Blowback damage/explosion risk

[Riley]

But one persons definition of disconnected isn’t the same as another’s necessarily. It could’ve just been turned off at the wall and the incoming tenant never turned it on. Like I said above we are blind to this case we have no pics and don’t even know what make and model it is. OP has had lots of good suggestions but seems intent on proving the engineer is at fault when no one on here can say hand on heart he’s at fault. For all we know he went in took the obstruction out got the heater working and it’s just the LL being devious.

 

[Scott_D]

But one persons definition of disconnected isn’t the same as another’s necessarily. It could’ve just been turned off at the wall and the incoming tenant never turned it on. Like I said above we are blind to this case we have no pics and don’t even know what make and model it is. OP has had lots of good suggestions but seems intent on proving the engineer is at fault when no one on here can say hand on heart he’s at fault. For all we know he went in took the obstruction out got the heater working and it’s just the LL being devious.

Or the LL switched it back on to check it still works, didn’t check for a blockage. And had to call someone in to fix the mess.

 

[MikeJhn]

Do you have it in writing that the oil boiler is disconnected/should not be used, what is the exact wording of the notification, that's where you start, the illegal access by the LL is your next course of action.

Couple of other thoughts, was this a "Full Repairing" lease?

Wording is very important, for instance:

"Your employees complained of an excessive draft in the premises, upon investigation it was found that the old decommissioned boiler was not fitted with a back draft shutter to the flue, we therefore, insulated this to facilitate a better working environment."

Sounds better than we stuffed some old rags up the flue to block it off.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Personally in that instance where the LL seems to be trying to have your pants down I would have denied all knowledge of the rags etc.

Admittedly I wouldn’t have messed with it in the first place and if I had I’d have labelled it very clearly at the isolation points.

 

[OffshoreGas]

Was the appliance physically disconnected from electrical power and fuel? If so I’d be questioning if it was still considered a heating appliance. There’s not law saying you can’t but a boiler and play with it in our living room, it’s only when you connect it to a fuel/gas source it becomes illegal.

If it’s been disconnected/out of service for an extended period surely it would need to be re commissioned before lightning?