Lying about annual gas safety check.

shellsuit · 28th April 2008, 15:35

Hi

I live in a privately rented house ( been here since 1998 ) and my landlady uses an agent.

The last gas cert I have is dated Dec 06.

Last December, I had a problem with my boiler, so I rang the agents and told them that the gas check was due, so the bloke may aswell kill 2 birds with one stone. Agents told me to ring the service bloke, but I refused, because firstly I don't have his number and secondly, it's not my job to run around doing their job for them. Well they didn't like me telling them that, so they put the phone down on me!

Bloke came to fix the boiler, but he didn't do the gas check. As it was late when he arrived and I was feeling under the weather, I was just happy the boiler was fixed and never mentioned the gas check.

A week later, I rang the agents again to ask about the gas check and they told me it had been done

I explained it hadn't, they insisted it had. There were cross words in the conversation, not by myself, but by the agents (who again, were horrid and rude and spoke to me like something on the bottom of their shoe!).

I sent a letter to them about it but didn't get a reply. I left answer phone messages, didn't get a reply again.

I've just rang them now (I HATE ringing them but I needed to ask them to send me a paying in book) and mentioned the gas check again.

Agent told me it was done on the 3rd Jan 08.

Really?

I explained that nobody had been to do the check in January, but the boiler was fixed in December, so the boiler might have been checked then, but the gas fire and gas hob certainly hadn't. She said 'well I have the cert here in front of me!'

I asked if I'd signed it. She told me it was signed by the bloke, but not me, then said 'you don't need to sign it do you?' ~ is she having a laugh?!

I told her, Yes, I DO need to sign it (they ruddy well know this!) and if it HAD have been done in January, I should have had a copy sent to me within 28 days of the check.

She put me on hold, then come back and said it did have a signature on it but she didn't know if it was mine, so she would get back onto the service bloke and get back to me.

I asked her to send me a copy of whatever it was she had there, along with my new paying in book and she agreed.

Ill give it till the end of the week, then I'll see what this form is and what exactly is on it.

If it's been filled in as if the gas check has been done, when it hasn't, what can I do about it please?

EDIT : Bingo! Proof that they have just lied to me. I've just found a letter from the agents, dated 21st December 2007 :

"We have also checked with X, who confirms there is a current gas certificate"

Also, she just told me she has one dated 3rd Jan 08, but I've just been on another forum I use and have found a post made by myself, on the 4th Jan, asking for a advice on a letter I had drafted, asking for a copy of the gas cert, which they said (back then) had been carried out.

So which is it? They have a cert for Dec 07 and now they are telling me they have one dated 3rd Jan 08.

What a load of bull!

Chromatix · 28th April 2008, 16:45

So... you were feeling "under the weather" at around the same time as the boiler was faulty?

Sounds like it *could* have been mild carbon-monoxide poisoning to me.

Probably not, but...

shellsuit · 28th April 2008, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chromatix

So... you were feeling "under the weather" at around the same time as the boiler was faulty?

Sounds like it *could* have been mild carbon-monoxide poisoning to me.

Probably not, but...

No, it wasn't that. The boiler was leaking like mad but it was still working.

I was under the weather with one of those horrid cold/sore throat/aching joints bugs that was doing the rounds at the time

JonCris · 28th April 2008, 17:01

Do you have the owners name & number

shellsuit · 28th April 2008, 17:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonCris

Do you have the owners name & number

I have a mobile number for the landlady, tried to ring her before but got no answer, so I've just text her asking if she could give me a ring with regards to the gas safety check.

It might not even be her number now though, I've had it in my phone for a couple of years now!

JonCris · 28th April 2008, 17:33

Ask the agents & if they refuse visit you local council office & ask them. Also don't forget to tell them why you need it......that's probably when the proverbial will hit the fan.......& if not the landlord at least the agent might find themselves getting a rather abusive & much more threatening call in return........from the council

shellsuit · 28th April 2008, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonCris

Ask the agents & if they refuse visit you local council office & ask them. Also don't forget to tell them why you need it......that's probably when the proverbial will hit the fan.......& if not the landlord at least the agent might find themselves getting a rather abusive & much more threatening call in return........from the council

Cheers Jon

roboraver · 28th April 2008, 21:14

:o OK please don't flame me.....but what's a Gas Certificate ? I mean I've been living in a privatly rented flat for the last 5 years and have nothing at all !! are you suppose to have one ? the landlord or estate agent havent mentioned a thing !

Aequitas · 28th April 2008, 22:32

Have a look here:

Shelter: Responsibility for gas safety

You may want to go out and buy one of those things that monitor carbon monoxide.

shellsuit · 29th April 2008, 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by roboraver

:o OK please don't flame me.....but what's a Gas Certificate ? I mean I've been living in a privatly rented flat for the last 5 years and have nothing at all !! are you suppose to have one ? the landlord or estate agent havent mentioned a thing !

You should have a gas safety check done every 12 months ~ silly question, but do you have gas in your flat?

It's a legal requirement for your LL/agent to get it done so I'd ask them about it ASAP!

shellsuit · 29th April 2008, 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aequitas

Have a look here:

Shelter: Responsibility for gas safety

You may want to go out and buy one of those things that monitor carbon monoxide.

Thanks, I'll have a look at the link now

I do have a carbon monoxide detector, only the one though for the gas fire in the living room.

shellsuit · 20th June 2008, 19:09

This whole mess still hasn't been sorted.

I received a copy of the supposed gas cert, which was signed by my Father......reason being, he knows the Corgi guy (Father used to work with men the Corgi guy knows) and was here the day he fixed the boiler. I was here too, but as they were chatting, I came upstairs and left them to it.

When Corgi guy was leaving, he asked my Father to sign his sheet ~ my Father not having very good eyes, thought it was a job sheet for the boiler so signed it.

The gas check was NOT done on that day, so I rang the agents and told them.

They told me it had.

I told them it hadn't.

I asked them to explain, why they sent me a letter in December 07, stating that there was a current gas cert if the gas check was 'supposedly' done on the 3rd Jan 08.

They couldn't answer.

They passed a message on to the Corgi guy, who rang me. He was sheepish on the phone and said he rememebered doing it on the 3rd Jan.

I said "that's funny because I was away from new years eve until the 5th Jan so how can you explain that?" (I wasn't but I know for a fact he didn't come on the 3rd Jan because I posted on another forum on the 4th Jan asking for advice on the issue)

He said he might have written the wrong date on the sheet (Of course!).

He said the only thing he could do is come out and do it (again!), so I said that was fine.

He never came.

I rang the agents and told them.

I rang them a week later again.

I rang them a week later again.

A fortnight has passed since that last call.

The boiler (just about an hour ago) has been pishing out water ~ the landing carpet is soaked, the hall carpet is soaked where it is dripping down and the banister paint has all bubbled and is peeling off!!

I don't have an emergency number for the agents, I've just text and rang the landlady and got no answer.

I am so mad!!

Would I be within my rights to contact a Corgi guy myself, get him to do sort the boiler AND do a gas check, then submit the bill to the agents and say that unless it is paid within 7 days, that I will recoup the cost from my rent???

Please help, this is driving me absolutely insane because neither the agents, the landlady or the corgi guy are taking this seriously!

JonCris · 20th June 2008, 19:50

Who owns the property as it's they who are liable not the agents' The agents are acting (or not as the case might be) for the owner

I suggest you inform the owner (in writing) of your intentions whilst pointing out their agents failures & advising them that a claim for compensation will be made for your damaged property

shellsuit · 20th June 2008, 19:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonCris

Who owns the property as it's they who are liable not the agents' The agents are acting (or not as the case might be) for the owner

I suggest you inform the owner (in writing) of your intentions whilst pointing out their agents failures & advising them that a claim for compensation will be made for your damaged property

Hi Jon, the house is owned by my landlady.

When I contacted her at the beginning of this mess, she told me (via text message!) that everything is down the the agents ~ is this not correct?

I don't have a home address for the landlady, if I contact the agents, should they give me one, or should I say, do they have to give me an address for her?

JonCris · 20th June 2008, 20:04

As the owner it's she who is liable not the Agents. Go to your local council & explain whats happening & request her address so you can send an LBA.

Also if they take the phony certificate on board she won't be able to hide behind the agents. They'll want to speak with her direct

From my experience they take such matters as faulty boilers very seriously indeed

shellsuit · 20th June 2008, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonCris

As the owner it's she who is liable not the Agents. Go to your local council & explain whats happening & request her address so you can send an LBA.

Also if they take the phony certificate on board she won't be able to hide behind the agents. They'll want to speak with her direct

From my experience they take such matters as faulty boilers very seriously indeed

I'll ring my local council on Monday then, just incase I need to make an appointment first.

If this all goes t!ts up, they can evict me can't they?

I'm on an assured shorthold tenancy (moved in, in July 1998

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