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Boiler broken down in rented house

13

Comments

  • Another update:

    OH has just got back from visiting the landlady!

    Basically she is shocked at what is going on. Apparently she told our LA yesterday morning to do whatever it takes to sort out and fix the boiler and she said that she definately did not tell them she only wants the one previous contractor. She said she has been trying to find out from the LA all day what progress has been made but they had been no help whatsoever. Apparently she was very nice and said she is in all day tomorrow and the weekend if we want a shower or just to keep warm for a while, and that she will try to get someone out to us tomorrow. She has given us permission to find someone too, and as long as she approves the quote first, is happy for us to get it done.

    OH and landlady then apparently had a good moan at the numerous things our LA have previously done wrong/been a pain about!

    Thank you everyone for all your help. I now have a glimmer of hope that we won't have to suffer over the weekend too, and if we do, the landlady will at least let us have a shower and get warm!
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  • tbs624
    tbs624 Posts: 10,816 Forumite
    ........OH has just got back from visiting the landlady!

    Basically she is shocked at what is going on. Apparently she told our LA yesterday morning to do whatever it takes to sort out and fix the boiler and she said that she definately did not tell them she only wants the one previous contractor. She said she has been trying to find out from the LA all day what progress has been made but they had been no help whatsoever. ....

    Unfortunately this is often the sort of thing that LAs do: LLs often don't seem to have a full picture of what the LA does or doesn't do on their behalf, hence why I said
    tbs624 wrote: »
    ...LLs and LAs often use one another as an excuse for their own tardiness on repairs issues....
    ;)

    Glad you managed to get things moving - hopefully your LL will give the LA a metaphorical kick up the behind and you will soon have heating & hot water again.
  • Mandles
    Mandles Posts: 4,121 Forumite
    Be glad you have not got my landlord. I told him in september that the boiler was broken and we had no heating and it is still broken now(5 months!!!!).
    I have witheld rent and am paying it out of rent that .It is costing £2500 . I would withold rent also if i was you for the time without heating . We have hot water so are making do with quilts in the lounge and portable heaters.


    The letting agents probably get a bit of cash from the usual bloke for getting him to do it so that is why they are taking so long. I would go to checkatrade and get one from there.
  • poppysarah
    poppysarah Posts: 11,522 Forumite
    5 months? Seriously you're mad for putting up with it.

    get onto the council first thing - private sector housing team - why should you organise a new gas boiler? That's insane!
  • Mandles
    Mandles Posts: 4,121 Forumite
    poppysarah wrote: »
    5 months? Seriously you're mad for putting up with it.

    get onto the council first thing - private sector housing team - why should you organise a new gas boiler? That's insane!
    Because the landlord wants us out so i am doing my best not to get evicted. He is also related to me!! Unbelieveable isn't it.
  • poppysarah
    poppysarah Posts: 11,522 Forumite
    Mandles wrote: »
    Because the landlord wants us out so i am doing my best not to get evicted. He is also related to me!! Unbelieveable isn't it.


    TBH I'd speak to the council and then move.

    After getting in the paper and naming and shaming the landlord.
  • clutton_2
    clutton_2 Posts: 11,149 Forumite
    when boilers break down on friday/saturday it is always very difficult to effect a fast repair - even if the CORIG gas engineer can come out, the supplier are shut on sundays and spare parts often have to be ordered in, which takes another few days, and then they send the wrong parts, and on it goes

    however, there is no excuse for the LA not providing portable heaters - LLs have a duty of care under H&S to their clients - more folks die in rentals from cold now than fires
  • LydiaJ
    LydiaJ Posts: 8,083 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    Mandles wrote: »
    I would withold rent also if i was you for the time without heating.

    The OP's OH has just established a constructive relationship with the LL who is being very helpful and offering the use of her own shower etc if they need it. Witholding rent now would mess that up and set up the LL and tenants in opposition to each other.

    I hope the OP and the LL can continue to be allies in getting the LA to do their job. (Or maybe you could get rid of the LA, pay the rent direct to the LL and split the difference on the LA's commission!)
    Do you know anyone who's bereaved? Point them to https://www.AtaLoss.org which does for bereavement support what MSE does for financial services, providing links to support organisations relevant to the circumstances of the loss & the local area. (Link permitted by forum team)
    Tyre performance in the wet deteriorates rapidly below about 3mm tread - change yours when they get dangerous, not just when they are nearly illegal (1.6mm).
    Oh, and wear your seatbelt. My kids are only alive because they were wearing theirs when somebody else was driving in wet weather with worn tyres.
    :)
  • tbs624
    tbs624 Posts: 10,816 Forumite
    LydiaJ wrote: »
    ...Witholding rent now would mess that up and set up the LL and tenants in opposition to each other...
    We get frequent posts on here that say "withhold your rent" but unless this is done following a very specific procedure, which has its basis in a court case on disrepair, then a T will put themselves at risk of eviction. No T should *ever* withhold rent payments without seeking qualified legal advice first.
  • tbs624
    tbs624 Posts: 10,816 Forumite
    clutton wrote: »
    when boilers break down on friday/saturday it is always very difficult to effect a fast repair
    .... but in OP Littleemmie's case it broke down on a Weds, and tbh if it does fall at a w/e a LL can of course just pay for one of the "all hours" chappies to come out, so perhaps what you mean is that it is very difficult to effect a fast repair at the price which the LL would like to pay.;)
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