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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to refuse gas safety check apt on an evening?

146 replies

CrimsonLipstickOnMyGlass · 07/03/2016 21:22

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

OP posts:
HelenaDove · 08/03/2016 18:08

Although i think the evening appointment is a good offer i also think 24 hours notice for gas safety checks in general is not enough. Imagine the AIBU if the tenant was a teacher or a childminder.

"AIBU to be pissed off that the field trip is cancelled at 24 hours notice due to teacher having day off for gas safety check"

"AIBU to be fucked off that i have to find alternative child care at 24 hours short notice due to childminder having to stay home for safety check."

ivykaty44 · 08/03/2016 18:11

Family round the corner all died due to not having a simple gas check - they all went to sleep on the sofa in the lounge and never woke up one evening.....

DancingDinosaur · 08/03/2016 18:19

Just get it done and give the neighbour the key.

PrincessMouse · 08/03/2016 19:05

Op, are evenings difficult for you because you work? If that's the case then I would book some time off. Inconvenient and really annoying but it's not worth risky you and your family's life.

kali110 · 08/03/2016 19:08

So originally it was 'i don't like the idea of it being in the evening' and now and now you can't be there, which is it?
Why are you safer with a stranger in the day than at night?

RubbleBubble00 · 08/03/2016 19:18

Sometimes gas engineers have employed day jobs and work self employed in the evenings and weekends doing LL jobs ect. This could very likely be the reason he can only do evening and its short notice.

If your uncomfortable could you ask LL to come too?

Gabilan · 08/03/2016 19:23

Last time I had a gas check I had a long chat with the gas man about 19th century novelists. Then he condemned the gas fire.

OP I do get that although it's illogical, evening appointments can feel weird. But just let him in. Odds he'll turn out to be an axe murderer? Very low. Odds there's a problem with the gas? Low, but higher than him being a murderer and just as deadly.

MrsFring · 08/03/2016 19:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsFring · 08/03/2016 19:39

I'm sorry! That was my daughter at work, as you were!

LettingAgentNightmare · 08/03/2016 19:40

As a LL, you are the sort of tenant that leaves me pulling my hair out.

The check is done for you, not for me. I have my own boiler checked. Why make everything so hard.

The gas man is a professional, is it really that likely he will try and murder you in your own home after 5pm, probably not. I don't see why being there is the evening is such a horrific impediment.

QforCucumber · 08/03/2016 19:48

The man is a professional, running a business if he works for himself - him being at your property is no different to you having to call out a paramedic to come to your home, or a delivery driver bringing something in. I don't know, maybe it's because my dp works in similar trade and works on call, but I've never understood this. If you had a fire would you object to the fire service coming in because you were uncomfortable? If you discovered a gas leak would you object to an emergency gas man coming into your home to resolve the issue?

specialsubject · 08/03/2016 19:59

24 hours is a suggested minimum. Given how busy most reputable gas people are, I arrange my check about a month ahead, which gives plenty of time to find a mutually convenient time for the tenant.

HelenaDove · 08/03/2016 20:05

YY special Thats more than enough time.

Cookingongas · 08/03/2016 20:07

You admit in the op that you won't let him in of an evening because you are uncomfortable with it. Then you say you 'can't ' be there.

Yabu. He's not a stranger - same guy as last year. You may not like him but I doubt he's harboured a grudge about you awkwardness for the last year - certainly not enough to have chosen this visit as the time murder you in revenge ( but only if he can come in the evening- nobody likes rape and murder outside of twilight!)

He doesn't want to take two hours unpaid for the £50 he'll get to service your boiler. I can't blame him tbh. I'm probably biased as a gas engineer but seriously? It's twenty minutes of your time!

NeedsAsockamnesty · 08/03/2016 20:26

helena

HA contractors have nothing at all to do with anything at all in this thread. The only connection at all is its a boiler.

Posting the stories about how crap the company the HA uses makes no sense at all.

snickers251 · 08/03/2016 21:17

Helen - not all gas engineers are like that, HA contractors are another story altogether (I've worked for a few)

Op My gas engineer dh would rather be home before the dc go to bed but he does most of his gas safety checks in the evening because it helps the tenants out who have work commitments.

By all means insist on notice but be flexible, it doesn't take long and it really is for your safety.

We have a large number of landlords and letting agencies on our books and it's not uncommon for tenancies not to be renewed due to uncooperative tenants

Alexa444 · 08/03/2016 21:43

Little bit UR. You work during the day and won't let him make an evening app? So when is he supposed to do it? It takes 20 minutes for goodness sake. I was letting the gas man in for the gas service while my mum was at work when I was 12, what is it you think he is going to do? He needs no input from you whatsoever, you can just get on with your usual routine.

Why would it being evening make it any more unsafe in the event that he wasn't trustworthy? If anything I would think it would be safer. More people home in surrounding houses to hear you if you screamed.

Can your LL not let him in to do it when you are not there? Failing that can he not just use a different engineer?

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 08/03/2016 21:51

I'm a tenant not a LL but honestly dealing with you in any capacity would make me tear my hair out with frustration and then give you notice as soon as was legal. You can't be reasonable and you can't even keep your own story straight

TickettyBoo · 08/03/2016 21:54

Yabu. Better but to be gassed and die, stop being awkward 😐

HelenaDove · 08/03/2016 22:34

Sock a. it is relevant because i think the OPs landlord is being flexible and considerate as well as offering an evening appointment Many HA tenants arent offered any of these. And i like to back up what i say hence the links. Not just post any old thing and expect everyone to believe it without links to prove what im saying.

b. ive mentioned more than one company. Its not one company. Its a problem right across the sector.

I posted to illustrate that the OP is actually getting a good deal. Thats where the relevance is.

Buckinbronco · 08/03/2016 22:41

I would be very very irritated by the hassle caused by your landlord and the plumber over something as simple as a gas safety check and would be inclined to make life difficult them too OP so I get it. You aren't really winning by refusing access though.

The posters are being ridiculously over dramatic about the chances of you being killed in a gas explosion though- you won't.

You don't have to let them in either, 24 hours notice or not. You may as well though since it's not really a big deal

Buckinbronco · 08/03/2016 22:42

Helena why are you so obsessed with HA maintenance contractors?

Cookingongas · 08/03/2016 23:16

Buckin- dramatic maybe- but I have had to cut off many a standard service on a boiler spewing carbon monoxide. Rarely leaking gas, and never have I attended an explosion. Carbon monoxide at dangerous levels- often. Any service engineer will tell you the same.

safety certificates are for tenants/owners not engineers. There's no money in safety certificates- we (engineers) do certs to increase loyalty (eventual repairs and installs, it's also good for keeping you in mind of different boilers parts etc) and to promote safety. I could never issue a cert again and I would still be booked 6 weeks in advance and making my wage.

HelenaDove · 08/03/2016 23:23

Bucking Bronco its not obsession Its just pointing out what SH tenants have to put up with.

Do you really think someone using a mouthwash lid on a boiler to stop fumes is acceptable?

If it was owner occupiers getting that kind of service and then objecting to it i dont think they would be getting called obsessed.