Tenant wants to exchange electric cooker with gas cooker?

Reply to the comment left by Adrian Jones at 21/07/2023 – 09:31
So if the gas safety certificate is an additional cost I’m guessing there’s no other gas appliance in the property.

I presume that you already have a current EICR. One other thing that may catch you out is if AO or another fitter come to fit your appliance AO may be unable to fit your new cooker if there isn’t a spur in the required location for this new cooker at the back of the oven. The fitters may only be able to install an electrical appliance and you may need a separate gas fitter to install the new oven with gas hob. So your costs may be higher than first estimated. Best to get your tenant to agree to *all* the associated costs of fitting.

At the end of the day it’s your call. What seems long term now might not be and presumably you’ve agreed to the other additions they’ve implemented. I’m assuming you’ve factored in who is to replace said items if/when/should they leave. I’m sensing a trade off situation by keeping rent low they replace things that maybe need replacing….altho this could just be my cynicism!

I would suggest you contact your insurers because if the cooker blows up or there is a gas leak you may end up in a situation where your insurance becomes void and you may have trouble obtaining building and or contents insurance in the future !

No , but if existing electric cooker is not induction and tenant is a good tenant, I’d discuss induction option with them.
Less risk of fire and injury too imo

Thanks Beaver. The gas safety isn’t an extra cost, as I said the gas safety check has just been done and I would ask the tenant to agree to ALL associated costs
involved with supply and fitting the new cooker.

I would also ask them to agree to the same Gas Safe engineer carrying out the installation and issuing the necessary paperwork.

Reply to the comment left by Mr. C at 21/07/2023 – 22:56
Thanks Mr C. I have Landlords insurance and the appropriate certification in place for gas and electricity, why would my insurance be void in the event of of the cooker blowing up or a gas leak?

Reply to the comment left by RoseD at 21/07/2023 – 21:26
This is certainly not about a trade off Rose. The rent is about £3,000 a year under market value, the odd (usually non essential) replacement by the tenant doesn’t get near that figure.

Perhaps the saving on rent allows them to personalise the property to their taste.

Reply to the comment left by Adrian Jones at 22/07/2023 – 10:38
Thanks for acknowledging that Adrian and presume you have your reasons for keeping rent well below the average (if there is an average these days). I’m doing similar altho wouldn’t be offering so much flexibility around fittings. As I said previously your call really.

Thanks Rose. In fairness I have a reasonable income and am mortgage free.

I had planned an increase in 2019 but the couple had their first child so decided to postpone it and of course this was followed by COVID, followed by Ukraine, cost of living hike etc.

However, I will be talking to them about an increase to bring it nearer market value but phased in over say 3 years which I think is fair.

Reply to the comment left by Adrian Jones at 22/07/2023 – 12:13Highlights that not everyone the money grabbing individuals that we very often made out to be. I personally feel small increases annually works better than huge hike but guess none of us could foresee the madness that seems to be going on in the world atm. That said I think you should be careful of too much ‘personalisation’. Whilst it’s their home, it’s your property and things can quickly escalate against you despite your kind understanding.