First of all, I just want to say that I'm not trying to get out of my obligations as a landlord. I just want to ensure I'm not being misled.
I'm an absent landlord, temporarily overseas, and have a tenant in what was my home.
I've had a Gas Safety Cert done the last 2 years with no problems, all passes.
This year I used a different gas man and I'm a bit confused about what he's telling me.
Firstly, he put a FAIL against the 'equipotential bonding satisfactory' question and has made a note: 'no earth bonding advised'. I haven't been advised of anything and he hasn't mentioned or suggest I do anything about this in any of our email correspondence.
The gas main IS earth bonded as it comes into the house. The gas meter is right outside the front door on the kitchen wall and you can see the earth bonding under the kitchen cupboards in that exact spot. He won't come back and recheck unless I pay him again.
Secondly, on the cooker: He has marked it a SAFE TO USE, but with an NCS (not to current standards) and put an advisory note that the plug needs moving from above the cooker to a side wall.
He is now insisting that we MUST get the plug moved as he says it's dangerous and a serious fire risk. He's supplied a 200 quid quote.
I am confused about this. I'm of the impression that an NCS just means that when the kitchen was rewired 15 years ago it was OK but it now doesn't comply with current safety requirements (and, even if I did move the socket today, new safety requirements next year might mean that it doesn't comply again, etc, etc).
Reading the Regs, it looks as if that is just advisory for me but the gas man is insisting that it's "dangerous and a serious fire risk" and that I MUST move it.
The plug socket is showing no signs of heat damage and doesn't get hot, it's been there for 15 years.
Whilst he's telling me now that it's dangerous, etc, he has marked it as 'safe to use' on the form so I don't understand why he's insisting he goes back and moves the plug.
So, I guess my questions are:-
1. Should I have expected the engineer to check where the main gas pipe was earth bonded? Is it reasonable to have at least expected him to check the pipe as it comes into the house, even if he didn't check anywhere else?
2. An item marked as NCS but passed as safe - what are my obligations as a Landlord in dealing with this?
Thankyou for any help you can provide
I'm an absent landlord, temporarily overseas, and have a tenant in what was my home.
I've had a Gas Safety Cert done the last 2 years with no problems, all passes.
This year I used a different gas man and I'm a bit confused about what he's telling me.
Firstly, he put a FAIL against the 'equipotential bonding satisfactory' question and has made a note: 'no earth bonding advised'. I haven't been advised of anything and he hasn't mentioned or suggest I do anything about this in any of our email correspondence.
The gas main IS earth bonded as it comes into the house. The gas meter is right outside the front door on the kitchen wall and you can see the earth bonding under the kitchen cupboards in that exact spot. He won't come back and recheck unless I pay him again.
Secondly, on the cooker: He has marked it a SAFE TO USE, but with an NCS (not to current standards) and put an advisory note that the plug needs moving from above the cooker to a side wall.
He is now insisting that we MUST get the plug moved as he says it's dangerous and a serious fire risk. He's supplied a 200 quid quote.
I am confused about this. I'm of the impression that an NCS just means that when the kitchen was rewired 15 years ago it was OK but it now doesn't comply with current safety requirements (and, even if I did move the socket today, new safety requirements next year might mean that it doesn't comply again, etc, etc).
Reading the Regs, it looks as if that is just advisory for me but the gas man is insisting that it's "dangerous and a serious fire risk" and that I MUST move it.
The plug socket is showing no signs of heat damage and doesn't get hot, it's been there for 15 years.
Whilst he's telling me now that it's dangerous, etc, he has marked it as 'safe to use' on the form so I don't understand why he's insisting he goes back and moves the plug.
So, I guess my questions are:-
1. Should I have expected the engineer to check where the main gas pipe was earth bonded? Is it reasonable to have at least expected him to check the pipe as it comes into the house, even if he didn't check anywhere else?
2. An item marked as NCS but passed as safe - what are my obligations as a Landlord in dealing with this?
Thankyou for any help you can provide