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Original poster

Renting. Now we have no gas.

26 replies

WhyAyeButterPie · 29/09/2010 20:37

When we moved in about a year ago, the oven wasn't working (big ridiculous agalike) - it took three months to repair, and apparently (according to the neighbours and the gasman) the previous tenants had been asking for their entire tenancy for it to be done.

Then the front room fire was condemmed by a gas inspector (who also left a note of caution about the oven). The landlord refused to mend the fire as we have central heating. Also apparently there were problems with our rent (once, with prior notice, £100 of the £525 rent was a week late - they agreed to this in advance) (although once they did ring me up and started yelling at me that they were going to evict me as we hadn't paid the rent for months. DP rang them back and gave them the transaction numbers and they "found" the money)

Tonight the carbon monoxide alarm went off, so I rang the number on it and an emergency gas man came out, found a problem with the oven and shut off all gas to the property. I immediately rang the letting agent, who said they would ring me back straightaway. They haven't and now aren't answering the phone.

So, as my baby and toddler are asleep in an unheated house in the North East, what do I do? (I know it's not too bad for one night, but past events have shown that we need to stand up to the letting agent or nothing gets done- it took a month and a half for them to give us the keys to an empty house when we moved in)

(The landlord themselves lives abroad, we deal with a letting agent who are a large company)

Can anyone advise us please?

OP posts:
QueenOfFlamingEverything · 29/09/2010 20:44

In the morning, phone the council and ask to speak to the Private Lettings Team (they may be called something different where you live though, but there will be a team who deal with this sort of thing).

They will advise you, may visit you, and will be able to take enforcement action if the letting agent doesn't sort it out PDQ. They have the power to do an Housing Health and Safety Rating System inspection and any hazards they find (which can include excess cold, damp, and all sorts of others) they will insist on being rectified within a set amount of time.

Then ring the letting agent and tell them that you have done this, and that you expect the repairs carried out asap.

I had a dreadful absentee landlady once and had to do this to get essential repairs carried out. Good luck Smile

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 29/09/2010 20:46

HHSRS and definitions of hazards

Original poster
WhyAyeButterPie · 29/09/2010 20:56

:) I knew Mumsnet could help, thanks!

Do you think it is worth ringing my MP? I know her personally (not very well, but I am a party member and have helped her out a couple of times) and maybe being able to tell the letting agent the MP is aware of the issues might have some clout?

I just really don't want them to turf us out- it is a lovely house.

OP posts:
QueenOfFlamingEverything · 29/09/2010 20:57

I'd try the council first but yeah, if its not sorted soon then why not try your MP.

No harm mentioning to the agent that you know her Grin

Original poster
WhyAyeButterPie · 29/09/2010 21:02

Ace. Thanks :)

OP posts:
Original poster
WhyAyeButterPie · 29/09/2010 21:04

Sigh. I wonder if it is the letting agent or the landlord that are responsible?

OP posts:
QueenOfFlamingEverything · 29/09/2010 21:43

Ultimately, it is the landlord as the agent is just that - the agent. They act on behalf of the landlord.

But depending on what the tenancy agreement says, the agents can be held jointly responsible if they are meant to be managing the property and if they have signed the agreement.

The private lettings team will be able to tell you more.

I took my ex-landlady and agent to court following disagreements over disrepair and over my deposit, and won a judgement against both parties. I chose to enforce against the agent as they were in the country and the landlady wasn't, and they paid me nearly £2k in compensation.

Julesnobrain · 29/09/2010 22:39

I believe you are entitled to pay less rent until the repairs are completed. You should check with which legal or the CAB. You write a letter saying ABC needs to be repaired until it is we will only pay X

Original poster
WhyAyeButterPie · 29/09/2010 23:22

We thought that- at least to cover the cost of having to use a fan heater.

Just a bit worried that, if we provoke the landlord, they might chuck us out. It's just not fair that they can do that :(

OP posts:
sb6699 · 29/09/2010 23:28

Any repairs have to be carried out "timeously".

If they are not you are able to withold the cost of repairs from the rent and have them carried out yourself.

The Shelter website gives details on how to do this as you have to follow the guidelines or else you will be in breach of tenancy.

Hope this helps.

Original poster
WhyAyeButterPie · 29/09/2010 23:33

Even if we aren't in breech though, they only have to give two months, and we could be out on our ears.

This is why I hate renting. What I would give for a council house! I hate our home being somebodies investment or little sideline. Sigh.

OP posts:
sb6699 · 29/09/2010 23:43

Yep, on the waiting list here but the dc's will have grown up and left home by the time we get one.

Original poster
WhyAyeButterPie · 29/09/2010 23:53

I hate the idea that council houses are just for the very poor too. They actually are a good investment for the council, just like they are for private landlords, but the council (or housing association) has son many that they can do things much cheaper.

I just wish that I could tell my three year old where she will be living when she is four :(

No chance of affording a mortgage, no chance of a council house (not with this government, anyway) so we are stuck in private rented, and sucking up to someone who thinks it is ok to have a baby and small child in a house where the gas appliances are being condemmed one by one.

When DD1 was a baby, it rained into her cot, and if you had a shower you had to put a stack of towels on the floor or it dripped through the light fitting. We lost our deposit because the washing machine (which was at least 20 years old) gave up the ghost while we were there, the landlord refused to buy a new one, so we had to buy one that we took with us when we moved out.

This house has seen us with no oven for three months, no gas fire in working order, various drips and leaks and again, nothing we can do, short of pay the thousands of pounds it costs to move, uproot our kids and take the risk somewhere else.

OP posts:
Jackstini · 30/09/2010 07:46

Hoping you get some joy today WABP - frankly your landlord sounds shit.

I have never let my tenants go without heat for longer than 48 hours - that what emergency plumbers and screwfix next day delivery is for!
So sorry you have a crappy one Sad

Original poster
WhyAyeButterPie · 30/09/2010 08:41

I wish there was some kind of feedback service for landlords. Of course they wouldn't all have to sign up, and I was happy to take risks in return for cheap rent etc when I was young and single, but now I have kids, we need security. You only ever seem to see rented on the news from the point of the landlord though.

OP posts:
Original poster
WhyAyeButterPie · 30/09/2010 09:46

OK, finally got hold of the letting agent, who rang the landlord in america. Landlord is in bed, but doesn't want anybody but their mate to look at the gas supply, and they won't give their mates number to anyone and they want ring their mate until it is morning in America. By which time it will be afternoon here and we have less chance of heating tonight :(

I never had central heating growing up, but we at least had a gas fire!

OP posts:
Original poster
WhyAyeButterPie · 30/09/2010 10:39

Apparently someone is coming out at teatime. Fingers crossed!

OP posts:
QueenOfFlamingEverything · 30/09/2010 10:40

Nope.

Not good enough.

Ring back and tell them that they are to get a local, GasSafe (or whatever its called now) person to come this morning and fix it.

Warn them that you are going to report them to the council otherwise.

QueenOfFlamingEverything · 30/09/2010 10:40

Oh x-posted.

Good luck.

tefal · 30/09/2010 14:31

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE before the 'mate' touches anything to do with the gas supply that you make sure he is CORGI registered. Don't let him in if he's not.

sb6699 · 30/09/2010 18:05

Dont know if this is a bit late - but as others have said if he doesnt have a "Gas Safe" card (corgi cards arent valid any more), dont let this mate anywere near it!

Also if the mate is not registered he is acting illegally - tell him you're going to report him and let your LA know.

Jackstini · 30/09/2010 21:57

Did anyone come? Hating thinking of you stuck with no heating Sad Angry

Appletrees · 30/09/2010 22:02

That is all bloody awful. Shameful. Don't let his mate do anything with the gas. It's illegal. He's breaching contract all over the shop. DISREPAIR. I think you could actually sue him, I really do. Google suing for disrepair.

Original poster
WhyAyeButterPie · 30/09/2010 22:35

Someone came out- he was an actual gas fitter, but he took one look at the oven and said he doesn't have the right "card" for agas and so he will have to tell the landlord they need an expert.

But at least he has shut off the oven from the mains so we can have heating.

Now lets see how long we are without an oven this time...

OP posts:
sooz28 · 01/10/2010 16:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.