Updating post from Reddit.
Visited my rental property today after an incident with ingress of water to inspect the damage before further repair work.
While I was there I noticed that the gas fire was missing from the living room.
The tenant replied that it was ugly and they removed it because of the draft they could feel behind it.
There has been no communication of this or there being a problem to me.
It’s a 1930’s property and my neighbours had a problem doing similar work with an old back boiler leaking. I’m not sure if I had/ have a similar set up.
The gas fire had been disconnected from the gas during a previous landlord gas certificate check at the request of a previous tenant (with my agreement). So they have not been tampering with live gas.
The fire had been left in situ so that it could be easily reinstated by a gas engineer at a later date, and to maintain normal airflow in the chimney/ flu due to risk of damp if sealed off.
The tenant maintains that this was done 4 years ago and I had not noticed previously, but on my last inspection and last gas certificate 12 months ago it is noted as in place.
I informed the tenants that I was not happy, and listed the reasons above.
Apart from this they have been good tenants over the past 5 years, pay the rent on-time and keep the internal house in good condition (driveway and garden and not well tended).
Where do I stand regarding the removal of the gas fire?
What things should I now be worried about given they have sealed off the chimney breast regarding damp etc?
Many thanks and any advice appreciated.
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The deposit scheme will consider the gas fire worthless.
With five years of occupancy, I think your done. You told them it was not good of them but I'd move on. Hope they stay for another five.
You may want to check air flow, for damp and mould issues as others have said though.
Deduct the depreciated value from the deposit at the end of the tenancy . That’s what it’s for
For a broken and what sounds like a dated gas fire? This is why we’ve got the lovely reputation that we’ve got!
Surely if these tenants have paid well and generally kept the property up to a good standard then it’s worth letting this go.
That’s my exact thoughts, hence my use of “depreciated value”
It’s their only possible avenue, it’s not legal for them to charge otherwise.
But I agree, it’s not a major thing, and not worth much, so just let it go.
Read the OP statement. No.
I’ll get a surveyor to assess the work, might even need a building control assessment. The space behind will need to be ventilated and the flue capped. That will require scaffolding. Suppose they are not complaining of damp (yet). I’d be harsh with this.
Thanks for the comments
To be clear, the fire was fairly modern and in perfect working order. It was not a scrap fire.
My bigger concern is damage from damp to my property from there now not being airflow within the chimney, or even to the neighbours house joining it from the same problem.
Does anyone have any advice on what type of trade would be the best for inspection/ venting/ capping of the chimney please.
Is it unreasonable to ask for a contribution, given the work now required to right what they’ve chosen to do without my consent?
Thanks again
They got rid of a basically a scrap fire
If you really want to try and get something back ask them now how they wish to deal with it. They may offer something
But really your loss is nill, being rid of a gas fire is probably a good thing. Seal the chimney up properly (may need a vent for airflow), and get rid of gas supply to it. Probably better to encourage an electric fire if someone wants one in the fireplace.
Although on the subject of tenants removing things, we had one remove an internal wall between two bedrooms!
I mean ot sounds like youve got good tenants, if it was an old gas fire which was in fact ugly live and let live, seriously some landlords...
If it keeps passing gas safety checks don't worry about it and claim it from their deposit when they leave.
If you still want a gas fire for future tenants (it would be a huge bonus for me as I'm not a fan of electric) then I would tell them to replace with something else when they want to give notice. It doesn't sound like there was anything actually mechanically wrong with the fire other than it was disconnected, so yes, I'd want it replacing. If you have it in writing that it was there a year ago then they're obviously lying
They would be well within their rights to say no.
They can't just say no,just because they pay rent doesn't mean they get the change the interior because they don't like it. Not mention if they didn't want it in they could have just asked the landlord to take it and he could have stored it for a later date
Replacing an old broken gas fire with a new working gas fire would be considered betterment.
Removing it safely is a reasonable thing to do given that it was 1) old and 2) broken or not working - and therefore had no value.
True but it's doesn't mention anywhere that it was old or not working. The tenant just said it was ugly. You can't go getting rid of another person's belongings just because they're ugly.