Tenants and Gas Inspection

[Irishgurl]

We have given our tenants notice that we are not renewing their lease when it expires in May. This is more than the required notice. We have asked repeatedly (Texts and three letters) to allow the gas company in to undertake the required gas checks which are due for end February. Tenant doesn't reply. Obviously we will not just enter the property but what else can I do? Tenant has previously answered texts, always paid on time. We are aware they don't want to move and have lived there 4 years but we are going to sell the property so cannot extend the lease when it runs out.Have offered to give them a good reference but I'm now very disappointed with them.

I actually take people to court and serve eviction notices for tenants who do not give access for outstanding Gas Servicing!

Then you should know that a LL cannot just enter the property. They have to get a court order to do so.

And I should say our tenants get 12 weeks notice, if on week X (specific week) access is still not granted we start court proceedings.

Then you should know that a LL cannot just enter the property. They have to get a court order to do so.

I’m very much aware we cannot enter the property without a court access, hence why I said cap the gas (if meter outside) and service the notice.

Perfectly legal.

JIMMYHILL......who do you think should pay for this basic right to a roof over everyone's head...really curious as to how that would work...

Haud, you absolute buffoon, you are acting illegally if you have ever cut off a tenants gas.

I’m very much aware we cannot enter the property without a court access, hence why I said cap the gas (if meter outside) and service the notice.

Perfectly legal.

Yet you had a pop at the poster who said that a LL couldn't just override the tenants right to quiet enjoyment regardless of what is in the tenancy agreement.

You totally contradicted yourself.

You still can't cap the gas without the court order.

Passmethecrisps
For goodness sake jimmy. What do you think would happen if all private landlords stopped renting their properties

They would not be able to pay the mortgages and the banks would get the houses and they would sell them on.

Lets not pretend that LLs are renting because of their altruistic nature and that they don't need tenants.

But haud is absolutely right, the landlord can gap the gas off if the tenant ignores the inspection request and warning is given. It's extremely common. It's deemed to be for the tenants safety and so is not harassment

who do you think should pay for this basic right to a roof over everyone's head...really curious as to how that would work

Tenants would pay, but they would enjoy far more secure tenancies, and it would be more affordable to purchase property because fewer people would own excess property - so more supply in the market.

We don't suffer from a housing shortage - we suffer from unequal distribution. There is really no good reason why any private individual should own a house they do not live in.

Fundamentally: ban private landlords.

I absolutely don’t think that boney. Not at all. And frankly I am squirming at some of the comments on here.

I don’t want to pick a fight at all but if the banks reclaim the houses and sell them on it still comes back to private renting.

I just don’t know how helpful it is to reduce threads about tenancy down to landlords being money grabbing scum.

I grew up in a tied property and jimmys comment about a feudal system rings true. Except in some places we are still feudal by behaviour

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend
Cap the gas, (if meter outside) if inside, give 24 hours notice, you are well within your rights to do so, it’s not only for their safety but for the neighbours also

Neither of these is legal.

@jimmyhill So why not go off and buy your own place? Or live off grid in the wilds somewhere? I was bloody delighted to be able to rent when I first moved to London, how the hell could I have survived if there was nowhere to rent? I don’t get the attitude of some renters on here. And you can’t expect to stay in a rented house forever (with no rent increases, I imagine!) because it’s quite possible the ll may want to sell. Tough, that’s their right. Some ll don’t make money, you know, I’m in the red due to emergency repairs needed, which is something a ll has to be prepared for. I’ll suck it up, cos shit happens.

OP, please seek correct legal advice, some of it on here is SHIT. Also, do look into when the AST ends as opposed to when you think they should leave. If it’s May, then July is when you can hope they leave.

the landlord can gap the gas off if the tenant

Citation needed

Passmethecrisps
I absolutely don’t think that boney. Not at all. And frankly I am squirming at some of the comments on here.

It is honestly good to know

I don’t want to pick a fight at all but if the banks reclaim the houses and sell them on it still comes back to private renting.

You said what would happen if all LLs stopped renting, this would be changing your argument.

I just don’t know how helpful it is to reduce threads about tenancy down to landlords being money grabbing scum.

I'm not but people pay far to much for far to little for the right to be able to rent a property.

I grew up in a tied property and jimmys comment about a feudal system rings true. Except in some places we are still feudal by behaviour

I agree.

So why not go off and buy your own place?

Because people are hoarding properties to keep for themselves as a source of income?

These threads always turn into a shit slinging session. I bought a house even when I was entitled to housing benefit, probably “missed out” on £6,000 a tear but wanted the security of knowing I never had to leave if I didn’t want to. It’s not an insurmountable amount of money required to buy a house. I’d recommend it.

I’ll suck it up, cos shit happens.

You could sell it. Or perhaps you know you’ll make a gain in the long term by hanging onto it.

So why not go off and buy your own place

The moment I can, I will. For now I am trapped renting. Paying way over the odds for a grim little house in the SE where it is exceedingly difficult to afford to buy.

It’s not an insurmountable amount of money required to buy a house. I’d recommend it.

😂😂😂 where do you live?

sluj

the agreement for the supply of gas is between the tenant and the gas supplier any disruption of that supply would have to go through the courts.

Somewhere I can afford, isn’t that the idea that you look around see where you can afford to live and live there ?

jimmyhill you raise a good point about "hoarding of properties" but you come across as such a knob no one will take you seriously.

Oh, i didn’t realise it was that simple, just look where you can afford! And silly me spending all these years paying rent when the answer was so simple.

A gas inspection is pretty important for both them in the property and the rest of the street, jeez. If it was for something directly related to you selling it then I could understand, but it’s a gas inspection . Maybe landlords shouldn’t bother renting to anyone and let the houses sit vacant.

Jimmyhill

I have no idea why you have an axe to grind, but the reality is that if you rent privately then you do not own the property and so do not have the right to live in it forever. It is disappointing to have to leave a property you have made your home, but if you want absolute certainty of tenure then either council tenancy or buying your own property is the only 100% sure way of doing so. OP has given plenty of notice to allow her tenants plenty of time to find a new property and has offered a good reference. She seems to have been fair here.

Not allowing gas safety inspections is foolish and petty. Seeking access for gas inspection is perfectly legitimate and is not onerous for the tenants. Agree OP cannot simply enter the property, but she could go to court to gain access- and tenants may end up paying costs. So wouldn't it just be better if they acted like grown up's and allowed OP to do something which needs to be done?