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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To deny my landlord access at this current time?

90 replies

Sendhelppls · 07/04/2020 17:02

A few weeks ago, my landlords agent emailed me to ask if I was ok for a gas safety engineer to come and do inspections. At the time I had symptoms of flu (not sure if it was covid-19 or not) so I replied and said it wasn’t a good idea and not fair on a work man to come into my home and catch anything.

They’ve emailed me again today and said is it ok for him to come now?
I’ve emailed back and said under current isolation rules it’s not sensible for work men to be coming into my property especially as I have a two year old child here with me. We haven’t left the house in three weeks as I’m also 33 weeks pregnant so the risk just isn’t worth it. I feel like letting a work man come into my home completely defeats the purpose of us self isolating and puts us at risk.

Am I being unreasonable? I understand it’s essential to carry out the inspection but I think they should wait until the virus has calmed down or at least until Boris says it’s okay to visit each other again.

OP posts:
madamim · 07/04/2020 17:44

Hi I work for a gas engineering firm and yes it can be left. We do a lot of work for letting agencies and there's a flat we've been trying to gain access to since Christmas, the tenant is not allowing access. The letting agency has said it will be vacant in July so we're going back then HTH x

DobbinEweInn · 07/04/2020 17:49

The silly thing is you can technically have 14 months between inspection as it can be done 2 months before the inspection date but maintain the same one. This was a fairly recent (ish) change in legislation so most would due would have been inspected within the last year. so why they can't allow even a 2 months extension like the MOT had been extended by 6 months to get through this immediate period of uncertainty.

morecoffeerequired · 07/04/2020 17:49

Do you have a carbon monoxide detector?

crankyhousewife · 07/04/2020 17:51

We had our gas safety check last week and it never occurred to me to refuse. He came with a mask and I never went near him. Risks to either of us? Minimal.

You could refuse but your landlord could also give you notice to leave. It's up to you.

FAQs · 07/04/2020 17:51

What @ madamim says, if you refuse and there is a leak or explosion the landlord only has to show he attempted to arrange access, which it sounds as if he has done.

LIZS · 07/04/2020 17:52

Chances are they will use overshoes, overalls and gloves and/or wash hands. If boiler is in kitchen can they use a back door? More chance of them catching it from you tbh. Do you really want to bring home a newborn to an unchecked boiler?

vanillandhoney · 07/04/2020 17:52

Sorry but I think YABU.

Gas safety checks are a legal requirement and work is still allowed to be carried out in people's homes when it's essential.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 07/04/2020 17:54

That’s a tricky one. I can see your POV and agree with you as I know that’s how I’d feel.

However as a LL it is a legal requirement to renting a property. The LL will be liable if it doesn’t take place and it’s illegal to let a property without one.

It’s there to protect you and your family.

tara66 · 07/04/2020 17:54

As morecoffeerequired said.. You do not want to die of a gas leak either!
Can you not isolate in one room when the man comes then clean after he leaves? I had gas leak under floor boards and gas was switched off. Can you switch gas off until test?

Elouera · 07/04/2020 17:56

We are landlords to a small student let (managed by the student association). We got this letter a few days ago, and this was the info about such checks. When does your current one expire?:

'Electrical & Gas safety checks / Contractors – The regulations on these have not changed at present so upon your instruction/agreement we will appoint an electrician/gas engineer to carry-out these necessary checks when due. Again, we would ask all parties if they have any symptoms or have had any contact with anyone with symptoms to let us know prior to the visit so we can make alternative arrangements. In the event the Tenants do not allow access this will be documented to prove we have attempted to gain access and then arrange for a later date'

Teddie2000 · 07/04/2020 17:56

If you catch Corona Virus, you will probably know, you will probably have symptoms, you can go to hospital and hopefully get some treatment and recover.

Carbon Monoxide is called the silent killer, you won't even notice the deterioration in your health or that it is about to kill you.

Typically you could have a gas cooker, gas fire and central heating, each item has a flu, so six items if you have all three need to be tested. Whilst a Carbon Monoxide sensor will help, do you know where to put however many you would need to be safe? I doubt it.

It's a rotten decision to take, but as this epidemic is likely to get worse before it gets better and could drag on for 3-6 months or even longer, you really ought to get the gas checks done sooner rather than later and at least have peace of mind.

LilacTree1 · 07/04/2020 17:57

YABU

A gas safety check is the very definition of essential work.

AllTheseThingsThatIHaveNotDone · 07/04/2020 17:57

YABVU
They are being a decent landlord/agent carrying out a gas check - it is a legal requirement to help protect you and you are being unfair given their personal liability insurance for compensating you if there was a gas leak/ramifications will be invalidated without the annual check in place. You know they do not take long and the landlord pays out 70 quid odd to do it. Unless you are sick yourself you are being an unreasonable tenant.
(yes, used to be a landlord, no am not one any longer but delaying checks like that boil my piss as I took safety requirements seriously).

Whatsmyname26 · 07/04/2020 18:01

Could you let them come but sit upstairs while they sort it and then spray everything after. Servicing needs doing but keep social distancing while they are there

LittleLittleLittle · 07/04/2020 18:01

OP you need to send the landlord the information from Gas Safe in writing. With proof that you are actually pregnant and the number of weeks.

As long as the landlord is legally covered s/he will wait until you have a newborn.

I had emergency plumbing work and a gas inspection with a newborn. No issue for me as I had an easy birth. The plumber was freaked out because he had a cold.

TARSCOUT · 07/04/2020 18:02

If your boiler breaks down and you have no heating or hot water would you let them in then? No difference.

TaliZorahVasNormandy · 07/04/2020 18:03

I had mine done last week. I let him in and sat in the living room until he finished, then he let himself out. Wiped the kitchen down after.

LGY1 · 07/04/2020 18:03

Basically the LL needs to prove that he has asked you (I work for a council in this area)
As long as he has in writing that you have declined he has covered his responsibility.
You can refuse but it will need doing at some point.

Hippofrog · 07/04/2020 18:05

If you decline having it done they can cap your gas off at the meter. They have every right to do this

StrangerDays · 07/04/2020 18:07

Think about it this way; are you willing to endanger yourself if you don't allow a check and there IS an issue?

I understand wanting to minimise the chance of getting the virus, but you also need to eliminate risk in your home.

The Gas Safety is for your benefit, and there are steps you can take like PP have mentioned, such as asking them to touch nothing but what's needed, and cleaning afterwards.

bridgetreilly · 07/04/2020 18:07

it's more risky to have a stranger in your house right now than not having a gas certificate.

This really isn't true. A faulty gas cylinder is a LOT more dangerous than the virus in most cases. OP, I think you should arrange for the check, given that you no longer have any symptoms.

DobbinEweInn · 07/04/2020 18:08

Hippofrog that's not true.

Cadent can cap gas off if there's a dangerous situation that someone is refusing to have done.
But a landlord does not have authority to instruct to have the gas cut off.

caringcarer · 07/04/2020 18:09

I am a LL and one of our houses ran out of gas certificate last Friday. I text tenant and told them it was due. I rang gas engineer who always does our gas certificates and he told me he is not working at the moment and would let me know as soon as he goes back to work. MOT's have been given a 6 month extension. I had to text tenant who is still working as does food delivery and tell them gas engineer not working at the moment. They have gas CH and a gas hob. They also have carbon monoxide detector. As government have banned everyone from having non family members in our homes I am just going to assume an extension will apply. I have another house needing one in early May too.

Needmoresleep · 07/04/2020 18:10

I am a landlord. My gas engineers provided a useful outline of the measures they have put in place to ensure safe working, which I was able to forward to my tenant. (Really thorough, disposable gloves, wiping down stuff, etc.)

She had agreed to them going in, which is good. But then I suspect she is bored, as she lives on her own, so will welcome the distraction. Another tenant allowed AO in last week to deliver and install a new oven. Given clear safety guidelines I suspect none of this was more dangerous than going to the supermarket.

eeyore228 · 07/04/2020 18:10

If your boiler broke right now, wwyd? If you are prepared to potentially go months without a working boiler then fine. If you would expect it to be fixed then I would have it serviced so you know it's safe.