Landlords who flout the law - is there any justice

[maryjane]

I would like to post a warning to prospective tenants although perhaps you are all less naive than myself. Having chosen a flat from a bonafide agent and fulfilled all the paperwork I expected to be treated with respect and honesty in return for paying the rent. What a laugh. I moved in and on day 1 the boiler did not work. No hot water or heating. 10 days to fix. at four monthly check by agent they smelt gas and sent in the gas board which opened a can of worms. The gas fitter not corgi registered had shoddily fitted boiler omitting to solder the pipes! This time was left for 25 days without heat or hot water and the landlord gave me notice to get - presumably for having the temerity to allow the agent to call the gas board to correct a gas leak. Corgi wrote report - passed to HSE. Fitter - friend of landlord, not registered. All of them said they didnt know. So the HSE writes them a letter telling them not to do it again. No wonder we hear of students being blown up and gassed. I have been to hell and back. My final year studies have been disrupted to the point where I have gone from 90% marks to 55%. I have been harrassed. Slandered. and sent into a nervous decline. All I hear about bad tenants - We dont need bad tenant/landlord registers. We need legislation that means what it says. When the punishment for using non registered fitters is severe these people will not stop and take their responsibilities seriously until HSE etc enforce the penalties. I got away with being sick, suffering headaches, and dumping my studies - the flat is now up for re-renting. The gas fire is still not to standard requirements and no-one is interested.

[Melboy]

I would like to post a warning to prospective tenants although perhaps you are all less naive than myself. Having chosen a flat from a bonafide agent and fulfilled all the paperwork I expected to be treated with respect and honesty in return for paying the rent. What a laugh. I moved in and on day 1 the boiler did not work. No hot water or heating. 10 days to fix. at four monthly check by agent they smelt gas and sent in the gas board which opened a can of worms. The gas fitter not corgi registered had shoddily fitted boiler omitting to solder the pipes! This time was left for 25 days without heat or hot water and the landlord gave me notice to get - presumably for having the temerity to allow the agent to call the gas board to correct a gas leak. Corgi wrote report - passed to HSE. Fitter - friend of landlord, not registered. All of them said they didnt know. So the HSE writes them a letter telling them not to do it again. No wonder we hear of students being blown up and gassed. I have been to hell and back. My final year studies have been disrupted to the point where I have gone from 90% marks to 55%. I have been harrassed. Slandered. and sent into a nervous decline. All I hear about bad tenants - We dont need bad tenant/landlord registers. We need legislation that means what it says. When the punishment for using non registered fitters is severe these people will not stop and take their responsibilities seriously until HSE etc enforce the penalties. I got away with being sick, suffering headaches, and dumping my studies - the flat is now up for re-renting. The gas fire is still not to standard requirements and no-one is interested.

Firstly I should mention that I have an association with a registered CORGI now called GasSafe Company which belongs to my Son...I am semi retired but never the less I am a Landlord and have been for years.

You should have been given a Tenants copy of the Gas safety check......mandatory by Law. The LA failed in his/her duty to provide you with this so therefore needs reporting to their association if indeed they belong to one.

The HSE should have taken further action with prosecution......unacceptable not to. I find it hard to believe they did not process this further as it is unlawful to install gas equipment for remuneration without being registered.

You could contact an injury lawyer specialist to bring a legal damages against the Landlord.

You could ask your MP to take up your case and demand action against this Landlord and illegal installer.

Depends how far you want to go on this matter to get satisfaction.........................

Mel.

[Simon Dewsberry]

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The HSE should have taken further action with prosecution......unacceptable not to. I find it hard to believe they did not process this further as it is unlawful to install gas equipment for remuneration without being registered.

Mel.

Mel

Does that mean that if you dont get paid that you dont need to be registered ?

[Melboy]

Any job carried out by a person and in receipt of a form of monetry payment for that work carries a liability by law.

ie... if you were to be injured as a result of bad workmanship then you could sue for damages and win.....case has been proven in the past in the law Courts.

Gas work......may be carried out by a competent person providing money does not change hands for that work.

If it goes wrong though you may be sued and most definatley lose your case in a court of law.

However, be aware that should a fault arise from your workmanship in your own home/house than your insurance company will not pay out for damage caused.

Mel.

[Samsian]

Gas work......may be carried out by a competent person providing money does not change hands for that work.

In the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Guernsey, whenever a gas engineer carries out gas work on your property, by law they must be on the Gas Safe Register & thus suitably qualified for that type of work- Regardless of whether money changes hands.