2 questions: EICR and gas safety

LoopyLoops

Hoping someone can advise / confirm please. We started our tenancy in January 2020. It was a one year contract, then rolling since.  

Should we have had an EICR in that time?  We have had a couple of weird electrical things just lately.  A light switch fused the downstairs (currently can’t use as this is still happening), a couple of plug that have blown their fuse.  Will be contacting the letting agent about this.  But also want to ask about an EICR to put my mind at rest about the house, but unsure if we should have one? 

Also, as a curiosity our last gas safety check the carbon monoxide monitor failed.  The gas safe engineer took the monitor away.  When I got the certificate it stated it had failed.  I chased the letting agent for a replacement (in writing) for approximately 6 weeks.  I did end up buying one as it’s in our interest. My question is should we have had a retest of the new carbon monoxide monitor? Issuing a new gas safety certificate with the carbon monoxide unit passing….? Thanks in advance. 

grumpy_codger

LoopyLoops said:

Hoping someone can advise / confirm please. We started our tenancy in January 2020. It was a one year contract, then rolling since.  

Should we have had an EICR in that time? 

I'm no expert, but AFAIK the current "Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector" require EICR every 5 years (with a copy supplied to you), but they came into force only in June 2020.

FlorayG

EICR is every five years but you should have been supplied with a copy of the latest one so that you can see the date it's due. It's due anyway now if you haven't had one since 2020.
If your gas 'failed the safety check' then yes, you absolutely need a new test and the gas engineer should have informed the agent of the failure and supplied the monitor. I'm not sure if a non-working CO monitor constitutes a 'fail' though as it is not connected to the gas supply; I'm sure someone else here will know that
Sounds like your letting agents are rubbish at their job. On the other hand, if they ever want to evict you they are going to have the devil's job enforcing an eviction notice...

Albermarle

Even if there is a valid EICR, it sounds like you need an electrician in anyway . Blowing fuses is not normal. Although I hope when you say 'fuse' it is not actually an old fashioned fuse box, but that an MCB in the consumer unit is tripping out ?
You can test a CO monitor yourself. It will tell you how in the instructions.

FreeBear

FlorayG said: I'm not sure if a non-working CO monitor constitutes a 'fail' though as it is not connected to the gas supply;

According to the Gas Safe Register, a landlord is required by law to ensure that a working CO alarm is in place when a tenancy commences. It says nothing about maintaining the alarm or replacing it during the lease.

Judging by comments from GS engineers on other forums, the CO alarm (or lack of) is not a fail. Crazy....