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.

This is totally off topic but I find it astonishing what people believe about the rights of landlords. I have lost track of the times I am asked about how often I do spot checks on the basis that it’s “my house”. My response is always that’s it is the tenants home. I answered a query recently where someone asked me whether they should be concerned that the tenant answered the door in their grubby pants with dirty dishes in the sink. More power to them was my response. None of your business.

Done well, I genuinely believe that it is mutually beneficial.

I am not sure I am really cut out for it to be honest.

Is OP still here or has she given up?

Puggles123

Maybe landlords shouldn’t bother renting to anyone and let the houses sit vacant.

Once again how would they pay the mortgages on these properties.

Its such a strawman argument

@ILoveMaxiBondi there you go then, all sorted stop paying someone else’s mortgage and pay your own

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

This is possible in parts of the country but not so much in the south east now. I'm not in kind of job where I can just relocate to somewhere my deposit will go further. In the meantime: the kids go to school and develop friendships. OH has a job too. etc etc

Real lives are complex. People aren't spherical cows.

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

There are plenty of politicians, charities, and think-tanks making my argument politely, so I think I'll ignore your tone policing.

Yep, i’ll get right on it. Now, where would you consider is an affordable place to buy for a lone parent with -£97.56 balance in the bank?

Okay, well sell them so the only way to afford a home is if you are able to save for a deposit and secure a mortgage. A gas inspection is an entirely reasonable request, and is not doing the LL a favour- it is a legal requirement. It seems petty, and as a lot of people have have found myself in this situation, but I knew that when I started renting.

This is totally off topic but I find it astonishing what people believe about the rights of landlords. I have lost track of the times I am asked about how often I do spot checks on the basis that it’s “my house”. My response is always that’s it is the tenants home.

I find that as well.

Same as recently when a relative of mine was made homeless (because they are a feckless, bullying idiot whose spouse finally saw sense) and folks thought I could just "tell them to leave" as it is "my house".

I very firmly believe that people should have to go on some sort of course to be allowed to let out their properties so that they know what they are actually doing. Landlords should also be registered as they are in Scotland. Not possible with council cutbacks I know, but it would be much better if someone somewhere was just keeping an eye on how many complaints there was about a specific landlord.

@ILoveMaxiBondi I’m a lone parent too and I’m not overdrawn, looks like you’ve got lots of work to do. There’s a really good book I’d recommend called the bare foot investor, help you get back on track. Good luck

This is totally off topic but I find it astonishing what people believe about the rights of landlords

What's also on display here is the pernicious effect of the power imbalance between landlords and tenants.

Landlords on this thread breaking the law, writing threatening letters, etc

Tenants terrified because they know they need a good reference to rent again. Because they fear retribution through loss of deposit (someone will come asking with some bullshit about deposit "protection"). Because they may be at risk of redundancy and know that eviction between jobs could mean homelessness.

And many tenants who simply don't understand their (very complex) rights and don't have the time, resources, or ability to obtain good advice.

And in this equation only one party is ever being evicted from their ONLY home: the tenant.

That’s interesting lala. We are in Scotland and we did have a council organised course to attend. It wasn’t compulsory but so helpful

there you go then, all sorted stop paying someone else’s mortgage and pay your own

That's a special level of patronising that one.

looks like you’ve got lots of work to do

Outside of the one full time and one part time job I do just to keep my head above water? Silly me, another simple solution, i’ll Add that to my list of things to do to by like Liverpool.

@Inliverpool1 That's not quite right. You can give notice, the last day of which must be at least one day after the end date of the initial term. So if the initial term (as you said 'lease') ends on 1 June, you can give two months notice on 2 April so that the notice period ends on 2 June. Well that's how it was a few months ago. I don't think the law has changed since then.

Passme I was quite surprised when I enquired and there wasn't anything here. I didn't even have to tell anyone other than the taxman. There really should be more regulation imo.

When did they move in exactly, OP? Have a read of this re dates:

www.weightmans.com/insights/gas-safety-certificates-a-warning/

@thecatneuterer thank you, good to know

Do you believe you own a hotel room because you pay for a couple of nights to stay in it? Do you own a holiday let because you pay for a week or 2?

A rental is just like a hotel stay, not sure why people see it differently. No shame in it, but it's just a business.

A rental is just like a hotel stay, not sure why people see it differently.

Yeah.... the law sees it differently

I am still here. I just don't have the energy to argue about the system of renting. I've been a tenant myself when I was very young. I didn't feel exploited and it suited me when I had my first job as it gave me flexibility. As I explained, we now have a family member who is seriously ill. Same family member is a director in our company and wants us to buy their shares. I need to sell this rental property which covers the exact price of the shares. The alternative is to sell the whole company and put all our workers out of their jobs. I don't think that is necessary. We have never put the rent up of this property and it is now below market price. The tenant has her rent paid by her parents even though both she and her partner work. She has told me that she could buy her own property but it wouldn't be as nice as the property we rent to her. I'm not sure why a request for information has produced so much vitriol. Thank you to those who have given balanced advice. To summarize, I will not enter the property, I will not cut off the gas, I will continue recording my attempts to renew the certificate, I will speak to a solicitor, I will continue to hope for the best but will be prepared for a drawn out transaction. I'm not here to house other people for free though and the tenants are not be chosen charity!

Jesus wept.

That’s a hotel. Fuck sake. Why don’t we all just stick our houses on fucking Facebook and changehe locks when we want them out?

Or. We have laws and regulations to protect the more vulnerable in a contract.

Good luck OP.

JimmyHill Your posts make it very clear what you think of landlords. Perhaps they should ALL sell, then when you can't find a home to rent you'll really have something to bitch and moan about.

Ridiculous attitude.

when you have such a negative against landlords that are actually trying to follow regulations and protect their tenants safety in the process, you are losing all credibility anyway.

SilverySurfer

If we are to follow this "ridiculous" argument of all landlords selling.

Around here they are already having problems selling the overpriced new builds.

What do you think would happen to the market if it was suddenly flooded with millions of extra housing?

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.

Weren’t we all, once? I have no idea of your age, but I’m guessing you’re not more than 30? I was not thrilled to rent, mainly because I hate magnolia, but I had to suck it up and save until 8 could afford a tiny one bed flat, also SE. It’s just the way of it. This will never change. Railing against it on here just makes you out to be angry and naive. Perhaps we should adopt the Germanic system where nobody really cares to own, everyone rents.