Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think this is isn't right? Carbon monoxide related.

37 replies

WafflesWafflesWaffles · 09/05/2018 16:37

Woke up this morning feeling unwell. Headache, dizziness and generally shit. I put it down to coming on my period/the hot weather but I didn't feel up to going to work. I took Dd to nursery and came back home. I felt okay at this point as was annoyed at myself for not going to work.

At home about an hour and started feeling unwell and I fell asleep on the couch which is something I never do. Woke up still feeling rubbish and went to collect Dd.

Dd fell asleep on the couch and she hasn't had a day time nap for months but again I put it down to the weather.

I put a chicken in the oven and about two hours later the carbon monoxide alarm started going off. Not just a random beep, it was a continuous beep for about ten minutes and the red light was flashing. I opened the doors and turned the oven and boiler off and it eventually stopped.

I phoned the national gas emergency line who sent someone out within 20 minutes and he condemned my boiler and oven and turned my gas supply off and told me to contact the landlord to come and fix it.

I phoned the estate agent who said she didn't know how to deal with this and asked me to bring the paperwork in. I did and when I got there she was a bit funny with me and asked who I got out to look at the boiler. I said I phoned the gas emergency line who sent someone out. She said in future ring us and we will send someone. I said well in a emergency you phone the emergency services, not an estate agent who will take a few days to get someone out. We could have been dead by the time they sent someone out if past experiences were anything to go by!

She said because I've phoned someone else and not them she has to get in touch with the landlord who will decide whether or not to send someone out and not only will it take a few days, I will also be charged for it.

Aibu to think this is bullshit? Surely a potential carbon monoxide leak is dangerous and should treated as such or am I being dramatic? She made me feel stupid for being concerned.

Any advice would greatly appreciated!

OP posts:
Smeddum · 09/05/2018 16:41

I phoned the national gas emergency line who sent someone out within 20 minutes and he condemned my boiler and oven and turned my gas supply off and told me to contact the landlord to come and fix it

A gas engineer has condemned the boiler and oven. One approved by the emergency gas line.

They have to pay, it’s not your responsibility to fix it. It’s theirs. And they need to make it safe before you and your DD spend any more time in there.

scurryfunge · 09/05/2018 16:42

Can you bypass the dangerous idiot and speak to the landlord directly.

Witchend · 09/05/2018 16:44

If the gas supply is off then it shouldn't be producing more CO so if you open all windows and doors to clear it you should be fine. You might be advised if you phone 111 to go to A&E for a blood check.

But you're not an emergency any more as it isn't still a risk. I've had gas people out at 11pm in November who gave walked in and condemned the gas supply, but that's the emergency work. Getting them to do the repairs takes much longer as it isn't an emergency any more.

Smeddum · 09/05/2018 16:44

print this and take it directly to the letting agent

This should put a rocket up her arse to take action. There are very real consequences for LL who don’t take gas safety seriously, to the point there’s an actual piece of legislation to deal with it.

In the link I put up, it states that gas safety trumps any tenancy agreement and that the LL (or letting agent) has a legal responsibility to ensure gas safety, which they clearly haven’t done. So they’re on shaky ground and they know it.

Witchend · 09/05/2018 16:45

Sorry, I meant to say that you were an emergency while CO was still believe Ng produced.

BertieBotts · 09/05/2018 16:48

Yes but surely turning off the gas has left OP without hot water. Heating ok, not an issue in this weather, but I'm sure landlords have a duty to ensure water supply or you're entitled to pay less rent. I'm not up to date with UK law on this so perhaps someone can clarify or confirm? I know also there are supposed to be yearly safety checks done on the boiler so they could potentially get into a lot of trouble. It might be worth asking CAB what your rights and their responsibilities are?

Good job you had an alarm :(

LoniceraJaponica · 09/05/2018 16:52

What a lucky escape you have had.

I would also print Smeddum's link and take it to the estate agent. They could end up in serious trouble for giving out such dangerous advice. Is there a regulatory body for landlords who can advise?

I think it is woth contacting your GP and asking for a telephone consultaion. They might want to check you both over.

Zampa · 09/05/2018 16:55

Try and get hold of the Landlord directly - the agent sounds ridiculous. Contact details should be on your tenancy agreement or deposit protection certificate.

TBF on the LL, they may have done everything properly re. servicing and gas safety certification. Things do sometimes go wrong over the course of the year. However, it's now up to them to get it fixed in a reasonable timescale. I'd expect engineers to attend to quote within 48 hours of you notifying the agent.

WafflesWafflesWaffles · 09/05/2018 16:57

Witchend thanks, I was wondering if we were still okay to be here even with the gas turned off.

I'm not expecting them to come out and fix it straight away as they usually take a few days when I've phoned about the boiler (which is knackered btw, I've got other threads about my freezing cold house). It's just the way she made out like it wasn't a big deal and I shouldn't have phoned the emergency line. If I'd have phone the estate agents I would have got the same attitude I got today and she would just said leave it with me and not got back in touch.

We've got an electric shower so can still have a wash but other than that we are without hot water and an oven for as long as it takes them to send someone out to it.

The boiler is a 17 year old monstrosity that conks all the time and they've been out to it 4 times this year.

OP posts:
SleepFreeZone · 09/05/2018 16:57

Fucking hell the brass neck of the letting agent. Who the fuck do they think they are!? Would they have preferred you to have died and used their preferred agent.

aladyofindeterminateage · 09/05/2018 16:58

Have you got your current gas safety certificate? The landlord must get this check done every year. It is the law.

Smeddum · 09/05/2018 17:00

So you’ve already called them about gas safety issues and they haven’t done what’s needed?

You need a solicitor, and fast.

aladyofindeterminateage · 09/05/2018 17:01

Good idea to at least get your dd checked by gp. Also have this event documented in medical records.
Thank goodness you have an alarm. Did the landlord provide the alarm?
You and your dd could have died or suffered brain damage

The agent's response is shocking.

Bagadverts · 09/05/2018 17:05

Similar links to PP. One is from National Grid what to do - certainly doesn't mention contact the landlord. The other is Shelter landlord responsibilities

www.nationalgrid.com/uk/safety-and-emergencies/gas-emergencies-and-safety-advice

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/how_to_report_repairs_to_a_private_landlord

VerbenaBorensis · 09/05/2018 17:13

Contact the citizens advice bureau. What a shit landlord. Carbon monoxide kills -it's a colourless odourless gas which is why people have alarms and also why boilers should be serviced annually and councils usually every 6 months. You are not being dramatic. Landlord is in big trouble for this. Legally he/she is responsible for the boiler service and general safety at the property (electrics etc) The lettings agent should also beware of landlords responsibilities. I would have gone ape shit. If I was yr friend I would be in the lettings office with you creating merry hell to support you. So lucky u had an alarm.

rjay123 · 09/05/2018 17:13

Send the agents an email, saying:

“Just to confirm our conversation earlier, you have said that I was in the wrong to call the gas emergency line, and instead should have called the letting agent directly, despite the fact my CO alarm was activated. As a consequence of me calling the emergency line, you are now demanding that I pay for work to repair the boiler, instead of the landlord.

Please advise if I have any of this was misunderstood?”

Let them put into writing that you they are criticising your actions.

WafflesWafflesWaffles · 09/05/2018 17:15

Gas safety was done in February when the boiler broke last time so that's all up to date.

No the alarm was my own that my previous estate agents provided me with in my last property. I wasn't given one by the new estate agents.

The manager of the estate agents has just phoned me and said they will get an engineer out to it tomorrow morning.

I've honestly never known an estate agents like it! The woman who manages my property also manages my sister's and we both agree she isn't very good at her job.

OP posts:
bluerunningshoes · 09/05/2018 17:16

especiallywith the previous history of crap boiler, you were very very lucky.
keep a 'paper' trail. email agency cc landlord 'as discussed earlier, boiler was condemned by gas safe...and subsequently gas turned off at source...'

Smeddum · 09/05/2018 17:16

No the alarm was my own that my previous estate agents provided me with in my last property. I wasn't given one by the new estate agents

It’s a bloody good thing you had one!

I’d write the email a PP posted anyway, and add that it is a very good thing you’d provided your own CM detector, otherwise the outcome could have been very different.

Bloomed · 09/05/2018 17:16

Go get you and your dd checked over asap. It may have been low level leaking for a while.
The estate agent is talking nonsense. You did the right thing.

NotARegularPenguin · 09/05/2018 17:19

I thought that legally a landlord had to have a carbon monoxide alarm?

I’m sure if god forbid here had been a worse outcome they could be facing some serious trouble. People get prosecuted for manslaughter for stuff like this.

ILikeMyChickenFried · 09/05/2018 17:20

You did completely the right thing. We had a similar issue on Christmas Eve. I tried a few Corgi registered engineers before the gas emergency line but they all refused to come out, said it was an emergency to get the gas off asap.

Smeddum · 09/05/2018 17:21

read this

Furthermore, under new legislation introduced in October 2015, private residential landlords in England are obliged to fit a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a solid fuel appliance

In addition with annual safety checks on each appliance and flue, this aims to ensure tenants are adequately protected against fire and carbon monoxide. Failure to comply with the legislation, and private landlords are susceptible to pay a £5,000 fine

The important bit from that link. They’re shitting themselves because they know they’ve broken the law.

NotARegularPenguin · 09/05/2018 17:21

Just checked, they only have to provide an alarm if there’s solid fuel, so not for a gas appliance.

Smeddum · 09/05/2018 17:23

Oh shit I didn’t see solid fuel. But still, the second part of what I put stands.

Swipe left for the next trending thread