Failed CORGI Appliance in Rented House

[Efkay]

My daughter and I are renting a house on a 6 months renewable tenancy but there are several aspects which neither the agency nor the landlord will address, namely.

(1) The CORGI gas safety certificate the letting agency gave us shows that the coal-effect gas fire has failed the annual test and has been made inoperable.

It's not the only form of heating, but can we insist that the landlord has the appliance and/or flue rectified? He is currently refusing to have it re-instated.

(2) There is only one window (a first floor bedroom) capable of being opened. All the other windows in the Victorian mid-terrace property are sealed with years of paint. Only way to ventilate the steam from kitchen is to open the back door! Roll on winter - I don't think.

(3) The mattress on one bed is so old and lumpy and as there is no label on it, how are we to know whether it conforms to current flame retardant standards?

Would we be able to insist on these aspects being rectified?

[almcd007]

I'm a a Landlord and I wouldnt expect you to live with this type of danger in the house. How old is the certificate - it should be renewed every year on the dot. You can't insist but I'd be renegotiating the rent as you woule resonably expect the fire to work and if he didn't tell you when you went to have a look - bring the subject up again.

Request the fire service to visit your property - they will usually do it for free in these circumstances and carry out a safety check on the windows and access to see if it complies to local laws.

If I were you I'd bring the subject of the mattress up again with him. Tell him to come and collect it as you have nowehere to store it as you are going to buy another one. Then you have a nice new mattress - they aren't expensive and you can take it with you when you leave after the tenancy is up and you've found yourself a nice new Landlord who wants to keep his tenants !!!

Happy Tenants stay and renew - Unhappy ones trash the place and leave you with the mortgage to pay - I know what tenants I like !!!

If he doesn't come round - give him notice and find someone who does care about their property and their tenants.

Good Luck

[Efkay]

Thank you so much for your candid opinion. I feel so much more confident in being able to at least approach the letting agency with some degree of authority. I might even say to them that I am inviting the fire service to inspect the property in view of these shortcomings, just to see the look on their faces.

I'm fired up now - so to speak.

Our thanks once more.

[almcd007]

I'm suprised the letting agents not pressuring him to do the work - they're the go between.

Ask someone to come round and see how much it would cost to put the fire right for example and then tell the letting agency to let the landlord know. I'd offer to get it done and then take the money out of the rent owed. It may be a case that he/she's just very lazy and can't be bothered.