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Are hobs and cookers required to have flame failure devices in rented houses? I've read that since about 2010 new appliances need them but there are still appliances in use from before then (my hob is 2003 and still going strong but does have ffd)
Are landlords required to have updated or can they still be furnishing with old stuff? D's flatmate at Uni appears to have nearly blown the bloody doors off after turning gas on and then going looking for the lighter. Quote....there were flames. Lots of flames.
Taking the flat mate outside and beating them senseless might be more satisfying?
A mate of mine did this 5 or 6 times in a 9 month period, each time necessitating a visit from the fire brigade, not much fun when there were 9 or 10 people in the shared house.
They didn't share with him the following year, they told him they were all moving, then didn't.
If you're a landlord you have to have an annual gas safety check/certificate, which covers all gas appliances, which are usually just boiler and hob for most people.
I have BG cover on our rental, which includes repair/call out etc, as well as the landlord safety certificate.
A letter is usually sent to both landlord and tenant saying when safety check is due.
Assume it's not mandatory to have a cover plan, but it is legal requirement to have the annual gas safety certificate.
Few years ago we had an inspection and a hob condemned on the spot and disconnected because it didn't meet the regulation OP refers to.
Student accommodation sounds like it could be a HMO, in which case I'm pretty sure the hob needs a FSD. You could ring Gas Safe themselves and ask.
I tried the Gas Safe website but was down for maintenance, will try later or give them a call, that's a good shout.
What defines a HMO. This is a 4 bedroom house, no locks on inner doors, etc., and rented as a whole, not 4x individual contracts.
If as it sounds there are 4 people who are un-related staying there, then its an HMO and the landlord should be in for a world of pain as he/she does not have the correct licence in place.
I would suggest that the current tenants start looking for potential alternatives.
What defines a HMO. This is a 4 bedroom house, no locks on inner doors, etc., and rented as a whole, not 4x individual contracts.
Your home is a house in multiple occupation (HMO) if both of the following apply:
at least 3 tenants live there, forming more than 1 household
you share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenants
Your home is a large HMO if both of the following apply:
at least 5 tenants live there, forming more than 1 household
you share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities with other tenants
A household is either a single person or members of the same family who live together. A family includes people who are:
married or living together - including people in same-sex relationships
relatives or half-relatives, for example grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings
step-parents and step-children
https://www.gov.uk/private-renting/houses-in-multiple-occupation
If as it sounds there are 4 people who are un-related staying there, then its an HMO and the landlord should be in for a world of pain as he/she does not have the correct licence in place.
I would suggest that the current tenants start looking for potential alternatives
That's not going to happen, it's a decent house in the right area for an OK rental price for four students. The boiler was serviced in August so I'd have thought the cooker would have been checked too, have asked D to see if she has their copy of the Gas Safety Record in her various emails or anywhere next to boiler or gas meter under the stairs. At worst they have a not to current stds (old) cooker and that may be OK. At least they're aware not to leave hobs unattended in case a flame blows out.
IDK, this is what I'm asking, is whether that is OK or whether as a HMO or rental property it should have a FFD. If that's the case (and Gas Safe website is back up but is still not clear, or I haven't found yet) then she'll happily contact the agent and tell them and he'll have to get it replaced for them. Worst case I'd contemplate doing it for them - can get one delivered and installed from AO for £220.
Safety of the kids is paramount.
For that money, get it sorted. If the landlord is fair, you’ll get it back.
Ah, I remember at uni one of the guys I knew had a penchant for "extreme hob". Thankfully never blew himself or anyone else up in the process.
Safety of the kids is paramount.
I hate to be that person, but could they not just learn how to use a cooker? I mean if they are 'intelligent' enough to go to uni, should they at least know how to do a fry up? 😉
I'm not actually saying it's unsafe, afaict in a private house it would be "not to latest standards" and IDK if there's a different standard for rented. It could be safer.... not least by keeping a closer eye on Flashbang Billy!!
But while we can't find the GSR, I now have the details of the (biggish) firm that did the boiler service in August, and their GS registration number, so I'll be giving them a call in the morning at least and then take from there.
Don't want her to start chasing the landlord or the agents over an old spec cooker if the reality is 'and?'
could they not just learn how to use a cooker?
They do - well, most of them! - but a FFD is there in case the flame goes out accidentally (draught for example) which could happen to anyone. culinary skills or not.
could they not just learn how to use a cooker? I
I know it’s the extreme end of the scale but an Autistic Sandboy Jnr who is a decent cook would freak out if he had to use that. He struggles enough just lighting our gas grill.
UPDATE ('cos I hate threads with speculation in that leave a future reader without a clear resolution)
Spoke to Gas Safe and the regs don't require rental properties, HMO or otherwise to have FFD's on appliances. If there is one then it has to be working, not broken or disabled or whatever but if the appliance predates the reg change (2008) and is still safe, so no cracked pipes or whatever then the landlord's in their rights to continue to supply it as part of the furnishings.
If it breaks, or they decide to refurb the kitchen or whatever, then they'd have to put a compliant one in (or technically could find a second hand hand one that's also pre-2008 without FFD)
So seems like D will be running a kitchen safety seminar later today (hi-viz and clipboard optional) and then Flashbang Billy will be taken into the garden and beaten with sticks until he learns, as per the second post on this topic.