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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:
DobbinEweInn · 07/04/2020 18:11

Caringcarer you need to look at HSE and gas Safe. No extension granted, inspection deemed essential work.

You will need to demonstrate you've exhausted getting an engineer to do it.

Quartz2208 · 07/04/2020 18:16

See this is what i find so frustrating about COVID 19 that we seem to this the dangers from this outweigh absolutely everything else.

OP its is a simple as this the risk from the person coming in and doing the gas safety check (and in order to be a risk he would have to bring it in, you would have to not clean thoroughly and then somehow transfer the virus and then be in the small risk percentage of actually having it badly enough for it to be an issue) is less than the risks attached to having faulty gas equipment

TheFutureMrsHardy · 07/04/2020 18:18

You're more likely to die from a gas explosion than you are from Covid 19. It is a tiny tiny proportion of the population who are suffering from this.

You need to keep things in perspective. It may also invalidate your LL's insurance if you don't allow it.

StrangerDays · 07/04/2020 18:21

See this is what i find so frustrating about COVID 19 that we seem to this the dangers from this outweigh absolutely everything else

Completely agree! I've seen people jumping into or crossing roads without looking at all to avoid passing within 6 meters of someone.

Why would you put yourself in very real, immediate danger with oncoming cars/cycles to avoid a possible danger (virus)?

Common sense has left the building.

Jonoula · 07/04/2020 18:25

I’m a landlord and we’re legally responsible but I can’t get an engineer to visit to renew so I’ve asked my tenants to check the carbon monoxide detector and just be careful. If you’ve got a modern boiler you should be ok but get it done as soon as restrictions lifted.

DobbinEweInn · 07/04/2020 18:30

It's absolutely right Landlords have a responsibility to have gas inspections and it relies on tenants giving reasonable access to allow it to be done.
But landlords have also been told they can't start eviction proceedings for 3 months.

The landlord needs to demonstrate that they've fulfilled the HSE requirements.

But people dying from gas explosions are actually rarer than deaths from Coronvirus.

More households don't have annual services, think it's about 60/40.

You shouldn't wait for a safety inspection if you have any concerns on appliances.

BeenHereForAges · 07/04/2020 18:34

I know a friend in a similar situation. She prearranged for the gas fitter knock and then to come around the back of the house where she left the back door open for him, kitchen windows open and the rest of the doors to the house shut. The boiler is in her kitchen & the whole test only took about 30mins. He left through the back door & knocked again on the front to say he was done. She left it for an hour or so before going in to clean. She said the gas fitter appreciated this too as he has health issues. Would that be an option for you?

lilmishap · 07/04/2020 18:36

I'd check your tenancy agreement, it's considered a breach with some

Lilmissmissy · 07/04/2020 18:40

I had my gas safety check yesterday. When i saw the van pull up i left the back door open and left the plumber in kitchen he shouted to say it was done and left a the certificate for me to sign.

Once he left i anti bac all handles and surfaces where he had been

Simple. No contact

rwalker · 07/04/2020 18:42

It's a legal requiment for YOUR safety and his insurance. If you are that set against it get LL to have gas disconnected till after all this .
He has to do this to ensure it's safe if it did blow up he'd missed checks he liable and subject to a prosacution.
All firms now how procedures for CV ask in advance.

Dragongirl10 · 07/04/2020 18:44

Op you are being V unreasonable, fair enough to ask them to wait whilst you were unwell with possible Coronavirus, but now you are fine you are being unreasonable.

I am a LL and this is my legal responsibility on the issue;

Landlords have a duty of care to their tenants. This is a legal duty to repair and maintain gas pipework, flues and appliances in a safe condition, to ensure an annual gas safety check on each appliance and flue, and to keep a record of each safety check. During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, there is a balance between ensuring people, including the vulnerable, are protected from possibly fatal risks arising from carbon monoxide exposure or gas explosion, while doing what we can to protect people from COVID-19.

You should be glad that you have a responsible LL who is ensuring that you and your DC are as safe as possible, gas issues are one of the main causes of death in the home.......

You are also probably causing your LL a whole lot of stress as it is his/her LEGAL REQUIREMENT.

The risk to you is nominal, stand outside, whilst it is done, and wipe down boiler cupboard and door handles with dilute bleach solution once the engineer has gone.

Comefromaway · 07/04/2020 18:49

Caring, there is currently no automatic extension. What you have to do is try and find another engineer and if you are nable to, document that fact and arrange for the testing as soon as you can.

Francina670 · 07/04/2020 18:53

Our boiler broke last week and we had to have it repaired. The gas man and his apprentice came wearing masks and were really respectful of social distancing. Usually they’re quite chatty and we have a cup of tea but it was clear this time they wanted to be in and out with minimal fuss. I think the risks were very small. Incidentally he said they were working flat out.

TARSCOUT · 07/04/2020 18:58

@caringgiver you really need to familiarise yourself with the regulations
www.gassaferegister.co.uk/help-and-advice/covid-19-advice-and-guidance/landlords/#

JasonPollack · 07/04/2020 19:01

I wouldn't allow it. No way.

My letting agent have suspended inspections and non essential work. Unless you're concerned about the gas I would ask them to leave it for now.

MOTs have been suspended, this is hardly more of a safety issue.

Warpdrive · 07/04/2020 19:04

My brother is a tradesman and he is still allowed to work in other people's homes as long as he is 2 metres from anyone and he is washing his hands/tools etc all the time. The landlord has an obligation to have that checked so I think you should let the engineer have access. It doesn't take long, you don't need to be with them, ask them to wear gloves and you can wipe down the boiler afterwards.

stickerqueen · 07/04/2020 19:13

my housing association called to cancel our gas safety check the morning it was meant to happen they said it was due to covid19 they said they will rearrange when safe to do so our certificate has run out now.

AnyFucker · 07/04/2020 19:18

Op, could you request that the gas safety operative make your house the first visit of his day

Then all the other distancing/cleaning stuff as above. There is very little risk. Are you still going to the supermarket ?....the risk would be less than that I imagine.

YappityYapYap · 07/04/2020 19:32

I work for an all trades construction company that carry out gas safety checks. The current advice is that they must still be carried out. It's not the same as an MOT. People are in their houses close to 24 hours a day at the moment so a simple leak of any gas appliance could kill everyone inside very quickly. It's a lot easier to tell if the brakes are failing on your car for example than it is for someone with no knowledge of gas to tell if an appliance is safe.

Have the check done. They will wear fresh gloves or sanitise their hands on arrival, probably have a mask on and use anti bac wipes to wipe down where they have touched. You can go in afterwards and wipe down too

LangClegsInSpace · 07/04/2020 19:39

Here are the actual rules:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-renting-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities

Your landlord will not be committing an offence if he can show he has taken reasonable steps to gain access and to rearrange the inspection for later. He can do this by saving correspondence with you.

Landlords and tenants are encouraged to take a common-sense and pragmatic approach to non-urgent issues.

Urgent health and safety issues should still be dealt with urgently. If you have any concerns about the safety of your boiler you should allow the inspection.

Otherwise you just need to weigh up whether it's better to wait until after your baby is born. Good general advice here:

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

woodchuck99 · 07/04/2020 19:49

I would delay it until the peak is over and the number of coronavirus cases is down. I can't see that a couple of months will make much difference. I doubt a house owner would feel stressed about not getting a gas safety check exactly a year after the last one. This is a circumstance where the risks of having the safety check is probably higher than the risk of not having one.

rosiejaune · 07/04/2020 19:57

Why are you worried about them bringing bacteria from other houses when it is a virus?

He isn't likely to touch anything you usually use; just the boiler and the gas meter. Leave the cupboard/s open for him if you're that concerned.

It is a legal requirement for a reason. Even if you're fine with a gas leak, your neighbours might not be.

cinammonbuns · 07/04/2020 20:02

OP YABVU, you and especially your children are much more likely to die form a gas leak than coronavirus. That is a statistical fact. I understand you are scared but you need to be rational.

Rhayader · 07/04/2020 20:04

I had the gas safety engineer last week. I’m pregnant so I was a bit worried about it to be honest.

He came in through the back door directly into the kitchen and I didn’t go in the kitchen while he was here. The boiler was dangerous and needed a part replacing so I’m pretty glad we went ahead with it.

woodchuck99 · 07/04/2020 22:41

OP YABVU, you and especially your children are much more likely to die form a gas leak than coronavirus. That is a statistical fact. I understand you are scared but you need to be rational.

Not at the moment it isn't! Delaying the gas safety check by a couple of months carries a much lower risk than coronavirus at present. Most homeowners won't be having their boilers checked at the moment.