A Rant

Drea

I am so !!!!ed off! I moved into my new flat on Friday, since the start there has been nothing but trouble with the LA, I'm still waiting on furniture, the washing machine isn't right and I haven't been able to put the heating on because I just couldn't work out how to do it. But I've read the manual, and basicly, it's not working either. I should have a green light, I've tried doing everything it says but aparantly because there is no light at all I have 'no power, blown fuse or internal fault'.

My mum said something about a pilot light and it'd be in the book, but it doesn't even mention a pilot light and I don't know what one is and don't see anything on the box.

I'm just !!!!ed off! It's been one thing after the other for a month and I just want things to go right for once! Is it so much to ask to have some heating at least. Ah sorry, need to rant :mad:

smileykylie_2

man must be cold up there - heating in august gotta love the british summer

redcar_2

Whats the name of the heating system? - maybe someone with the same one can advice.

Following from your other thread I'm sorry to hear it hasn't worked out fully. If you are missing stuff which they agreed to provide by a certain date then I would contact them about either payig for it yourself and deducting money for the cost or getting agreement to deducting a reasonable amount from the rent to cover not having full amenities in the house.

Drea

smileykylie wrote: »

man must be cold up there - heating in august gotta love the british summer

Yep, cold and raining. Even if it was warm I'd still need it working for hot water though.

redcar wrote: »

Whats the name of the heating system? - maybe someone with the same one can advice.

Following from your other thread I'm sorry to hear it hasn't worked out fully. If you are missing stuff which they agreed to provide by a certain date then I would contact them about either payig for it yourself and deducting money for the cost or getting agreement to deducting a reasonable amount from the rent to cover not having full amenities in the house.

It's a vokera, compact. They never gave me a date, I'm going to make a list tonight of everything that needs sorted then going to email him it tomorrow. But the washing machine and heating need done now, so he will get a phonecall about them tomorrow.

tbs624

Drea - has your LA/LL given you a copy of the gas safety certificate? (it's a legal requirement for them to do so) and will mean that the boiler has been recently checked over/serviced

Can you see an electrical fused switch anywhere that links in with the boiler's control system (yes even when the boiler is a gas one)- if the flat has been unoccupied it may have been switched off for safety reasons. It may not be immediately apparent - eg, in a house it may be under the stairs nearthe meters despite the boiler being in the kitchen.

moodydonkey

Hi, I thought I had a problem when I moved into my rented house, had no hot water or heating. For some reason mine comes on at about 2 in the morning. There is no way to control it or add extra it just comes on and we have hot water the next day. My LL is as bemused as I am.

Drea

tbs624 wrote: »

Drea - has your LA/LL given you a copy of the gas safety certificate? (it's a legal requirement for them to do so) and will mean that the boiler has been recently checked over/serviced

Can you see an electrical fused switch anywhere that links in with the boiler's control system (yes even when the boiler is a gas one)- if the flat has been unoccupied it may have been switched off for safety reasons. It may not be immediately apparent - eg, in a house it may be under the stairs nearthe meters despite the boiler being in the kitchen.

Yep the electricity is connected and on. I don't have a gas safety certificate, I'm to phone the guy to come out and do the checks actually, thanks for reminding me.

I don't even know where the boiler is! I thought the bit where the controls are is the boiler, but aparantly a boiler is a big huge thing... I'm so confused...

tbs624

Your LL/LA should have sorted the gas safety cert before you moved in - it's their responsibility not yours

From the HSE (Health & Safety Exec) guide for LLs:

You are required to:

• ensure gas fittings and flues are maintained in a safe condition. Gas appliances should be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer ’s instructions. If these are not available it is recommended that they are serviced annually unless advised otherwise by a CORGI-registered installer;

• ensure an annual safety check is carried out on each gas appliance/flue. Before any new lease starts, you must make sure that these checks have been carried out within one year before the start of the lease date, unless the appliances in the property have been installed for less than 12 months, in which case they should be checked within 12 months of their installation date;

• have all installation, maintenance and safety checks carried out by a CORGI-registered gas installer;
  

• keep a record of each safety check for at least two years;

• issue a copy of the latest safety check record to existing tenants within 28 days of the check being completed, or to any new tenant before they move in (in certain cases there is an option to display the record)
  

The Regulations specify the gas safety matters to be covered.You should not assume that an annual service inspection meets the safety check requirement, or that a safety check will, on its own, be sufficient to provide effective maintenance.

(My highlighting) It's a criminal offence for LLs/LAs to not comply with gas safety regs - it should have been sorted out by them *before* you moved in & they can't dump the responsibility on to you as the tenant (although obviously you may prefer to arrange subsequent gas safety visits for when you can be at the property).


Just to clarify - the fused switch that I referred to is not the same thing as the switch for the general elec supply to the whole flat - may just look like a boxy light switch with the outline of a fuse on it?

moneysavinmonkey

Drea wrote: »

I don't even know where the boiler is! I thought the bit where the controls are is the boiler, but aparantly a boiler is a big huge thing... I'm so confused...

sounds like you are just fiddling with the thermostat and you haven't actually located the boiler yet? the boiler is a white box thing.. see here as tbs624 it is standard that when you move into a property you have to 'switch on' the boiler so you need to locate it!

When we moved into the property we had great fun finding the randomly placed electrical switches for the 2x boilers and cooker - one was behind a kitchen drawer unit and could only be access by taking the drawer off it's hinges and reaching behind the unit!

I'd be wary if you call the letting agents out to show you how to switch the heating on and it's not faulty then they may try to charge you.

Bungarm2001

Definitely the LL's responsibility to get the gas safety check done. It isn't up to you to do this because you will end up paying for it. (anything from £50 - £75 + vat) Chase up the LA as a matter of urgency.

I take it from your confusion over the boiler means that your LL/LA didn't actually see you into the property the day you moved in?? In other words, did they not come in with you and go over how the appliances work and/or any other details about the property such as bin collection day?

Did s/he have an inventory done and did he/she demostrate that the boiler was up and running?? (along with the cooker, washer, f-freezer if these were also provided)

If not, I find it incredible that it seems like they just gave you the keys and left you to get on with it. Phone them and get them round to sort out the gas cert, and also tell them that that you need sonmeone to come around and demonstrate how the boiler and central heating/hot water works.

Drea

tbs624 wrote: »

Your LL/LA should have sorted the gas safety cert before you moved in - it's their responsibility not yours

From the HSE (Health & Safety Exec) guide for LLs:

You are required to:

• ensure gas fittings and flues are maintained in a safe condition. Gas appliances should be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer ’s instructions. If these are not available it is recommended that they are serviced annually unless advised otherwise by a CORGI-registered installer;

• ensure an annual safety check is carried out on each gas appliance/flue. Before any new lease starts, you must make sure that these checks have been carried out within one year before the start of the lease date, unless the appliances in the property have been installed for less than 12 months, in which case they should be checked within 12 months of their installation date;

• have all installation, maintenance and safety checks carried out by a CORGI-registered gas installer;

• keep a record of each safety check for at least two years;

• issue a copy of the latest safety check record to existing tenants within 28 days of the check being completed, or to any new tenant before they move in (in certain cases there is an option to display the record)

The Regulations specify the gas safety matters to be covered.You should not assume that an annual service inspection meets the safety check requirement, or that a safety check will, on its own, be sufficient to provide effective maintenance.

(My highlighting) It's a criminal offence for LLs/LAs to not comply with gas safety regs - it should have been sorted out by them *before* you moved in & they can't dump the responsibility on to you as the tenant (although obviously you may prefer to arrange subsequent gas safety visits for when you can be at the property).


Just to clarify - the fused switch that I referred to is not the same thing as the switch for the general elec supply to the whole flat - may just look like a boxy light switch with the outline of a fuse on it?

The day I went to pick up the keys, literally 2 minutes once I had them this man who was to do the safety check phoned my mobile (obviously my number was given out by the LA). I am to phone back to tell him a time that suits.

So should this have been done BEFORE I move by law? Or is it a case of as long as it's done. There is a plug going to the boiler, it has a light next to it which is lit... not sure if that's what you mean.