Gas Safety Check - Gaining Access to Property

[peterguk V6 KWK]

We rent a small property, same tenant for years.

He is always difficult to communicate with, and phone calls and letters rarely get responded to. But the £s side is OK, so as a tenant he is alright.

Problem - Gas Safety Check is overdue because he has not responded to my letters to agree an appointment.

As the property owner, and due to the legal requirements of the GSC, can i legally gain my own access (with a key) and allow the gas engineer to carry out the necessary checks?

[superlightr]

difficult.

Your tenancy agreement would normally allow maintanance work with reasonable notice. I would write to say such works will be carried out next week.

Failing that if they refuse you entry then give them notice for possession. not much choice but you must have the cert.

[fade2grey]

presumably you still have keys? in which case I thought you only had to give them written notice (24h or 1 week I can't remember) before you can just go in & do the checks.

[peterguk V6 KWK]

Thanks guys.

Yes we do have the keys, but we thought there were regulations about landlords walking in and out as and when they please.

We have already told them we will be visiting on a certain date in the future with the gas inspector, but just wanted to confirm we were doing nothing wrong.

[FUBAR]

As mentioned, as long as you give the tenant the proper notice (24hr?) and point out that the gas safety check is a statutory requirement, and you have a key, then you can enter to carry out the check (also mention in the letter that if the propsed time is not convenient they must telephone you to cancel)