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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed of with my Landlord

38 replies

pumpkinsweetie · 20/08/2012 13:18

I had someone out to put in a new gas meter on friday, the man said my boiler was unsafe and is blowing out an yellow flame (dangerous). He has turned my boiler off and it has to be serviced before it can be turned back on due to it being dangerous!
My landlord is also my father, he has not once had out boiler serviced and if it wasn't for the bloke putting meter in we could be dead-carbon monoxide was emmitting from it and due to it being inside a cupboard and it being contained we are lucky.

Phoned him straight away fri-no sorry from him at all, all he did was told me to ring him saturday to get a number of a company he uses for his other property. He said he was going away soon so i would have to deal with it!
Anyway got in touch with company sat, they were supposed to come out today for service but haven't been able to do it as they need the landlords permission-guess what he has already gone away and isnt answering his phone grrr. So his sil has had to authorise it, but i have waited in all day, i have had no hot water since fri morn and im so angry.
They may not have anyone out today now, it will probably be tomorrow.
Aibu to be pissed of my own father/my landord could do this to me? He knows i have no hot water but he chooses to go away without asking whats going on and he seems to have no care in the world about our saftey

OP posts:
TheBigJessie · 20/08/2012 13:24

Your father sounds like he may not be meeting his legal obligations as a landlord. Gas safety checks must be performed regularly.

you might find this useful

fergoose · 20/08/2012 13:27

I agree - he has acted illegally - thank goodness you haven't suffered with carbon monoxide poisoning.

dreamingofsun · 20/08/2012 13:28

he must have a landlord certificate, and a corgi registered engineer has to service it annually. otherwise if anything happened he could get done for manslaughter.

that said, something always seems to go wrong with a property just as you are about to go on hols. maybe he thinks its all in hand and will be gutted when he finds out whats happened.

TheBigJessie · 20/08/2012 13:32

Renting from family can be very fraught. It's very easy for the landlord andtenant to get their duties and obligations all mixed up. The landlord may think "all that expensive stuff with gas engineers doesn't apply when you're renting to family", especially if s/he's reduced the rent. Meanwhile, the tenant feels betrayed at corners being cut!

It's bloody angering when you find out about dodgy gas fittings and possible CO poisoning anyway, but I'd be incandescent if i found a family member had been so irresponsible!

Original poster
pumpkinsweetie · 20/08/2012 13:34

Ive been here four yearsSad, he just seems to think the bloke was making it up so he has to buy a new boiller
Why would he think such a thing, and obviously our lives are not important enough

OP posts:
Original poster
pumpkinsweetie · 20/08/2012 13:36

We pay normal rent aswell, he even tried to put it up a £100 but tbh he doesn't maintain the property enough for me to even consider it not only that i cannot afford it

OP posts:
fergoose · 20/08/2012 13:36

you could report to environmental health - does he have other properties and other tenants which need safeguarding? Is a very scary oversight indeed - thankfully you found out now I guess. Frightening for you though I am sure.

TheBigJessie · 20/08/2012 13:38

All I can suggest is that you become very knowledgeable about your rights, and his duties. Post him some leaflets about what landlords have to do.

He must not cut corners with gas checks!

OccamsRaiser · 20/08/2012 13:41

I'd pass on the link that TheBigJessie has posted above as soon as you can. It's not as though the engineer was creating a problem. He has an obligation to obtain the Gas Safety Certificate each year, family or not, and should ensure that the house is habitable.
You have a right to have hot water, and glad to hear that his SIL has approved the repairs. Good luck and hope you're not waiting too much longer!

DontmindifIdo · 20/08/2012 13:44

Start looking for a new property to rent. If you are paying market rate rents anyway, you should get at least the basics done.

If he wants you to pay market rates then he should treat it like a business properly, if he wants to act like he's doing you a favour by letting you live there, he has to actually do you a favour of making it cheaper than you could get elsewhere.

Original poster
pumpkinsweetie · 20/08/2012 14:36

The engineer has just been, there is another problem-vents need to be installed around the room boiler is contained in!
To do that they need to speak with the actual landlord as it will cost more money.
So still no water grrAngry, he said there is no point in servicing it as firing it up without enough air circulation is not legal.
I have gave them his mobile number in the hope he answers it!, because he won't answer it to me Angry
So basically i have no water until he gets back from holiday, whenever that is i don't know!

OP posts:
DontmindifIdo · 20/08/2012 14:51

If your dad is away, do you have keys to his house? Go live there. He's your dad, can't complain at that.

then start looking for a new property to rent.

dreamingofsun · 20/08/2012 14:52

do you not have an electric emersion heater as well? we have a switch near the big drum thing that holds the water and you can heat it using electric instead of gas. obviously he should compensate you the difference in cost, but it would mean you have hot water in the meantime

RubixCube · 20/08/2012 15:00

Oh why doesn't this suprise me.I could say i'm shocked but looking after his family has never been his strong point.Anyone else and he'd be sorting it out

RubixCube · 20/08/2012 15:05

Maybe thats why people were being ill Angry

Original poster
pumpkinsweetie · 20/08/2012 15:19

Exactlly Rubix, you would think family would come before anything else.
The worst part is, if it had of been winter we could be dead, all of us.
These are his grandkids too, i was told if anything had of happened, he would of got done for manslaughterSad

OP posts:
Mivery · 20/08/2012 15:19

You are totally in the right. Your father put your life in danger, and broke the law while doing so. If this is the quality of work you can expect from him and you are paying a normal renter's rate then you should move before he puts you in more danger due to his negligence.

RubixCube · 20/08/2012 15:26

I'll be having a right go at him when i find out when he comes back.His a disgusting no morals shit bag and could of cost his familys lifes

RubixCube · 20/08/2012 15:44

My dp was absoloutley disgusted that he left that rotten manky falling apart shed in the garden when his grandkids use the garden.The man has no shame as he doesn't have to live there so likes to pretend things aint happening.

Glitterknickaz · 20/08/2012 15:51

Go straight to environmetal health, they can compel him through court to get this fixed and the HSE can fine him.

Original poster
pumpkinsweetie · 20/08/2012 16:37

I don't know whether i could report him, he is my dad. Im going to have a stern conversation with him when he gets back about what the implications would have been had it been winter Sad and say it needs fixing right away and needs checking every year. If not its time to save up & ship out but i will need to find a garantour which will be hard Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
pumpkinsweetie · 20/08/2012 16:39

Im just very sad he cares so little tbh, and also relieved i had my gas meter changed as my children are my world. Carbon monoxide kills the smallest ones first it doesn't bare thinking about

OP posts:
RubixCube · 20/08/2012 16:43

Id have no probs reporting him.That man has had too many chances in life.He would NOT have done this to ANYONE else.Maybe just maybe it will kick him into gear

Glitterknickaz · 20/08/2012 16:45

I'd have no problems reporting him, either.
It's WORSE that he's your dad and prepared to put you and your family at risk.

RubixCube · 20/08/2012 16:45

If i thought he nearly killed my kids id be so livid.I'd text him that if he does not respond to my calls i will have no choice but to report him.I bet that bloody makes him answer