

jonnygee2

I believe my landlord declares to HMRC

Just to be clear, if your landlord is not a UK resident you need to register with the non-resident landlord anyway if your rent is over £100 a week.

I’m scared to make a fuss as most houses nearby are £100 more per month to rent, which I simply cannot afford.

Your landlord has left you in the cold over Christmas and potentially endangered your life. If you do not 'make a fuss' then someone else could suffer worse. I understand the rent might be attractive, but I think it's time to hold your landlord to account.

Your boiler is almost certainly a 'category one hazard' meaning your council will need to take immediate action. They may well repair the boiler themselves and then take this up with the landlord.

Environmental health are unlikely to prosecute, but they could do. Not having your landlords current address is unlikely to be a huge barrier to them, in all honesty. They will take action as per the state of the property.

Starb

Thank you everyone. You’ve really helped me put it into perspective.

Last question - the gas engineer said I could switch the gas off at the gas meter to shut the boiler down. Can I do this or should I get an engineer out to do it?

jonnygee2

Can I do this or should I get an engineer out to do it?

You can switch the gas off yourself, definitely no need for an engineer for that one!

HampshireH

If you switch the gas off at the meter you should really also turn the boiler off.

Buy switching the gas off to the property you are safely stopping the gas to the property (providing there is no leak before the stop and your meter is outside) you just use the level and pull it down so that it sticks out (on is usually parallel to the pipe).Check here for pictorial instructions

xylophone

so can’t afford to go anywhere else.

Can you (and the dog) afford to risk CO poisoning? "The grave's a fine and private place......":eek:

https://www.boilerguide.co.uk/articles/carbon-monoxide-safety/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-10-things-you-need-to-know

Do you have a CO monitor?

Starb

HampshireH wrote: »

If you switch the gas off at the meter you should really also turn the boiler off. The boiler has been switched off on the boiler and the thermostat for the last two weeks. However, it just won’t stop running; the house is a sauna. I’ve told the landlord this and this is when the gas engineer suggested I switch the gas off.

Buy switching the gas off to the property you are safely stopping the gas to the property (providing there is no leak before the stop and your meter is outside) you just use the level and pull it down so that it sticks out (on is usually parallel to the pipe).https://www.socalgas.com/stay-safe/emergency-information/shut-off-natural-gas

Gas will be switched off ASAP. Thank you.

HampshireH

Starb wrote: »

Gas will be switched off ASAP. Thank you.

As per my other post. Flip the fuse or safely take out the fuse (after isolating the electric) it will isolate the boiler. This means it cannot keep running as no power will be going to it.

Starb

xylophone wrote: »

Can you (and the dog) afford to risk CO poisoning? "The grave's a fine and private place......":eek:

https://www.boilerguide.co.uk/articles/carbon-monoxide-safety/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-10-things-you-need-to-know

Do you have a CO monitor?

No I don’t I’m ashamed to say. It was flagged on the one and only gas safety inspection I had done, and I was hoping the landlord would fit one which is why I didn’t.

dawyldthing

There less than a tenner. Please get one, mines combined carbon monoxide and fire alarm from Aldi but worth getting for peace of mind