No hot water for 4 weeks in rented flat

SmallEnglish

Morning....

We've had no hot water in our flat for over 4 weeks. It took a week for the landlord to arrange for someone to take a look and when the guy said it was fixed we only had hot water for 20 mins. Since then the landlord has been saying they are waiting for "the parts" in order to fix the problem. So here we are 4 weeks later still with no hot water.

I'm having to either drive to my mum's place for a shower or heat up loads of saucepans and the kettle in order to have a bath/shower. My mum reckons that it's illegal to leave tenants without hot water but my flatmate doesn't want to push the matter because the rent hasn't been put up in 4 years (plus she just goes to her gym every day for an endless supply of nice hot water).

Has anyone got any advice on how I can push my flatmate to get this sorted?

EliteHeat

What parts are on order? assuming that you have a gas boiler, what is the make and model?

SmallEnglish

I've no idea what parts they are waiting for, all they said was that they were foreign parts so they've got to wait for stock. We've got electric boiler, our flat is all electric. The boiler says Megaflo with model number DD145.

N79

To answer your questions.

Your mother is part correct. Yes LL has a legal obligation to keep the heating and hot water systems in working order. (S11 LL and T Act 1985) However LLs can not always affect repairs immediately and the law reflects this. Your LL appears to be making some attempt to fix the problem. A week to get a plumber round is a little long but not totally excessive (unfortunately LLs often have the same problem finding tradesmen quickly as everyone else). 4 weeks to affect a repair is getting a little long though. While they may be waiting for parts I think you are now well within your rights to start asking the LL to do something. You might like to ask for a reduction in rent until the problem is fixed or negotiate some other compromise with the LL.

I have no idea how you get you flatmate on side. You know her so I think this one is down to you.

jojopo000

Just so you dont feel so bad, we have had no heating or hot water from the boiler for 12 weeks now but we are getting a new boiler fitted tomorrow.
Has been really hard as have 3 young children and has been really cold so have been wearing coats indoors and extra blankets for the kids esp the baby.

EliteHeat

SmallEnglish wrote: »

I've no idea what parts they are waiting for, all they said was that they were foreign parts so they've got to wait for stock. We've got electric boiler, our flat is all electric. The boiler says Megaflo with model number DD145.

This is an unvented direct hot water cylinder. All parts are available for this appliance on a next day delivery basis.

Either your landlord or your plumber is lying. BTW, the plumber must hold a G3 unvented license to work on this.

GDB2222

EliteHeat wrote: »

This is an unvented direct hot water cylinder. All parts are available for this appliance on a next day delivery basis.

Either your landlord or your plumber is lying. BTW, the plumber must hold a G3 unvented license to work on this.

Briiliant answer! We have a Megaflo, and parts are easily available.

Good plumbers/ heating engineers are always useful to know - where can EliteHeat be found?

SmallEnglish

EliteHeat wrote: »

This is an unvented direct hot water cylinder. All parts are available for this appliance on a next day delivery basis.

Either your landlord or your plumber is lying. BTW, the plumber must hold a G3 unvented license to work on this.

Thanks for the info! Although now I feel pretty narked as for the last few weeks we just keep getting told "the parts are not in yet".:mad: I will also ask about this G3 unvented license.

Cheers!

Pssst

I agree with Elite heat.

Its not rocket science..hes blagging you.

Give him notice that you are moving out,he'll soon fix it.

mlz1413

Back up all you communications with letters, put everything in writing!

If your LL hasn't put the rent up in 4 years that is his choice and should not affect the standard of the accomodation. If you pay your rent on time and live quitely he is probably happy to have you there.

If your LL doesn't seem to acknowledge the timing you could offer to get it fixed and deducted the value from your rent sending him the original bill (keep a copy for yourself).

tbs624

N79 has already mentioned the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 S11 of which places very specific obligations on the LL. He has to maintain the equipment for space heating & water heating (amongst other things) in good working order.

You have to allow a "reasonable" time for him/her to address the problem which may mean waiting for 48 hours or more for the initial visit from a plumber/HE but decent LLs have a plumber whom they use regularly or some form of contract for emergency cover so you shouldn't have had to wait for a week. . If the actual problem can't be fixed within a week then the proper thing for a LL to do is to hire a free standing water boiler (by the day or week) until the system is fixed. Elite Heat has given you good info there, and it's clear that 4 weeks without hot water is not reasonable when the LL could have provided alternatives for you.

You need, as others have said to make notes on all of this, & maybe bear in mind for the future that *all* repairs issues are best dealt with in writing from the start, so that there is a good paper trail if you have to pursue the matter. If you ring first then always write afterwards saying "just to confirm my phone call of to discuss x, my understanding is that we agreed that y..."

I would write to the LL and state the facts to date, that you understand that parts are easily available & that you want a firm date (agree access arrangements) and in the meantime can he arrange & pay for the hire of a water boiler.

If you still get nowhere you can quote the " S11 repairing obligations" & you can get back up from the local Council's Private Sector Team if necessary and they can liaise with the LL.