Gas safety check

[imoment]

The lettings agency has said they have to do a gas safety check but I'm at risk and it doesn't expire for another month.

They seem to say even if I'm self isolating that it needs to be carried out else I have all responsibility.

Is this right? I want to at least delay it until contract tracing is up and running and iv'e still got 3 weeks before it expires.

[Tramolamodol]

I'm quite shocked that someone doesn't want to get it done. If it was a LL asking about this on here they'd be ripped apart. I'm a LL and my check isn't due until end of August. I have my engineer booked in for early August to ensure we're within the date.
Yes it's a requirement and there shouldn't be any barriers. Just ensure that they wear a mask/have gloves/sanitizers etc.

[HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend]

we force entry to carry it out as it’s for the tenants and neighbours safety.

I work in gas compliance and governance, what you’ve just stated is illegal

[TARSCOUT]

Regardless of what the gassafe says, my insurance does not.have any variation clauses. As such my tenant will have to give access for their inspection and my letting agency will, as part of my contract with them, enforce this.

[Summerof699]

It is for your safety OP. Yes almost all home owners dont bother with one, but tenants safety is protected and landlords/agents must comply. It isnt necessarily practical to do one on the exact day it expires, like an MOT you usually do it in the weeks before.

[BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup]

@Lucy2999 due to the current guidelines from Gas Safe, technicians know the next time to try is when restrictions are looser. Then the tenant will have no excuse so won't be missing 3 appointments.

@TARSCOUT if your tenant is shielding and gas proof your letting agent will know to tread carefully until restrictions are eased.

[HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend]

Today 23:50 Lucy2999

*@HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend I work for a very large housing association in London and I can assure you it is not illegal..**

And I can’t assure you it’s illegal, policy does not override the law, in order to force access you need a judges court order to gain access.

Do you believe housing you’re housing association has more legal authority than the police

hamiltonfraser.co.uk/knowledge/gas-safety-inspections/

Irrespective of what maybe written in the agreed contract between a landlord and a tenant (e.g. a clause that states the landlord is allowed to enter the property without permission), it is still the tenant’s statutory right to live in quiet enjoyment, therefore any clauses that conflicts with that right will not be legally enforceable.

The landlord can also face crimson charges of harassment.

I also work for a large organisation, what your HA is doing is illegal

[HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend]

I’m tired going to bed

*Do you believe housing association has more legal authority than the police?

*face criminal charges

[Nicknacky]

Lucy2999 If you are forcing entry to people homes then I suggest you learn your powers damn quick.

I have no idea on the powers of entry on this circumstance but YOU should.

Lol.

[HeIenaDove]

ASCP launches COVID or Compliance Campaign.

[HeIenaDove]

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/yhn-pregnant-coronavirus-lockdown-engineer-18108795

Mum-to-be 'threatened and lied to' as she is forced to break lockdown and let engineer into her flat
Leonie Shiamtanis has slammed Your Homes Newcastle for forcing her to allow a gas engineer into her flat while she is self-isolating during the coronavirus pandemic

A mum-to-be claims she was threatened and lied to by “shameful” Newcastle housing bosses, who have been accused of putting council home tenants at risk during the coronavirus crisis.

Leonie Shiamtanis, who is 29 weeks pregnant, is self-isolating to protect herself and her unborn child during the pandemic, but was shocked when Your Homes Newcastle threatened her with legal action if she did not let a gas inspector into her Kenton flat for a routine safety check despite lockdown restrictions.

Then after being assured that the engineer would be wearing protective equipment to avoid spreading Covid-19, they instead arrived in a t-shirt and joggers and without the promised gloves, mask, and disinfectant.

The 29-year-old teacher, who is at even greater risk from coronavirus as she suffers with asthma, has now warned that vulnerable YHN tenants and the organisation’s engineers are being put at risk through “lack of protection and lying”

She said: “Why be put into lockdown and not allowed to see my family that live in a different home, but have to be forced to have a stranger in my home unprotected that has been in 10 different houses through the day? I tried to follow government guidelines but I was threatened and lied to and my family was put at risk.”

Having initially told YHN that she could not let any engineer in because she was self-isolating, Ms Shiamantis was sent a letter warning that they would obtain a warrant and enter her home “by force” and with police in attendance if necessary.

She said the warning was “very distressing” at a time when she is coping with the pressures of the Covid-19 crisis while being pregnant with her first child.

But after she and her boyfriend, Aaron Whitfield, agreed to the gas safety check having been promised that the engineer would be kitted out with PPE, the couple were furious when he arrived with only some hand sanitiser in his van and no other protective gear.

Ms Shiamtanis, of Ambridge Way, immediately rang YHN to complain and claims she was then told that 50 tenants a day were calling with similar concerns and that call centre staff were “saying whatever they need to just to get people off the phone”.

After feeling “backed into a corner, threatened and lied to”, she has now urged YHN to make urgent changes to avoid other vulnerable or elderly people being put at risk – as well as the engineers who are visiting multiple homes across the city every day.
She added: “I feel sorry for the engineers just as much as I feel sorry for us. They are having to go to loads of different places and it is not fair.

“It is really, really hard. My partner has an older daughter, but this is my first child and we can’t share what is supposed to be an amazing time with our family.

“We live on the top floor of a three-storey building, so we can’t go outside or into a garden.

“My mum can’t come and visit us, but we have had to let this person in. It seems unfair.”

YHN has pledged to ensure call centre staff give out “correct information” about PPE and to amend the letters they sent out threatening legal action.

A spokesperson for Your Homes Newcastle said: “We would like to apologise to Ms Shiamtanis for any distress she has experienced and understand that this is a worrying time for her and many of our residents.


The wellbeing and safety of our customers and staff is of our utmost concern and we would like to reassure all our customers that our trade staff are instructed to adhere to all social distancing guidance set out by the Government when undertaking work in people’s homes.

This includes maintaining a two-metre distance from any occupants at all times, washing hands before and after visiting homes and regularly using hand sanitser.

“As per Government guidance, full PPE is not required to carry out work in people’s homes and in light of Ms Shiamtanis’ complaint we have reiterated this message to our contact centre staff to ensure customers are given the correct information should they contact us for advice.

“We have also taken action to review and amend the letter Ms Shiamtanis received threatening legal action. While we remain legally obligated to carry out gas safety checks and pursuing court action is part of this process, we appreciate that the standard letter does not reflect the current situation and the additional worries some residents may be experiencing

[Nicknacky]

No one is attacking you. But if you are stating that you force entry to properties abd don’t have the power to do so then rightly you will be quizzed about it.

You may be committing criminal acts so learn the law and your powers. And frankly, I’m disgusted your would freely admit online that you don’t know what you are doing at work.

[Nicknacky]

Lucy2999

[Nicknacky]

Lucy2999 Yawn all you want. It’s not me that’s just admitted I’m clueless at work.

[HeIenaDove]

@Lucy2999 , @Nicknacky is not wrong. Because "i was only following orders" has already been historically proven not to work as an excuse.

[HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend]

Police attend so HA can force access to a property for a gas service . bailiff are the normal procedure as well as the gas engineer and and HA office staff, however only then with a legal court order.

Gas service no access first time appointments on average costs 1.4 million pound per annum (roughly about 35% If the HA properties) for large HA which is not including second and third appointments

Are you seriously stating 8% of your large HA properties are using police resources for 8% of your no access gas services which again should be court ordered!

You stated that you could assure me that forcing access to someone house is “legal” after the tenant missed 3 appointments, now your saying you’re HA attends with the police.... so again you’re HA MUST have went through the very clear legal process.

You can assure me but then state I actually don’t care lol I’m not the CEO nor do I get paid enough to question policy... So you can’t really assure for anything really

I would like a police officer to confirm that London boroughs actually use PO to aid court ordered force entry gas service, as something tells me this is BS, because 8% of a large HA equals on average to several thousand properties!

[BeforeIPutOnMyMakeup]

@Lucy2999 have you been asleep since March or are you simply not aware that we are in unprecedented times?

This means you need to double check everything you do at work can be legally seen as reasonable and enforced.

Are you also aware as a person you individually can be take to Court? Employers, especially large ones, have no issue dropping individual staff members in it.

[HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend]

*Police attend to a property so a HA can force access to a property for an outstanding gas service

Right honestly going to bed, cannot actually are the screen...

[Chinchinatti]

The annual gas check is an annual pain in the hole. We get a rather threatening letter from the Council stating that if we refuse access more than once or something similar, then they may begin legal proceedings to force entry. So far I've been able to accommodate the fuckers, though it involves taking a half day off work in order to be at home for them.
In terms of PPE - just open the door, allow them access and just move into another room.