Forged gas safety certificate

Alison70

Hi there,


To add to a litany of unlawful issues my agent has caused with my current tenancy, recently they sent an engineer to conduct a gas safety check. Their usual guy was on holiday so they sent someone from a new company. The engineer stalled at the first hurdle saying the stove was a risk. Instead of continuing he left and said he would need to discuss with the agent on how best to proceed. If they didn't remedy the situation to his satisfaction he would need to return and disconnect the gas. I heard nothing for over two weeks so I chased the agent and they produced a gas safety certificate with measurements and passes, dated 10 days later by their usual engineer (who hasn't visited the property since 2018) and which is signed by the homeowner.



When I raised this issue with the agent and claimed the certificate had been forged, he said that the engineer based the certificate on previous visits (a reminder he hasn't visited since 2018) and actually, the cited problem was in existence then too.



This appears to me as a clear case of fraud. Does anyone have any experience of this and do you think this is sufficient an offence for me to leave my tenancy mid-way through?


Many thanks,


A

AdrianC

Alison70 wrote: »

To add to a litany of unlawful issues my agent has caused with my current tenancy, recently they sent an engineer to conduct a gas safety check. Their usual guy was on holiday so they sent someone from a new company. The engineer stalled at the first hurdle saying the stove was a risk. Instead of continuing he left and said he would need to discuss with the agent on how best to proceed. If they didn't remedy the situation to his satisfaction he would need to return and disconnect the gas. I heard nothing for over two weeks so I chased the agent and they produced a gas safety certificate with measurements and passes, dated 10 days later by their usual engineer (who hasn't visited the property since 2018) and which is signed by the homeowner.

When I raised this issue with the agent and claimed the certificate had been forged, he said that the engineer based the certificate on previous visits (a reminder he hasn't visited since 2018) and actually, the cited problem was in existence then too.

This appears to me as a clear case of fraud.

It certainly sounds iffy.
Get in contact with GasSafe - https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/contact-us/

Does anyone have any experience of this and do you think this is sufficient an offence for me to leave my tenancy mid-way through?

Is there a reason you can't just hand notice in?

anselld

A valid certificate can only be issued by a gas safe registered engineer having done the necessary tests. It cannot be done based on previous visits. Report whoever "issued" the certificate to the HSE.

kinger101

I'd report straight to HSE.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/landlords/who.htm

Don't give the agent or engineer a chance to cover their tracks.

Alison70

AdrianC wrote: »

It certainly sounds iffy.

Is there a reason you can't just hand notice in?

Thank you! If I want to leave mid-tenancy I'm supposed to find a replacement first under the same terms.

AdrianC

Ah, so you signed up for a new fixed-term, despite a "litany of unlawful issues"? Would it be impertinent to ask why...?

Remember - they aren't your agent. They're your landlord's. He's the one your contract is with, and he's the one legally responsible.

G_M

Personally I would do both!


Report to GasSafe and to HSE.


https://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqtenant.htm


https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/contact-us/


https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/help-and-advice/renting-a-property/information-for-tenants/

Alison70

AdrianC wrote: »

Ah, so you signed up for a new fixed-term, despite a "litany of unlawful issues"? Would it be impertinent to ask why...?

Remember - they aren't your agent. They're your landlord's. He's the one your contract is with, and he's the one legally responsible.

Lack of options at the time - and most of the unlawful issues have arisen post-signing.

G_M

https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/help-and-advice/complaints-report-an-illegal/report-suspect-gas-work/

Marvel1

As above, report to both, don't even contact the agent, landlord or engineer to give them a heads up.

MysteryMe

In view of what has taken place I would think the OP would have ample grounds for terminating the contract. Good luck to any landlord coming after you in court explaining away how the gas certificate came to be issued. I would also report the letting agent to Trading Standards.