UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello all

First time on here - I hope someone can advise me.  On visiting a property to do some repairs I was shocked to see a wood burning stove had been dangerously installed without my knowledge I have spoken to and emailed the tenant raising my safety concerns and she has agreed in writing not to use it and to remove it from the property - I said within 2 weeks.  She wants longer as she is on holiday so I offered to have it removed (at my expense) immediately but she wants to sell it. I have given her 2 weeks from her return to get rid  and I will be there on the final day to make sure it's gone.  My question is if it's not been removed can I remove it?  She's an okay tenant otherwise so I don't want her out - just the burner.  Thanks I hope someone can help me sort this out.

You could remove it with her agreement, but you'd find it difficult to remove it against her will, as it would be interference with goods and in any case, she could just refuse to admit you to the property.

In addition to the wood burner itself, there is the flu to consider and making good/redecoration of the affected areas.

Just to be safe, I would also pop around there now with a carbon monoxide detector as this is a legal requirement where a wood burner is installed.

Thank you for your response. It seems like I'll have to evict if she won't remove it as fire safety is a real concern of mine - I put a new combi boiler in last year and the house has full central heating and DG so it's not cold.   I've always been on good terms with her and am pretty easygoing but this is shocking to me.

Safety of tenants is a big thing for me. It's been installed without local authority permission (clean air zone)  by an unqualified person - it would never  get certification and is unsafe.     I have a burner and I've seen some awful installations but this is the worst. It is a real fire hazard.

I've thought about contacting the local  fire officer and asking someone to go and speak to her but if rather not as it's a bit heavy handed 

Giving her an additional  carbon monoxide detector is basically me saying she can use it. 

If there's a wood burner in the property and no carbon monoxide alarm you can be fined (it's a requirement on you, not the tenant).

But, you're right, a tenant who installs a wood burner without proper certification is someone I wouldn't want in a property I own.

If the stove isn't gone by the deadline, you can just remove it yourself. Just keep a record of what's been agreed on. You're doing the right thing by making sure it's out for safety.

Quote from: havens on July 19, 2024, 08:28:25 PMIf the stove isn't gone by the deadline, you can just remove it yourself.

No you can't.

Quote from: havens on July 19, 2024, 08:28:25 PMIf the stove isn't gone by the deadline, you can just remove it yourself

Bad advice.

The wood burner stove is the tenant's property, not the landlord's.