What to do in this tenant situation

MultiFuelBurner

Gas boiler needs a service and a recertification.

1st appointment made the tenants were not home 

2nd appointment made the tenants had no electricity so the service and certification could not take place.

What should we do as LL to protect ourselves against an issue with the gas boiler as they have also changed the locks.

gwynlas

Make contact by recordable means and tell them tthey have to make the appointment for certification to happen within the next week. If they fail to do this they are preventing you carrying out your responsibility as landlord leaving you liable to prosecution.

la531983

Hang on, how do you know they have changed the locks? I do hope you havent been trying to gain access yourself, without telling them? **facepalm**

ProDave

Cut off the gas (assuming outside meter) telling them until the boiler is certified, it cannot be used.

_Penny_Dreadful

ProDave said:

Cut off the gas (assuming outside meter) telling them until the boiler is certified, it cannot be used.

That would be harassment and a criminal offence. The landlord is not legally entitled to cut off the gas to the property just because there’s not a valid GSC in place. 

bluelad1927

la531983 said:

Hang on, how do you know they have changed the locks? I do hope you havent been trying to gain access yourself, without telling them? **facepalm**

There are numerous ways that this could have been determined without trying to gain access. Maybe its you who needs to 'Hang on'

_Penny_Dreadful

MultiFuelBurner said:

Gas boiler needs a service and a recertification.

1st appointment made the tenants were not home 

2nd appointment made the tenants had no electricity so the service and certification could not take place.

What should we do as LL to protect ourselves against an issue with the gas boiler as they have also changed the locks.

How did the tenants not have electricity? Was there a power cut or do they have pre-paid meters that they can’t/won’t top up? 

If it’s the latter are you able to attend the gas safety inspection to ensure there’s sufficient electricity on the meter even if you have to top it up yourself? Failing that you would need to apply to court for a conjunction order to gain access for the inspection. 

la531983

bluelad1927 said:

la531983 said:

Hang on, how do you know they have changed the locks? I do hope you havent been trying to gain access yourself, without telling them? **facepalm**

There are numerous ways that this could have been determined without trying to gain access. Maybe its you who needs to 'Hang on'

Hence why I asked a question, calm down now.

sevenhills

When you decide what to do, also confirm via email or even text message so you have proof.

ProDave

And tenants who behave like this wonder why a landlord might want to evict them.......

_Penny_Dreadful

ProDave said:

And tenants who behave like this wonder why a landlord might want to evict them.......

Being cynical this might be why the tenants don’t want the GSC done….to take a section 21 off the table.