AIBU to refuse gas safety check apt on an evening?

[CrimsonLipstickOnMyGlass]

I'm genuinely not sure if I'm being unreasonable or not, basically my landlord use a plumber from the town where he lives which is over an hour's drive away, because the plumbers usual business is in the town where he lives he does not like to come to my town as it means he will be losing 2 hours worth of working time (while driving) which he will not paid for.
Because of this the plumber will not come here unless he has another job nearby or it's outside of his normal working hours, this means I either get a phone call saying 'I'm outside your house right now' or 'i will be in a few hours' meaning he expects me to drop whatever I'm doing and run home even if I'm at work, or he wants to come on an evening, usually with less than a day's notice.

Last year my gas safety check was due in August of 2014 but because of how difficult the plumber is, arranging the appointments was near impossible and it ended up not being done until January 31st 2015 which was in my opinion completely unacceptable and lead to bad feeling between the landlord and myself (as he viewed me resistance to an evening apt as unreasonable).
This year I tried to arrange the gas safety check before it was due but the landlord failed to get back to me. 6 days after it was overdue I came home to find a note from the plumber saying that he had been in the town and came to do the gas check but there was nobody in. The landlord is getting annoyed because he doesn't want a repeat of last year, neither do I, but again, the plumber refuses to come during the working day, I gave him several options of days that I would be in but he didn't even bother to get back to me to let me know that he was unwilling to come on those days.
This afternoon I received a text message which said ''can I come to do the gas safety check tomorrow night???''

AIBU to say no? I know it needs doing and it's urgent as it's overdue again and I do not want a repeat of last year, however, I do not like the idea of it being on an evening, I know that sounds really silly but it just makes me feel uncomfortable think a stranger in my house on an evening, I would just feel much more comfortable if it was during the day.

Is it normal for tradespeople to insist on working on an evening?

Would you allow a tradesperson to dictate that they will only come on an evening or would you allow an appointment on an evening such as this?
I could really use some MN advice on this.

Thank you

Yabu regarding the evening appointment however legally they have to give you a minimum of 24 hours notice.

You also need to bear in mind that with notice the landlord can just let the plumber in himself.

The check is a legal requirement and I am not sure I understand why an evening is a problem to you.

A lot of HAs wont do gas safety checks outside the 9-5 Although i have had them turn up very late at 8.30pm still expecting to get in after being told i couldnt have an evening appointment. Ive also had several no shows with no phone call or explanation.

It can take up a hell of a lot more than just one day a year.

I think you are being very silly.

I'm in Scotland and my experience is only with HA properties so accept that this may not be the case for you - however here, they cap your gas if you don't get the annual safety check completed.

Some HA experiences on this thread OP Liberty Gas were the company i and many other tenants had problems with. Take the evening appointment as long as you havent got plans. It might save you being pissed about and lost wages.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2570536-to-ask-if-any-of-you-have-had-experiences-of-Robert-Heath-Heating

Sorry OP but I don't really get the issue of it being an evening.

To be honest, if it was me I'd be happy with an evening slot as it would mean not having to take time off work (which I would not do for a landlord's gas safety check).

I think you need to give a bit of flexibility & compromise.

The landlord is trying to sort out your certificate, they have arranged for someone to come around etc

My DH lets a property & he has landlord cover with British Gas- of course pays an amount to BG each month for the pleasure.

When it comes to the gas safety check, he just liaises with the tenant to check what kind of time would be convenient & then he books it with BG.

Tenants can choose whether they want daytime or evening

Most HA tenants just receive a letter with a date on it telling them it will be on that day and are lucky if they get to choose AM or PM. Liasing with the tenant first just doesnt come into it.

Your logic of not having a stranger in the house in the evening is ridiculous. Just let him do the check in the evening if you're home. If you faff about for too long the landlord might just give you notice that he'll wait in for the gas man himself.

Really the chances of this plumber being a danger to you are so much less than the chances of you having an accident with an unsafe gas installation.

If you are feeling uneasy maybe chat on your phone while he is there and keep the door open and yourself not far from it. Cd pps stop calling the op names and belittling how she feels?

It's annoying but you'd be cutting off your nose to spite your face to say no. At least it gets the check out if the way. If the plumber is too dangerous to be alone with then his dangerous at anytime of day unless he is a werewolf.

You are making life difficult just for the sake of it.

Surely if it's a daytime appointment you'd have to take time off work which is more inconvenient?!

But as others have said, if he's an axe murderer he'd be just as much of a threat in the day time as in the evening! If you're that bothered just get someone to be in the house with you when he's due to come.

HelenaDove
I was referring to private rental properties, don't know about HA.

It seems reasonable of the landlord to check with the tenant first.

Tradespeople do work into the evening. In our home (rented) we had a workman still around at 8pm as he was fixing something.

Didn't mind it all as it meant no trying to leave work early (impossible).

OP you really need to be a bit more flexible- or the landlord might just decide it's easier to give you notice to vacate.

You're being ridiculous - what on earth is going to happen?? He's coming to check the gas not murder you, are you usually this nervous about normal everyday things? If so have you considered that this level of anxiety isn't normal?

Yabu about the evening thing, assuming it's a sensible time

Yanbu about him turning up unannounced but since you won't agree to evenings he obviously took a chance

It really sounds like you're being obstructive. Just let them do it, it will take 5 minutes and he'll be gone.

You're not strictly in the wrong, as you should be entitled to arrange daytime appointments. But you are BU (sorry) as it just needs to be done and if its not inconvenient to let him in at that time then just do it.

If there was, for example, a gas explosion and you died your landlord (or managing agent if he has one) could go to prison if it was found the gas cert was out of date. I'm actually surprised he's not more persistent in getting it done. If the plumber really is turning up unannounced then YANBU to refuse entry. If, however, he is trying to make appointments and you're being continually awkward then YABU. The landlord would be within his rights to inform you (with notice) that the plumber will be gaining access with keys to get this mandatory check done.

YABU. It's for your own safety. No point in bitching about it to the LL if you refuse a reasonable request for an evening appointment.

you have some choices-
make an evening appointemnet with the plumber
take a day off work for a daytime appointment
allow the plumber to go in without you being there

sticking your head in the sand is not an option. This gas safety check needs doing asap

Unless the landlord meets the plumber at the property for the checks.

Or do you object to that too?

You are making this way more difficult than it needs to be!