Landlord wont repair stairs, we are told to 'manage' until further notice

[aviation]

I live in a flat, below us lives someone who owns their flat, below that a cafe. There are communal internal stairs and also communal outside stairs that lead up to what we call our front door. We always use the outside stairs, so does the postman etc. and its the most convenient way to unload car etc.
My DH fell through the outside stairs because they were rotten, (we have mentioned their state to LL before but she is v slack about repairs and we have to constantly badger her). So, I have told her they need replacing and are unusable. She says that until she can 'force' the person in flat below and the building landlord to go thirds on the repair that we will have to use the internal ones.
Am I right in thinking this is unacceptable and possibly illegal - she is not 'maintaining the property'. She has a history of not doing repairs, always gets cowboys in on the cheap and is reluctant to pay for anything. I understand that she wants to get the others to split the cost but that attitude has now become a problem for me. I cannot receive deliveries/callers because there is no bell on the other door, even if we installed one we are so high up that I couldn't run down stairs quick enough. To use the internal stairs I have to walk around the block to put rubbish out, I cannot park and unload car of kids and shopping safely anymore as have to walk them/everything around the block. Its not impossible but just damn inconvenient and not what I pay rent for.
I know she won't get it done until all parties responsible stump up and they are not interested because one of them can manage using the internal ones as he is much lower down the building and the other doesnt live there so its not a problem for him. Plus, I hear that they dont get along and always try to get each other to take responsibility for things wrong with the building.
Question is - can I give LL a timeline to have stairs replaced before I call council environmental health to inspect property (LL would hate us to do this as she also won't pay out to do the annual gas safety check for the last 2 years,.....illegal I know but she just doesn't do it and I don't want to piss her off and have her hand us notice).

[RedHelenB]

If I had kids I wouldn't risk not having an annual gas check - I'd rather look for another property. Personally I would call the council - landlords have responsibilities.

[PiedWagtail]

What??? You have to have an annual gas check. That's part of being a LL and it's tax deductible. You have to do something. CAb could give you advice. Or a free hour session with a lawyer, get him to draft a letter for you? Can you just call the council to come and inspect the property anyway?? She sounds terrible.

[SarkyWench]

Are the external doors your fire exit?

[amanspointofview]

I don?t have time this evening to address the legal viewpoint regarding both issues but will when time provides in the next few days. However, I urge you to address the gas safety issue as a matter of priority if only for the sake of your children. The consequences of getting it wrong are deadly (pun intended).

I will address the legal bit possibly tomorrow night but on the brief information you have stated you are in an extremely strong position.

[aviation]

Hmm, that's interesting, thanks for all your responses. I don't think the external staircase is classed as a fire exit as such (its made of untreated wood, so I doubt it complies....I thought they had to be metal to be a fire exit?) but I did express this to LL to pressurise her and see what she would say - she said "use the internal staircase as your fire escape"!
The building landlord owns the freehold (he is also a solicitor so no doubt knows what he can/cannot get away with). No building management company or anything like that.
The quote LL got for repair of stairs was just under £250 each, so no consultation should be necessary.
Also, I have just found out the building landlord is putting the freehold up for sale. Anyone would be mad to buy this place as it needs major work to the roof and crumbling walls. So I don't know if that will change things for better or worse.
Should I write to freeholder with a time limit - 2 weeks? (Its already been 2 weeks since they fell through).
You've got me going on the gas cert, I will text her again and tomorrow and not let her ignore me again about this one.

[vj32]

Your DH fell through the stairs? Was he hurt?