Clinically vulnerable unvaccinated electrical test

[Neverendingbad]

Is it reasonable to ask landlord to postpone electrical safety checks for one month?
Had a note saying they're coming next week to do annually PAT test.

I'm clinically vulnerable with severe anxiety over covid. Having the vaccine later this week.

I'm really upset. My anxiety has recently been sky high. Landlord knows this.

I know electrical checks are important but it's not everyday we have a pandemic. I don't see why they can't wait one month so I'll have had vaccine protection.

Do I have any rights?

I'm not refusing access, just want one month delay.

If anything goes wrong in your house the landlord would be held responsible. Whether they are prepared to take that risk is up to them. You need to have a conversation with them.

Can't you leave the house for an hour?

Tbh I think for insurance purposes they can't delay it. If it expires their insurance is invalid.

No they can’t delay, it’s a legal requirement. Unless their previous certificate is still valid.

Not sure about electric but I know gas they legally have to keep up to date so could be the same.
I’ve had a couple of workmen in the house this week (not by choice - broken boiler) they’ve all had masks, gloves & been very good with distancing. I’ve just let them in & stayed in a different room while they were here

Ask them, it depends when is the last possible day they can do and if can change. If they insist open all windows make sure they are you wear a mask and try and stay out of the room. I know
It’s stressful I’ve had to had boiler repairs and the like and feels really stressful, when you have been ultra careful.

PAT tests not a legal requirement so ok to delay for a month. If it is the 5 year electrical inspection, as your other thread suggests, then absolutely unreasonable to delay as it is a legal requirement and is for your own safety.

Just to confirm you are cv not cev? So not shielding? In any event, just go out for a walk or stay out of their way. YABU.

Hilarious that people are so dismissive of the Covid risk despite the fact that it's killed a huge number of people this year but seem to think that delaying an electrical safety test for months is a huge safety risk. As long as he can demonstrate that he has tried to book it he is not breaking any laws by waiting a month. I understand how it feels if you were vulnerable so ignore all the idiots telling you that you have to allow this. Of course you don't.

My tenants wanted to delay a gas safety test. Good job it went ahead as there was a carbon monoxide leak! But I guess death from that i: okay as long as it’s not Covid.

OP - how long do you suggest delaying the test for until it’s “safe?” One month? One year? 10 years?

How will next month be any safer? You’ll still be wearing a mask.

@bigdecisionstomake Thank you!
That's such a relief to know. The note says PAT tests. I don't have another thread about this. Sounds like it's not just me having issues with tenancy tests?

If it's not a legal requirement, I'll ask it to be postponed just for a month.

I can't easily go out. I'm disabled and there's nowhere to go. The windows are weird and only open a few inches. It's not easy to get the place well ventilated.

@Donotfeedthebears

My tenants wanted to delay a gas safety test. Good job it went ahead as there was a carbon monoxide leak! But I guess death from that i: okay as long as it’s not Covid.

OP - how long do you suggest delaying the test for until it’s “safe?” One month? One year? 10 years?

How will next month be any safer? You’ll still be wearing a mask.

How many people have tired of carbon monoxide poisoning issue compared with Covid ? The risks are nowhere near as high .OP has said they only need to delay it for a month until the vaccine had a chance to work.

@Belladonna12 Yes I've found out who my friends are, that's for sure! It's got worse with the headlines going on about how all the vulnerable have been vaccinated. We haven't. My area's been quite slow.

I don't even know if anyone's died in recent years from not having had a PAT test? 125,000 have died from covid. Being clinically vulnerable, I know which risk I'd rather take.

@Donotfeedthebears I'm having my 1st vaccine this week. In one month's time I'll have better protection. Not completely safe but it's an added level of reassurance.

How many people have tired of carbon monoxide poisoning issue compared with Covid ? The risks are nowhere near as high

Exactly. There are under 50 a year, nearly all industrial/agricultural rather than domestic. The risks need to be weighed up against each other, especially when it comes to a test that is optional.

Why don't your tenants have a working CO alarm, @Donotfeedthebears? It might not be a legal requirement for gas boilers but it is government guidance that responsible landlords should install one. It's all very well saying it's lucky that they didn't delay the test but that fault probably occurred many many weeks or months ago.

Ask them to delay. You do not have to let anyone in unless it's an emergency anyway. Write a polite email to the landlord stating that you want to delay the visit until after x date when you will have had your vaccine. That provides them with the evidence too in the unlikely event that anyone asks them why it wasn't done.

Can you go out for a walk when the chap is in your house?

OP - how long do you suggest delaying the test for until it’s “safe?” One month? One year? 10 years?

How will next month be any safer? You’ll still be wearing a mask.

Did you actually bother to read any of the op's posts?
Also did you notice that the government have now announced a plan for coming out of lockdown over the next 2 months, rather than 10 years? They have chosen this timeframe precisely because vulnerable people will be vaccinated soon.