WTF is my Tenant for real?

[Rollercoasteride]

Just for background, I am an accidental Landlord. I rent my old flat out, I could charge more, but as long as my mortgage is covered I don't care. Getting the right tenant is more important to me.

Anyway my recent tenant has been living there for 18 months, no problems so far always pays on time.

Yesterday the gas safety certificate was due. I messaged the tenant late afternoon to check if the gas man had been. He replied saying the gas man just arrived.

Then shortly later he messaged me to say the boiler has been condemned because of a leak. So I replied what leak etc..I got no reply.

I was furious with the gas man for not calling me, worried the tenant had no hot water etc. I tried to call the gas company, but they had closed as its after 5pm.

Tried ringing the tenant, goes straight to voice mail. Try messenger, no answer. Left messages no answer.

Checked my emails about 6pm....I only get an email from the gas man with a copy of the safety certificate! No leaks mentioned, just an advisory about a wire.

Nothing about the boiler being condemned.

To date I have heard nothing more from the tenant!

Why would the tenant do this?!

Or in fact more than one on this thread!

Contact the gas company to see what they say.

Put it with an agent, OP. You'll have to put the rent up considerably but it's worth it not to have to deal with the tenant.

Yes I would contact the gas company.

If an appliance is condemned, then yes, as someone has said there would be a big sticker on it and it would be effectively completely disabled and unusable, I have had experience of this being done.

Sounds like there has been a misunderstanding. If it had been disabled then tenant would have no access to hot water. So perhaps also a note to tenant along the lines of 'just wanted to check if hot water was ok' and provide reassurance?

Ignore the posters who pretend not to understand what being an accidental landlord means. I think the heat might be getting to them or they're bored on a Saturday morning.
It does seem odd that your tenant would tell you the boiler has been condemned and then not respond to your calls. I would send another message confirming everything is OK and wait till they come back to you.

Any chance the tenant is trying to get some money out of you under the guise of using it to pay to fix the boiler?

Accidental landlord is an excepted term for someone who rents a property (it is usually only one) due to their own circumstances that they didn't previously foresee happening. They did not either buy or build property to rent or set out with an intention to rent. It really is a term used by housing professionals and by landlords.
It doesn't mean they woke up one day and discovered they had received 12 months rent accidentally.
If you have the cert I wouldn't even give it a thought.
If you try and work out why some people say or do things then it is a road to stress and confusion.

Just stop with the landlord bashing. Self righteous social warrior bollocks. Clearly the OP is an accidental landlord. Deal with it. Not all landlords are cunts and deserve a bashing.

OP, perhaps there was an initial conversation where the gas man thought something was broken/too old but reassessed upon further investigation. I'd ignore your tenant's message. You have the certificate.

I’d send a text/email to tenant along the lines of “have just got the gas paperwork through and thankfully all is fine with the boiler. Perhaps the gas man wasn’t very clear when he spoke to you. Anyway, big relief for both of us, I’m sure. Will pop a copy in the post for you. Hope you have a good weekend”. Then leave it.

Suffering from extreme anxiety anyway, so this doesn't help

I think this is your problem.

I suspect that the tenant got their wires crossed and everything is ok now.

Sounds like a misunderstanding. Just to cover your back, send your tenant an email with the copy of the safety certificate saying ‘I understand you thought that the boiler was condemned but I have received confirmation (attached) that it has been certified as safe. Please let me know if you wish to discuss’. I should imagine that would be the end of it.

Just mail/message saying boiler passed

Maybe the gas man made a joke about it being condemned? The tenant text you and then realised that he was joking and actually it's all fine.

Why anyone is bothered about whether you're an accidental landlord or not is beyond me!

@NannyAndJohn

Any chance the tenant is trying to get some money out of you under the guise of using it to pay to fix the boiler?

We both have suspicious minds-that was my first thought!

When our gas fire was condemned when we had our annual service, we ended up with hazard tape stuck all over it

What @Topofthepopicles said.

I can well imagine a situation in which gas man looks at boiler, thinks they see a problem says “oh this looks like it might need to be condemned”, tenant hears this, panics, texts you, in the meantime gas man says “oh no it’s fine it meets regulations, it’s safe, I’ll send the owner the certificate for you” and the tenant thinks this means you’ve been given or will be given the full story and leaves it at that.

You'll have to put the rent up considerably but it's worth it not to have to deal with the tenant. Why?
From OP.
Anyway my recent tenant has been living there for 18 months, no problems so far always pays on time.
Go with an agency and they'll put anyone in who could damage the property and stop paying rent.
Reliable tenants are worth holding on, if the rent is very low discuss the increased proportion with the tenant.
Do a property check.
Ffs they misunderstood the gas man it doesn't deserve eviction.
From watching tenant/landlord shows I'd prefer to meet and deal directly with tenants.

@MotionActivatedDog

I am an accidental LL, as bought the property in 2007, property has been in negative equity since. I can't live there as its unsuitable for my condition.

Not being able to live in a property doesn’t automatically make you a landlord. choosing to let it does.

Oh FGS

'accidental landlird' is a well known term and quite suitable in this situation

It's not what the thread is about anyway.

The OP has anxiety. She really doesn't need you (or others) carrying on about the term she used.

I'm guessing a misunderstanding or a bad joke.
The tenant should have a copy of the certificate, so no need to send a copy to them.

I’m sure your tenant was just confused and a quick text from you will clarify matters .

I’d echo what a PP said about this

Btw just charging enough rent to cover your mortgage is very stupid unless you have a large pot of savings to pay for your insurance and all maintenance and repairs

How are you going to pay for the annual gas safety certificate and PAT tests, the EICR, the legionella assessment and service charges as well as the insurance , maintenance and repairs?

Who is going to pay the mortgage, insurance, council tax and utilities when the property is vacant? Even if you let it quickly it can easily be 6-8 weeks before the new tenant moves in, as they usually need to give 4 weeks notice .

Is the property furnished ? How can you/afford to replace the furniture and redecorate ? What about when an appliance breaks down and has to be replaced?

Do you do your own account and tax return or do you need to pay an accountant ?

How do you keep up with the 168 laws that affect landlords?

www.nrla.org.uk/campaigns/managing-tenancies/legislation-affecting-private-landlords-england

It all sounds mad to me if you have anxiety. Why don’t you just put the rent up to market price and have the property managed by a good agent who will deal with all this for you?

Why would you put yourself through this stress for nothing ?

Never apologise; never explain. It’s irrelevant how you came to be a landlord.
You may have to wait until your next visit to find out what happened. If there are no other problems, don’t worry about him. It is weird though.

@MotionActivatedDog

I am an accidental LL, as bought the property in 2007, property has been in negative equity since. I can't live there as its unsuitable for my condition.

Not being able to live in a property doesn’t automatically make you a landlord. choosing to let it does.

Why do people like you seem to have such a problem with landlords? Would you rather she sold the property for less than was owed on the mortgage and ended up with a fucked credit history, possibly even bankruptcy? Or should she just leave it empty and not pay the mortgage and get it repossessed?

Just don’t stress any more about why they did it etc.

As PPs above say, send an email that is very factual (no emotion about how it made you feel etc) and ask them to contact you ASAP if there is an ongoing issue.

Then speak to the gas inspector on Monday to get it straight from the horse’s mouth.

@Rollercoasteride

Thanks all, people seem to be more interested about my definition of an accidental LL.

Yes I don't know why people are giving you a hard time. I know what you meant OP. You didn't deliberately set out to buy a property with the intention of renting it out. The heat must be getting to people and that's why they're so grumpy.

Deep breath, it was either a bad joke or a misunderstanding.

Text - 'Just spoke to gas man, there has been a bit of a mix up! Boiler is in great working order, so there's nothing for you to worry about - the water and heating are just find. Let me know if you have any problems. Rollercoaster.'

Then file the gas report and move on.