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Tenant nightmares: My boiler has been condemned and the landlord won’t fix it.

Q. I’ve lived in my flat with my son for a year now and the recent annual gas safety inspection didn’t go well. The gas inspector condemned the boiler, said the flue was blocked and that there was a carbon monoxide risk. He has been in touch with the landlord but no action has been taken and I’m without heating and hot water. This was a week ago and I haven’t heard anything from the... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on February 3rd, 2011 in Renting a Property

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Safety Saturday : Be Gas Safe

18 people a year in the UK die from gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide poisoning, and another 310 are injured (source: HSE Gas Safety Statistics). Don't let next year's statistics be your tenants. Landlords have a duty to maintain all gas equipment, fixed and mobile heaters, flues etc. Such equipment must be inspected every year: the tenant should be given a copy of the Gas... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on March 6th, 2010 in Property Rental, Tips for New Landlords

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Safety Saturday : do I need a carbon monoxide detector?

A reader asked in our Q&A box if they were legally required to fit a carbon monoxide detector in a rental property. The answer is no, but this is one area where landlords should certainly go beyond the letter of their legal obligations. As a landlord, you're responsible for the safety of your tenants. In normal circumstances, annual gas safety checks will ensure that gas equipment and flues... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on February 20th, 2010 in Property Management, Tips for New Landlords

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Q&A : What if my tenant won’t let the gas inspector in?

Question: The gas safety inspection is due on a flat I'm renting out. I informed the tenant of this giving 7 days notice (via an email he didn't respond to). When the engineer and I arrived, there was obviously no one home. I know I have a legal duty to get the inspection done, but doesn't my tenant have a legal obligation too? I've emailed again and phoned, but he still hasn't got back to me.... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on November 24th, 2009 in Ask Upad

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CO Awareness Week : keep the invisible killer out of your homes

A timely reminder to get boilers and heating appliances serviced if you haven't done so already: this week marks the fourth annual CO Awareness week, reminding us of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. At least fifty people die each year in the UK from CO poisoning, though the true figure is sometimes estimated to be many times higher. 234 people required hospital treatment in the last... Read more

Posted by Sue @ Upad on November 17th, 2009 in Property Rental

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