Forged gas safety certificate

00ec25

report away as advised

won't give you grounds for early termination of your contract though as the breach of law is a matter between the LL and the HSE, it has no impact on your ongoing tenancy

macman

The absence of a valid GSC does not void your fixed term tenancy. However, it does mean that, were your LL to issue an S21, that would in turn be invalid until such time as a valid GSC is issued.
It does of course give you considerable leverage to renegotiate terms with your LL, since non compliance is an imprisonable offence...

HampshireH

Very bizarre thing for the agent to admit.

Are you sure they haven't visited whilst you are out? (Just to cross it off incase thats what they come back with)

MysteryMe

I think some people are forgetting that this is not just a case of not having an up to date certificate it is that the appliance is in need or repair or be disconnected. The landlord's response has been to ignore the instruction of the gas safe engineer and procure a forged document.

OP it is fraud and a fraud that could put your life and others in danger. Let the landlord argue in court that his little bit of paper over rides his criminal negligence.

AdrianC

MysteryMe wrote: »

I think some people are forgetting that this is not just a case of not having an up to date certificate it is that the appliance is in need or repair or be disconnected.

And, apparently, has done for a year during which the OP hasn't died too many times.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying anything about this mess is good... Quite the opposite: <points up to "Contact GasSafe" link>

Alison70

AdrianC wrote: »

And, apparently, has done for a year during which the OP hasn't died too many times.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying anything about this mess is good... Quite the opposite: <points up to "Contact GasSafe" link>

Adrian, that first sentence is quite an appalling thing to say given that it could merely be a matter of time until it does kill someone.

Alison70

MysteryMe wrote: »

I think some people are forgetting that this is not just a case of not having an up to date certificate it is that the appliance is in need or repair or be disconnected. The landlord's response has been to ignore the instruction of the gas safe engineer and procure a forged document.

OP it is fraud and a fraud that could put your life and others in danger. Let the landlord argue in court that his little bit of paper over rides his criminal negligence.

It seems we agree on this matter. There is also the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 which came into force on 20 March 2019 which appears to be on my side. "Your landlord must make sure that your home is ’fit for human habitation’, which means that it’s safe, healthy and free from things that could cause you or anyone else in your household serious harm."


It is also my understanding that it is illegal for a new tenant to move in as my replacement without a valid gas safety certificate.

AdrianC

Alison70 wrote: »

Adrian, that first sentence is quite an appalling thing to say given that it could merely be a matter of time until it does kill someone.

Or it might not be.

If it was a fault that was actually causing a danger, rather than merely being outside the tickboxes for giving a cert, there would have been some clue by now.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00503T72E

HampshireH

If the engineer they sent out felt the appliance was unsafe they should have condemned it and ensured it wasn't usable there and then.

It would be extremely unfortunate to have had 2 dodgy gasmen from 2 different companies. Unless you local area is plagued by cowboy trades

Alison70

AdrianC wrote: »

Or it might not be.

If it was a fault that was actually causing a danger, rather than merely being outside the tickboxes for giving a cert, there would have been some clue by now.

There are clues, actually. Visibly. And it's not a carbon monoxide issue. Having spoken in detail with the people at the Gas Safety Register, they said the first engineer should have immediately disconnected the gas, nevermind the subsequent fraud committed by the estate agent/landlord and their "usual engineer".

A quick Google of 'gas safety certificate fraud' enlightens me that it is not unheard of. Indeed, last year a a Waltham Forest landlord and his gas safety engineer were prosecuted for such offenses.