Landlord visit - is it compulsory?

[EmeraldEyelashes]

Hi I hoped someone might be able to answer this, I’ve looked online but can’t find much just vague info.

I rent privately via a lettings agent and once a year a representative from the company comes to check the property. I’ve just heard from them and the guy wants to come this week to do a full check which takes about an hour.

I also have to have gas and electric safety checks this week and have been told they’ll take approx 2 hours in total. I understand these are essential, however would I be unreasonable to ask that they wear a mask?

I really don’t feel ok about the annual check though, we are in a hotspot with 60 cases per 100k. I’m not shielding BUT I do have a medical condition which could be dangerous with Covid due to the medication I take. I haven’t let any family members in this house for 6 months now and am extremely careful, I also have a child who may be affected more seriously by the virus.

Is there anyone who can say whether I legally have to let this visit go ahead? Thank you!

We had our gas safety inspection and it was completed with PPE and no direct contact. Tbh with the gas I wouldn’t want to chance it because if there’s a problem everyone has done there bit, the normal inspection I wouldn’t be so bothered about if you’re trying to shield.

I’m a landlord and I did get the gas safety check done on my property but after things had died down a bit. I spoke to tenant first and he was happy enough, I just said to stay out the room. From guidance I looked at HSE are wanting legal checks such as gas safety carried out where possible so I was keen to get this done.

I certainly wouldn’t be insisting on an inspection of the property, I’ve just asked my tenant to let me know if there is anything that needs attention and I’ll get it sorted as best I can going by local guidelines.

I suspect because my tenant is pretty laid back and I’m (hopefully) a fairly reasonable landlord that this may be the minority though.

You’re certainly within your rights to ask them to wear a mask and sanitise their hands when they come in and you could vacate the property while they are there leaving windows open to ventilate.

Pretty bizarre that a landlord would go to the bother of taking a tenant to court if they could prove they had attempted to arrange a check, as that is all the law requires.

Suspect there's more to that story and it's not really comparable to the OP's situation.

These threads always turn out like this, people insisting that tenants have no rights and if they don't roll over they face being chucked out.

OP lives somewhere with a current spike in infections - 60/100k is very high, in fact if she just waits a couple of days there could be local restrictions in place that mean even the gas safety check should not go ahead for the time being.

OP cannot delay gas and electric safety checks indefinitely because the LL can get a warrant to gain access to the property. That's fair enough because the LL is legally responsible for ensuring these checks are done. However it would be up to the judge to decide whether to grant a warrant for this and they are unlikely to do so if the tenant is asking for a temporary delay while local infection rates are very high, especially as central government has told local authorities to take a 'pragmatic approach' to enforcement.

Also I can't imagine this would be a priority for the courts unless there was an immediate and serious safety issue so by the time the LL got a hearing the whole landscape could have changed anyway.

If I was in OP's position I would:

• wait a day or two to see what happens with local restrictions because the decision could be taken out of her hands anyway.

• If no local restrictions are introduced but infection levels remain high I would ask the agency to delay the safety checks until the risk is lower.

• I would cooperate once the local spike in infections was under control, provided the guidance on masks, hand hygiene, ventilation etc. was followed. I would sit outside while it was happening.

• I would do everything in writing.

I wouldn't let anyone in to do the tenancy check. That's not strictly necessary anyway. Other posters have suggested video or template forms as solutions to this.

My partner is a landlord, gas engineer and electrician. The electrical test doesn’t have to be done until April, unless it’s a new tenancy. That is when it becomes legal for landlords to do them. He has worked all through lock down and has always worn gloves and a mask. They are considered key workers so can work in lock down. He’s been in 100s of houses over the last 6 months and most people open the door, tell him where the boiler is and go and shut themselves in a different room. One person who didn’t let him in for a service, had to let them in when the boiler went off a few weeks later.

@Twonkytwoo

My partner is a landlord, gas engineer and electrician. The electrical test doesn’t have to be done until April, unless it’s a new tenancy. That is when it becomes legal for landlords to do them. He has worked all through lock down and has always worn gloves and a mask. They are considered key workers so can work in lock down. He’s been in 100s of houses over the last 6 months and most people open the door, tell him where the boiler is and go and shut themselves in a different room. One person who didn’t let him in for a service, had to let them in when the boiler went off a few weeks later.

If the electrical test is due it needs doing regardless of the everso twatty PRS regulations nonsense, the only reason the new PRS regs exist are for landlords who were ignoring the electrical safety of their properties "because its not the law"

I'm a homeowner. I haven't had anybody in to check the electrics during the 20 years I have lived in this property.

Perhaps I should get somebody in to check them but I won't be doing so during this pandemic and I doubt any landlords are scheduling these tests for their own homes just now, unless they have a particular reason.

He's been in 100s of houses over the past 6 months

This is exactly why we didn't want a contractor coming in our home right now.

I think you should insist the gas and electric testers wear a mask and wash hands on arrival. Then you could wait in another room like your bedroom or your garden until they have gone.

I would be concerned if a tenant did not want a quick annual check. I would agree to come at a time to suit them and would wear a mask and gloves.

Wow I completely missed that electrical tests are needed now.
I am on a rolling tenancy agreement (the fixed one ended in march) and it just automatically turned into a rolling one
I'm not sure if he should be doing it already or if he doesn't have to do it till April next year??
This is the time I've known about these electrical tests

I guess mine should have been tested by now then? I think?

We have had a few people into our home for repairs. They wore shoe covers and masks. I would not have let them in without them. I’m not sure the shoe covers are standard, but they made me feel a lot better about it.

I wouldn’t let anyone in without a mask

www.gov.uk/government/publications/electrical-safety-standards-in-the-private-rented-sector-guidance-for-landlords-tenants-and-local-authorities?fbclid=IwAR0jd8zXuB4C05HnZnUsPHvEkjPdFghHSmdLG21evelay04RHC1lbMqCabE

The government details on those electrical tests

The regulations came into force on 1 June 2020, they apply to new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and existing tenancies from 1 April 2021

I am curious about this "full check."

That's the bit that jumped out at me too!

Even in normal times I am only in a property for about half an hour, even for a 3-bed house, most of which is chatting to the tenant, if they are present, taking note about anything they might want to report.

External walk round - looking at the roofline and windows. Check the garden. Take meter readings (cos that has ben vitaly important once!).

Inside, walk into each room, check the inside of the windows; use your sense of smell (blech) - one picture per room, usually from the doorway.

Thank the tenant and leave!

The main reasons for the visit are to check for:

• unauthorised smoking in the property
• unauthorised pets in the property
• unauthorised occupiers in the property
• build up of rubbish/debris which can attract vermin
• small leaks, water staining on ceilings
• damage from pets etc.

None of which involves anything intrusive or time consuming! The only cupboards I ever open are under sinks... and I explain why before I do, just in case!

Yes I've seen the guidance I'm still not entirely sure whether mine should be now or April. Maybe it should be April. It's not been done but then again I don't trust landlords or estate agents

When did your tenancy start? It isn't difficult, honest!

If it was before June 1st this year then the first check needs to be done next year, sometime after April.

If it was after June 1st this year it should have been done before your tenancy started, maybe shortly aftewards giving wriggle room for the change and covid.

Right

I’ve just seen all the responses, wow thank you so much I wasn’t expecting so many. It’s really really useful and informative to read all the legislation and reasons behind the checks. I wanted to attach a screenshot of the text from the electrician but don’t know how to block out the identifying info 🤦🏼‍♀️

It basically says the lettings agency have asked him to conduct a full test of all the electrics and it will involve the power going off intermittently throughout the one and a half hours he’ll need to be here. And that he’ll need to be in all the rooms checking them thoroughly. We had this done about 2 years ago I think, give or take. The tenancy is 6 years now so way before the June 1st cut off.

I’m anxious about the gas check today but going to ask him to wear one of the disposable masks I have here and just hope he doesn’t refuse, my husband will also insist if necessary - do you think that’s reasonable? It’s only 30 mins so will just keep out of the way and open windows.

Our area has now been updated to show 69 cases per 100k so it’s growing rapidly and we’re on the verge of a local lockdown I think, so will see what happens. I don’t feel ok about the other checks, in fact it’s making me feel incredibly anxious which I hate.

Have I missed any questions? Sorry if so, I’m so bad on my phone!! Thank you again for the advice from different perspectives 💕

I’m anxious about the gas check today but going to ask him to wear one of the disposable masks I have here and just hope he doesn’t refuse, my husband will also insist if necessary - do you think that’s reasonable?

You can politely ask but he can refuse if his company doesn’t require him to wear one.

I think most people would be reluctant to wear a mask a random person hands them; disposable or not they don’t know how hygienic it is.

I’d you’re concerned and he doesn’t wear a mask, stay outside while he does it.

@heartsonacake it’s straight out of a box of masks that’s barely been used but yes you’re right I’m being out of order maybe. Ok will stand outside and make sure my son does too, thank you.