We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Boiler broken down in rented house
littleemmie
Posts: 256 Forumite
Hi everyone,
We rent our 2 bedroom house through a letting agent.
Yesterday morning our boiler broke down, leaving us with no hot water and no heating. This is the second time in about 8 months this has happened - last time the letting agents sent a contractor round who apparently fixed it, although spent most of the time on the phone, asking people what he should do next to the boiler, replacing two parts in it because he didn't know which was the problem. He then dropped the casing to the boiler, breaking some plates and glasses and taking a chunk out of the kitchen wall :rolleyes:
Anyway, yesterday afternoon the letting agents got back to us and said that the landlady wants the original guy to fix the boiler again. He can't come out until Monday morning though, which I am pretty miffed about as it will then be 5 days without hot water or heating - this house is cold with the heating on, 5 days without it is going to be a nightmare. The letting agents agree that 5 days is unacceptable to wait but don't want to use anyone other than their own contractors. We have someone coming round tomorrow to "take a look" although letting agent said that as he is in the middle of another job he probably won't fix it on Friday, it will have to be done on Monday.
So, my questions in this essay are, is 5 days (6 including monday) too many to wait for heating and hot water? If the man tomorrow can't fix it, am I allowed to try to get my own repair man out and get the letting agents to pay them/me back?
Thanks everyone for your help.
A very cold Emma.
We rent our 2 bedroom house through a letting agent.
Yesterday morning our boiler broke down, leaving us with no hot water and no heating. This is the second time in about 8 months this has happened - last time the letting agents sent a contractor round who apparently fixed it, although spent most of the time on the phone, asking people what he should do next to the boiler, replacing two parts in it because he didn't know which was the problem. He then dropped the casing to the boiler, breaking some plates and glasses and taking a chunk out of the kitchen wall :rolleyes:
Anyway, yesterday afternoon the letting agents got back to us and said that the landlady wants the original guy to fix the boiler again. He can't come out until Monday morning though, which I am pretty miffed about as it will then be 5 days without hot water or heating - this house is cold with the heating on, 5 days without it is going to be a nightmare. The letting agents agree that 5 days is unacceptable to wait but don't want to use anyone other than their own contractors. We have someone coming round tomorrow to "take a look" although letting agent said that as he is in the middle of another job he probably won't fix it on Friday, it will have to be done on Monday.
So, my questions in this essay are, is 5 days (6 including monday) too many to wait for heating and hot water? If the man tomorrow can't fix it, am I allowed to try to get my own repair man out and get the letting agents to pay them/me back?
Thanks everyone for your help.
A very cold Emma.
Latest Wins: Mr Motivator workout DVD, 5 Itunes downloads, Ipod Stereo Dock, Tea, Ipod Nano, True Crime DVD set, Family Pass to Legoland, Eye Pencil, Seeds, Anita Shreves novel, £150 ASOS vouchers, Miracle Gro starter kit :j
0
Comments
-
Ring shelter now and see what they think is a reasonable time.
Or contact the local counci's private rented sector.
Is the repair man corgi or just clumsy?
They may have to supply you with a heater to stop you freezing.0 -
poppysarah wrote: »Ring shelter now and see what they think is a reasonable time.
Or contact the local counci's private rented sector.
Is the repair man corgi or just clumsy?
They may have to supply you with a heater to stop you freezing.
Thank you for your advice, I will ring them now.
He was corgi registered but I'm still not that keen to have the same guy back again!
Letting agents have just told OH that if its not fixed tomorrow they have held back 1 heater for us, I'm going to ring back and ask if we can have it today.Latest Wins: Mr Motivator workout DVD, 5 Itunes downloads, Ipod Stereo Dock, Tea, Ipod Nano, True Crime DVD set, Family Pass to Legoland, Eye Pencil, Seeds, Anita Shreves novel, £150 ASOS vouchers, Miracle Gro starter kit :j0 -
3 working days is not really an unreasonable time period and the LL is entitled to pick the repairman provided they are appropriately qualified (Corgi Registered).
Do you have an electic immersion heater you can use for hot water in the meantime?0 -
3 working days is not really an unreasonable time period and the LL is entitled to pick the repairman provided they are appropriately qualified (Corgi Registered).
Do you have an electic immersion heater you can use for hot water in the meantime?
If there are childnre or vulnerable adults in the home then during winter 3 days for an initial visit would be considered too long IMO.0 -
poppysarah wrote: »If there are childnre or vulnerable adults in the home then during winter 3 days for an initial visit would be considered too long IMO.
While I agree that 3 working days is not ideal, it is also not, in my opinion, unreasonable. It is not unreasonable for the LL to wish to use a trusted tradesman that they know to be corgi registered. Given obligations under gas safety law it is not really possible for a LL to just trawl through the yellow pages as all potential tradesman need to be check out and vetted.0 -
While I agree that 3 working days is not ideal, it is also not, in my opinion, unreasonable. It is not unreasonable for the LL to wish to use a trusted tradesman that they know to be corgi registered. Given obligations under gas safety law it is not really possible for a LL to just trawl through the yellow pages as all potential tradesman need to be check out and vetted.
And by the same token a broken gas appliance shouldn't be left unchecked for 3 days. What if the reason its broken is it's now unsafe?0 -
3 working days is not really an unreasonable time period and the LL is entitled to pick the repairman provided they are appropriately qualified (Corgi Registered).
Do you have an electic immersion heater you can use for hot water in the meantime?
No we have no alternative form of hot water or heating at all (other than a kettle). I'm happy for them to pick a corgi repairman but I don't see why it should be limited to their own contractors when it is a 5 day wait and I wasn't that impressed with the previous contractor's way of working.
Shelter have said that they must repair it within a reasonable amount of time but there is no definition of reasonable so they are unsure.Latest Wins: Mr Motivator workout DVD, 5 Itunes downloads, Ipod Stereo Dock, Tea, Ipod Nano, True Crime DVD set, Family Pass to Legoland, Eye Pencil, Seeds, Anita Shreves novel, £150 ASOS vouchers, Miracle Gro starter kit :j0 -
poppysarah wrote: »And by the same token a broken gas appliance shouldn't be left unchecked for 3 days. What if the reason its broken is it's now unsafe?
Oh god, now that's worried me!!Latest Wins: Mr Motivator workout DVD, 5 Itunes downloads, Ipod Stereo Dock, Tea, Ipod Nano, True Crime DVD set, Family Pass to Legoland, Eye Pencil, Seeds, Anita Shreves novel, £150 ASOS vouchers, Miracle Gro starter kit :j0 -
littleemmie wrote: »Oh god, now that's worried me!!
If you smell gas ring this number ... turn off the gas and open the windows.
0800 111 999
If it's broken then it might need disconnecting from the gas until it's fixed. Transco can come and do that if you smell strange fumes or gas. They will be out quickly. They will disconnect the heater if it's dangerous.
If you are worried get back on to the LA/landlord and explain to them why you're worried.
If it's not working anyway then you lose nothing by having them come out and disconnect it.0 -
littleemmie wrote: »Oh god, now that's worried me!!
Please don't worry. The boiler has clearly been inspected and repaired by an appropriately qualified individual less than a year ago. Modern, correctly installed boilers fail safe and yours is clearly correctly installed as it has been inspected by a corgi registered fitter.
They would not have repaired the boiler last time if it was not correct installed. I assume you also have a gas safety certificate.
As you have discovered, there is no definition of unreasonable because it depends on the individual circumstances. My view is only my opinion.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 352.2K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454.3K Spending & Discounts
- 245.3K Work, Benefits & Business
- 601K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.5K Life & Family
- 259.1K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards