Letting Agent emails me day after signing lease for rental property to say fireplace doesnt work

macman

How about telling us what sort of 'fire' this is, and whether it's functional or decorative? Can the room be heated without it?
You seriously can't tell the difference between an electric fire and a gas fire?
If it's gas, and installed, whether working or not, you should have been supplied with a GSC. Were you?

Annabee

Was it advertised as having a fire? This happened to us a few years ago, when we moved in the fire had one of those CORGI stickers on to say unsafe, don't use. 

They said tough at first but when we pointed out that it was advertised with as having a gas fire, they did begrudgingly send someone to fix it. Ended up not using it much in the end as it turned out to be quite noisy and the central heating was adequate really. 

This was over 10 years ago as you can see by my using the term CORGI rather than GasSafe. 

Lens9921

user1977 said:

Lens9921 said:

They arnt planning to do anything about it, ive just been told thats how it is.

So you were told at the viewing that it didn't work, and nobody told you it was going to be fixed? 

Thats not what I said. I said "seeing as we wernt told we'd have no fireplace when viewing or signing for the property. "

user1977

Lens9921 said:

user1977 said:

Lens9921 said:

They arnt planning to do anything about it, ive just been told thats how it is.

So you were told at the viewing that it didn't work, and nobody told you it was going to be fixed? 

Thats not what I said. I said "seeing as we wernt told we'd have no fireplace when viewing or signing for the property. "

I know what you said, I'm trying to clarify what actually happened at the viewing.

dimbo61

With the current issues about Log burners and the dangers to health I think Gas fires are also going the same way.
Dangerous to young and old people, health hazard to everyone due to the tiny particles  given off and the need to be Gas Safe checked every year in a rental.
Will be one of the first things most Landlords and developers  now remove.
Gas hobs will follow soon 

Emily_Joy

Lens9921 said:

We haven't actually moved in yet but a day after our tenancy started and we signed everything we got a short email saying "Just letting you know the landlord called me today to let you know the fireplace is condemned you cant use it" Is this kind of thing acceptable? I'm quite annoyed, seeing as we wernt told we'd have no fireplace when viewing or signing for the property.

What would you do?

Sorry, can you clarify a bit what the actual problem is? What would you change if you knew that the fireplace is not usable? Are you unhappy because you are worried that (1) It is unsafe. (2) It will be difficult to heat the space now. (3) You were planning to spent evenings staring at the fire with a glass of wine. (4) Something else?

Robbo66

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP


There are minimum heating requirements and you should ask, and test if these will be met

If heating requirements are met, I'd ask for a discount based on lackig an option to heat small area, etc. Your choice.

From what you said, I'm guess its a gas fire, there do as advised.

Good luck

Thnaks

what absolute tosh, the property has central heating as already stated by the OP so the Landlord has met the heating requirement. Gas fires tend to be more decorative anyway and generally are not used to heat beside which given the cost of gas at the moment one might as well use £10 to burn on a BBQ if you use one.

caprikid1

theartfullodger said:

Lens9921 said:

They arnt planning to do anything about it, ive just been told thats how it is.

Write/email Landlord (yes Landlord), copy agent, keep copy noting all issues with property, require adequate heating is provided.

Excellent draft letter on Shelter website & outline of what to do if not sorted.  If you don't have address for Landlord spend £3 with gov.uk land registry for owner's name and address.
.
Let us know how you get on.


Also look up HHSRS landlord guidance which lists long list of requirements including heating for what you are entitled to.

Good luck. Artful: Landlord since 2000

"Also look up HHSRS landlord guidance which lists long list of requirements including heating for what you are entitled to."

I am confused ? Is it guidance or a legal requirement, you working seems to say guidance, then entitled to. There seems to be lots of confusion on the web.

molenpad

I would be annoyed, not because I necessarily planned to use the fireplace, but to find out that something in my home (rented or otherwise) has been condemned and I'd not been told about it up front (assuming it was a known problem) would make me pretty cross to be honest.

I doubt this is the letting agencies fault as it sounds like the landlord has only just told them. I'd be asking them if there were plans to fix it or at least get a gas engineer out to you so you are assured that the fireplace has been properly condemned, i.e. capped safely.

melb

I would be annoyed too! So what if there is a radiator in the living room.  they might not want to heat the whole property for the sake of one room and if they saw a fire during the viewing, correct me if I'm wrong, they should be safe to assume that they could use the fire.