Tenant wants to exchange electric cooker with gas cooker?

Why does the tenant want to do it? My view would depend on whether they're a good long-term tenant.

If the property has an old-style electric hob, they're expensive to use, so the tenant - sensibly - wants to reduce their energy cost. Modern electric hobs and ovens should cost much less to run. With pressure on energy costs there's more use of microwaves and air fryers. Several comparisons were published online.

If you decide they can switch to gas, you must insist on checking the installer's properly certified.

Reply to the comment left by Simon M at 20/07/2023 - 11:03
Exactly my point to leave as it is. If it is to save energy costs there are other options like slow cooker, air fryers and I believe portable butane gas hob which to be honest we all looking to use in everyday life with the energy costs we all facing.

Reply to the comment left by Niccolo Capanni at 20/07/2023 - 10:11I can definitely understand why a tenant in the current climate would want a gas cooker Vs Electric as Gas is significantly cheaper than electric.
However as a Landlord you be responsible for the Gas Safety especially if it's left in situ, but saying that unless your property is already fully electric you already have to comply with the Gas Safety Regulations.
I would agree the request if there is already Gas Appliances in the property cos the less a Tenant has to spend money which means they are more secure and happy and likely to be able to continue paying the rent, you would be taking pressure of their finances.
It sounds to me like you have a good Tenant who is trying to be financially responsible.
In fact I would even consider the request if the property was fully electric, Gas is always cheaper than electric per unit. However like others have said it might affect your EPC rating so you would need to check, although electric is still mostly burning fossil fuel at the power stations.

If she's a good tenant and longstanding I would agree. In the scheme of things a CP12 is chicken feed, but I would add special clauses to the AST.. she would be responsible for the cost of installation and maintenance, including any repairs needed as per the CP12. She would also be responsible for the cost of refitting the electric hob when she vacates, unless she wants to leave it and
crucially, you want to take it.

For me this would depend upon other factors such as; does the house have any other gas appliances such as a condensing gas boiler (which might also have a positive effect on EPC rating). If disruption to the property is minimal I can't see a problem with providing a gas installation especially if the tenant is prepared to pay. Gas prices are lower than electricity prices and at present gas prices are on the way down.

But there isn't really enough information here to offer a view. For people who like to cook on gas it's generally the gas hob that they prefer. Electric cookers and grills work pretty well. If you've already got an induction hob built into one of the surfaces you're probably not going to want to replace that. If you've already got other gas appliances in the property you've got to have a gas safety certificate anyway.

If it's a free-standing cooker that just needs a gas connection and the tenant is prepared to pay for the installation of the gas connection then you can always provide the connection, let the tenant pay for the oven and make it clear that the oven is the responsibility of the tenant in writing. They can buy one from AO and get AO to fit it. But I think the first thing to ask is which is the important bit? Is it the gas *hob*, that's important, is it a gas grill, or is it a gas oven?

Does the tenant know how much it will cost to install? When they find this out they may change their mind. It may well not be as simple as connecting to an existing gas pipe. From experience, this pipe may not be large enough for both a boiler and hob, so the pipe would need to be upgraded over the entire run from the gas meter.

Your tenant has a right to install their own appliances including a gas cooker, fridge, etc. and you are NOT responsible for these.

The tenant is responsible for the safety of their own appliances including servicing and safety-checking. You are responsible for any flues that the cooker connects to and you would still need to have your LGSR, which should note that the ga cooker is tenant owned and was NOT checked.

As a responsible landlord, you would want to ensure that your tenant's appliance is safe and you should request a copy of their safety check (can't remember the exact form - CP4?)

They accepted the property with that cooker installed. They were happy then with it. I would tell them no.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the comments. It certainly is not as straightforward as it first seemed.

The tenants have invested in the property, decorating, carpets etc so I'm expecting them to be long termers, especially as the rent is significantly under the going rate.

My understanding is that it would be a free standing cooker with hob.

My inclination is to agree providing ALL associated costs, including removal of existing cooker, installation, repairs/replacements are met by them and to be on the safe the installation approved by a Gas Safe engineer. I've just had the annual certificate done so might insist on the same engineer.

The additional cost for the annual Gas Safety Certificate would be minimal so not an issue.

Any thoughts very welcome.

Reply to the comment left by Adrian Jones at 21/07/2023 - 09:31
just get this all written up in agreement too if this is the route you take.

PS dont think you cant increase the rent because they are looking after the place. That is of course a hell of a bonus BUT you wont be doing yourself a favour if you are already well under the market rate. Your costs will be going up at some point (think EPC and other requirements) so you need to bare that in mind..