Brit gas Homecare have 'condemned' our gas fire
Discussion
We rent our house out, have done since last May, and to be safe we extended the Homecare agreement to cover the gas fire. A month ago we heard from the agent that the gas fire in the front room would not light, and it appears the tenant called Homecare, who have apparently condemned the fire.
What exactly would cause that? We're still waiting for a copy of their report, and seeing as we live in the Philippines I can hardly pop in for a look.
I feel a bit cross that Homecare accepted the extra cover for the fire, charged us an extra tenner a month or so, and as soon as they are required to fix it they say it is rubbish.
Anyhoo, what sort of price/job is it to have a simple, basic, renter-worthy gas fire retrofitted?
I sure hope there are not some modern PC regulations that involve a complete chimney rebuild, titanium flu liner, 2" gas lines fitted from the street and a host of other BS regulations.
What exactly would cause that? We're still waiting for a copy of their report, and seeing as we live in the Philippines I can hardly pop in for a look.
I feel a bit cross that Homecare accepted the extra cover for the fire, charged us an extra tenner a month or so, and as soon as they are required to fix it they say it is rubbish.
Anyhoo, what sort of price/job is it to have a simple, basic, renter-worthy gas fire retrofitted?
I sure hope there are not some modern PC regulations that involve a complete chimney rebuild, titanium flu liner, 2" gas lines fitted from the street and a host of other BS regulations.
They would, its winter, time to make money.
However, I wouldn't rent a house with a gas fire, too much risk. You can buy an Electric fire for £80 no need to get a gas fitter to instal that, will pump out just as much heat and will be safe. Will your extra cover pay for them to remove the condemned fire?
However, I wouldn't rent a house with a gas fire, too much risk. You can buy an Electric fire for £80 no need to get a gas fitter to instal that, will pump out just as much heat and will be safe. Will your extra cover pay for them to remove the condemned fire?
Our plumber charged us £150 for taking out the old gas fire and fitting a new fire and surround.
You can spend as much or as little on the fire as you like.
The worry for me would be why it is 'condemned' if it's just because it 'looks a bit old' then you'll probably get away with replacing it. If it's for gas supply reasons you might have a bigger, messier job. Or you might need to get a chimney sweep in if there isn't enough draw on the chimney. Or it might just be that the installation isn't 'up to code' and you could get away with re-installing the same fire 'properly'. I know they used to fit a sheet of metal over the chimney opening with a hole for flue gasses. Dont think they can do that now and it's got to be 'properly' sealed. Or there might be too big of a void behind the fire (this can cause gasses to cool down before they get drawn up the chimney and then they go back into the room.
In short, have a look at the report - it might not be a new fire..
You can spend as much or as little on the fire as you like.
The worry for me would be why it is 'condemned' if it's just because it 'looks a bit old' then you'll probably get away with replacing it. If it's for gas supply reasons you might have a bigger, messier job. Or you might need to get a chimney sweep in if there isn't enough draw on the chimney. Or it might just be that the installation isn't 'up to code' and you could get away with re-installing the same fire 'properly'. I know they used to fit a sheet of metal over the chimney opening with a hole for flue gasses. Dont think they can do that now and it's got to be 'properly' sealed. Or there might be too big of a void behind the fire (this can cause gasses to cool down before they get drawn up the chimney and then they go back into the room.
In short, have a look at the report - it might not be a new fire..
I suspect much of this 'comdemning' (and the same goes for 'safeguardng' old people) is back-covering - ie there may not be anything much wrong with it, but if they leave it and there's an accident, they get sued.
My boiler was once 'condemned' because some leaves were growing through the vent on the outside. The man went off no doubt feeling very important; in contrast I removed the leaves.
My boiler was once 'condemned' because some leaves were growing through the vent on the outside. The man went off no doubt feeling very important; in contrast I removed the leaves.
Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 10th November 09:58
If it's labelled "condemned", they're unlikely to simply fix it, I'm afraid.
It must be worth getting a 2nd opinion in any case.
As a landlord, whatever is done (fixed or replaced) IIRC you must get a gas safety certificate again.
Please don't scrimp or cut corners on the fix/changes, though. My mate recently lost his parents to carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty CH boiler.
It must be worth getting a 2nd opinion in any case.
As a landlord, whatever is done (fixed or replaced) IIRC you must get a gas safety certificate again.
Please don't scrimp or cut corners on the fix/changes, though. My mate recently lost his parents to carbon monoxide poisoning from a faulty CH boiler.
Edited by 5potTurbo on Wednesday 10th November 09:50
I had this in my old place; during the annual inspection the fitter checked the gas fire in the lounge and said it wasn't drawing well enough to pass regs. Said he'd have to fail it and attached a "do not use" label.
I asked him the easiest way to sort thigs so no tenant would try to use it - he popped down to the van, came back with a blanking plug, and capped the gas line off. 20p fitting, but no cost as "it's just been sitting in my spares box". Gas certificate filled in and no problem fire anymore.
Just to add, the house had full gas central heating; the fire was added by the previous owner as a "feature" so it wasn't needed for heating.
I asked him the easiest way to sort thigs so no tenant would try to use it - he popped down to the van, came back with a blanking plug, and capped the gas line off. 20p fitting, but no cost as "it's just been sitting in my spares box". Gas certificate filled in and no problem fire anymore.
Just to add, the house had full gas central heating; the fire was added by the previous owner as a "feature" so it wasn't needed for heating.
I had a gas fire condemned in my current house when I bought it. Apparently it was because there was no ventilation into the room where it was.
Fair enough you would have thought, but I live in a 150 year old cottage with badly fitting windows and doors. You could run a wind turbine in my lounge on a breezy day. No ventilation my arse.
Fair enough you would have thought, but I live in a 150 year old cottage with badly fitting windows and doors. You could run a wind turbine in my lounge on a breezy day. No ventilation my arse.
I would hazard a guess that there is insufficient ventilation in the room or something similar. I'm no expert but I'm sure one will be along in a moment.
Modern gas fires require less in the way of vents etc. Once you know the issue get a modern fire fitted by a reputable supplier. British gas will do a good job in my experience, but you will pay double the going rate.
As a Landlord you are legally obliged to have a gas safety check carried out on all the gas appliances in the house on an annual basis.
pp
Modern gas fires require less in the way of vents etc. Once you know the issue get a modern fire fitted by a reputable supplier. British gas will do a good job in my experience, but you will pay double the going rate.
As a Landlord you are legally obliged to have a gas safety check carried out on all the gas appliances in the house on an annual basis.
pp
Pickled Piper said:
I would hazard a guess that there is insufficient ventilation in the room or something similar. I'm no expert but I'm sure one will be along in a moment.
Modern gas fires require less in the way of vents etc. Once you know the issue get a modern fire fitted by a reputable supplier. British gas will do a good job in my experience, but you will pay double the going rate.
As a Landlord you are legally obliged to have a gas safety check carried out on all the gas appliances in the house on an annual basis.
pp
Apparently it is no longer required to have those under floor vents in the room, as they have realised there is plenty of ventilation in your average room.Modern gas fires require less in the way of vents etc. Once you know the issue get a modern fire fitted by a reputable supplier. British gas will do a good job in my experience, but you will pay double the going rate.
As a Landlord you are legally obliged to have a gas safety check carried out on all the gas appliances in the house on an annual basis.
pp
We had a gas inspection in May, when we first rented it out.
We have a gas fitter who also works a few days a week doing BG boiler jobs, his words are "BG know nothing about gas fires", he sees perfectly fine fires condemned when all they need is a decent service and maybe the thermocouple unit changing. Get a decent GasSafe bloke round and get him to look at the fire.
BoRED S2upid said:
They would, its winter, time to make money.
However, I wouldn't rent a house with a gas fire, too much risk. You can buy an Electric fire for £80 no need to get a gas fitter to instal that, will pump out just as much heat and will be safe. Will your extra cover pay for them to remove the condemned fire?
This, in a renter ditch the gas fire and go electric.However, I wouldn't rent a house with a gas fire, too much risk. You can buy an Electric fire for £80 no need to get a gas fitter to instal that, will pump out just as much heat and will be safe. Will your extra cover pay for them to remove the condemned fire?
No need for a gas safety on it every year either.
Elskeggso said:
Before you pay anyone for anything, pop a vacuum cleaner nozzle over the pilot light, a lot of non-lighting gas fires we come across don't light because of dust/dirt blocking the pilot assembly.
I would, but I live 8000 miles away. I'd hope the gas inspector guy would do, at least, something that simple, but you never know.
King Herald said:
Elskeggso said:
Before you pay anyone for anything, pop a vacuum cleaner nozzle over the pilot light, a lot of non-lighting gas fires we come across don't light because of dust/dirt blocking the pilot assembly.
I would, but I live 8000 miles away. I'd hope the gas inspector guy would do, at least, something that simple, but you never know.
Elskeggso said:
King Herald said:
Elskeggso said:
Before you pay anyone for anything, pop a vacuum cleaner nozzle over the pilot light, a lot of non-lighting gas fires we come across don't light because of dust/dirt blocking the pilot assembly.
I would, but I live 8000 miles away. I'd hope the gas inspector guy would do, at least, something that simple, but you never know.
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