Landlord wont fix my boiler and now I face a extortionate electricity bill

nomoreclones

I have been renting a ground floor flat with two house mates for 18 months now. About 8 months ago we first noticed that the thermostat wasn't working and reported it to the estate agents that we rent the property through. They sent a plumber who looked at it but did not fix it. 6 months later, with it still broken I notice that the lawn has a large patch of dead grass and there is boiling hot water pouring on to it. I look at the boiler to discover it is over heating and getting rid of the water. I again reported this issue to the estate agents who in-turn reported it to the landlord.

2 months later the boiler is still gushing hot water out and has had to be turned off. I have checked the electricity meter and it has gone up 13000 units in the last 6 months which equates to about £1400.

What rights do I have in this situation? I currently have a massive electricity bill as a result of the faulty boiler which hasn't been fixed since I first reported it 8 months ago. On top of that I have now had to turn the boiler off so that the electricity bill doesn't increase further, which means I have no hot water.

Can I refuse to pay rent till its fixed? Does my landlord have to contribute to the electricity bill?

Please help!!!!

Ross

going2die_rich

Are you on a rolling contract for your tenancy? If it's now just month by month basis, you could threaten to leave. No landlord wants to be looking for new tenants at this time of the year especially. Hardly a influx of interest. Especially if their are 3 of you he'd have to replace.

tbs624

Your LL has to keep water and space heating appliances in safe working order - that's a legal obligation, as is the requirement to get repair issues addressed within a "reasonable" time.

When was the boiler last checked/serviced & has this property got a current gas safety certificate?

You should always confirm repair issues in writing so that you have a clear paper trail for dispute resolution purposes. Contact the local council they have a specific team that deals with private tenancies - titles vary from one council to another but it will be calleda Private Sector Rentals Team, with a Tenancy Relations Officer, or something similar , in place. They can get thissorted out and liaise with the LL on your behalf. You will have to be persistent as the dept is always a busy one - follow up any phone call with a an email confirming what you have discussed, so you know its been logged in the system.

Don't withhold rent without taking proper qualified advice from a TRO or someone at a law centre or CAB who has LL & T experience.

Shelter can also offer you good advice on how to proceed 0808 800 4444 (7 days,8-8)

Welshwoofs

Most people are terrified of litigation so if I were you I'd write to the LL pointing out that the boiler has still not been fixed and spelling out the fact that boiling hot water pouring out of the side of the building is a public safety issue.

Mention that if one of your friends, the post man or the sweet little girl who lives down the road should happen to receive severe burns courtesy of the hot water pouring out of the side of the building, you fear that the LL could be sued for personal injury.

I'd ask for a reasonable amount towards your electricity bill given it's due to his faulty boiler and if he doesn't play ball, I'd move out and then hit him with a small claim's court claim for the full amount of the bill minus the amount you paid for electricity the previous 6 months.

Premier_2

Why didn't the plumber replace the defective thermostat when he visited 8 months ago?

Why did you leave it a further 6 months before following up the matter?

Eddymac

You might like to contact The Health & safety, Have a look at there webb site,
I had a problem with the service of My boiler to the Extent that is had not been services for two Years and looking at the site mentioned it is a legal obligation that it should be seviced once a year no ifs or buts,
Now this in itself is not directed at your problem, But you might find something to your benifit from the I mentioned,

poppysarah

I'd get H&S on to the landlord immediately.

Failing that the local council's tenancy support officer to chase it up, but I suspect H&S will enjoy dealing with the issue.

EliteHeat

I take it that what you refer to as a boiler is actually a hot water cylinder.

If the thermostat has broken in a way that leaves the power to the immersion heater on, then it of the old type and has failed to danger. There was a similar case recently where a small girl died as a result of the plastic header tank in the loft melting due to the boiling water shooting up there from the defective HWC.

This is a problem that should be rectified immediately and costs just a few quid.

Until this is done, the power should be turned on and off manually and the HWC should not be left on for more than an hour at a time.

KiKi

Hi OP - do you mean your electricity bill is high, or your gas bill?? The electricity keeps your boiler going, sure, but it's the gas that heats the water and would be the thing that's costing you, surely? Maybe I'm missing something...(entirely possible)!

I have every sympathy, and of course the Landlord needs to fix it.

I'm not sure what your position is re the bill, when you left it for six months when the thermostat wasn't working, and then left it another 2 months with boiling water pouring out without chasing it. Your landlord may argue that you would have noticed the increase in the electricity bill before now - surely it would have increased significantly over the last 8 months, not just recently?

Hope you get it sorted; let us know.
KiKi

rainbowangel

I can't believe that there are landlords that allow their property to get into such a way. My mum is renting and she has a homecare plan so that British Gas can be called out anytime to fix the boiler if it goes wrong so that the tennant does not go without heating/hotwater for any period of time. She has some tennants moving in on Friday that appear to be a bit of a mare. They have already complained about the carpets... because in one room its a different colour!!???? Maybe you could move into her house its right next to the sea!! Your landlord needs to fix it and pronto you should not go for so long without it. You are entitled to heating and hotwater. I would write to them telling them of all the problems and if they don't get it sorted or make attempts at getting it sorted within the next week or you will get someone in and they will send the bill onto them. I really have sympathy for you especially at this time of year.

poppysarah

Different colour carpet should have been spotted when they looked round.
Sounds like a warning bell to me.