Landlord suddenly wants EPC test and electrical safety test

MaryNB

You mentioned you are a long term tenant. When did your tenancy start? Has it been renewed at any point since then?

Just be aware, the S21 checklist has some exclusions for tenancies that started before October 2015. An EPC and GSC are required for an S21 if the tenancy started after October 2015 but they may not be required for an S21 to be valid if the tenancy started earlier. I don't think the EICR has made it onto the S21 notice list of requirements yet but both it and the GSC are legal requirements. Your landlord definitely should provide them but they may not impact on an S21 notice if that's what she's got in mind. 

woeestme

Property failed the EPC test and the EICR test (according to electrician).  Hardly surprising given the complete lack of investment in the property during my tenancy of 20 yrs or so.  The property below me (same landlord) also failed both tests.

The water heater in the property is from the early 70s at the latest and so is doubtless a safety hazard.

Disjoint

EICR is now a law. I was blackmailed by a NEW tenant because I had to reschedule the EICR due to covid by a few weeks. (Did the EICR on the 3rd week of April instead of 1st week). They have a month after a failed EICR to fix things, or show that they are fixing things. I never looked much into it, but after the threat know all about EICR. You need one to evict now. As a tenant you can complain for lack of EICR but landlord doesn't get fined, only if they do nothing about it.

For the EPC, if you are a long term tenant and they had a VALID EPC when you moved in, they don't need to update it. If the EPC wasn't there when you moved in, or old - again they need to get this done in order to evict.

By the sound of it, they don't need an EICR to sell, just an EPC. You are probably on an AST so why go through an eviction when they can simply give you notice. So they probably got caught messing around on one of their property and now are bringing all their properties up to standard. I assume they have been conducting the yearly gas safety checks. If not, you are renting from complete cow boys. You mentioned an EA is involved, in which case they are likely forcing the landlord to get this done.

We are managing that property until the end of the tenancy, giving tenant 4 months notice as that's the new law in covid

Spinybif

Evicting you won't increase homelessness.  Either the landlord will sell the property and a new owner / tenant will move in or he will modernise the property, increase the rent and take a new tenant.  Overall no increase in homelessness, Land lord earns more from his investment and society gains as a property has been improved with benefits in terms of energy efficiency.  The only loser is you.

goodwithsaving

woeestme said:

AnotherJoe said:

woeestme said:

Hi, I'm a long term tenant and my landlord is one of those types who's been an absolute pain in the *** when it comes to fixing problems in the property.  Leaks and repairs have taken months/years to get resolved ordinarily.  Now, suddenly, the landlord wants to update electric safety and have an EPC survey done.

The reason I'm wondering is that a while ago the landlord said she was thinking of possibly selling the property.  So, I'm wondering if a condition of sale would be updated checks on the aforementioned.  I'm not sure but it is suspicious.

How would they do it slowly?

Haha, you're so clever.  The world is indeed a better place with your hilarious contribution.  The sad thing is that you actually believe you've made a witty statement whilst completely ignoring the greater point of criminal neglect by slum landlords.

You're a serious loser no doubt suffering from parental neglect in childhood and other abuses if you think you've gaining any credibility by posting meaningless comments like that.

Over the past year, I have noticed an increased number of comments which have personal (although anonymous) attacks towards posters on these forum threads. Granted, you may not always get a comment you like, but there is absolutely no need to resort to such words.
It never used to be as bad as this.

Jenni_D

goodwithsaving said:

woeestme said:

AnotherJoe said:

woeestme said:

Hi, I'm a long term tenant and my landlord is one of those types who's been an absolute pain in the *** when it comes to fixing problems in the property.  Leaks and repairs have taken months/years to get resolved ordinarily.  Now, suddenly, the landlord wants to update electric safety and have an EPC survey done.

The reason I'm wondering is that a while ago the landlord said she was thinking of possibly selling the property.  So, I'm wondering if a condition of sale would be updated checks on the aforementioned.  I'm not sure but it is suspicious.

How would they do it slowly?

Haha, you're so clever.  The world is indeed a better place with your hilarious contribution.  The sad thing is that you actually believe you've made a witty statement whilst completely ignoring the greater point of criminal neglect by slum landlords.

You're a serious loser no doubt suffering from parental neglect in childhood and other abuses if you think you've gaining any credibility by posting meaningless comments like that.

Over the past year, I have noticed an increased number of comments which have personal (although anonymous) attacks towards posters on these forum threads. Granted, you may not always get a comment you like, but there is absolutely no need to resort to such words.
It never used to be as bad as this.

That's why the new forum rules (which everyone will have had to acknowledge - I know I did) has emphasised Be Kind as a guiding principle. People will probably just carry on as before though. 🙄

Tokmon

woeestme said:

Jenni_D said:

Is a tenant lawfully allowed to prevent a landlord complying with their legal obligations?

/devil's advocate

Is a landlord legally allowed to lie and delay repairs to a property and not comply with their legal obligations?  All of this as a bullying tactic to force me out of the property with a view to doubling the rent.

Ans: Yes, landlords and the rent seeking class are allowed to extort extort extort to the point where people are forced into homelessness and there are no consequences.  In the meantime, the population continues to increase during a pandemic?

Well considering your renting then if your not happy with the landlord then you can start looking for another property. But sounds like your getting a great deal if your paying only half the market rent for the property!.