Can someone advise please?

mrmee_2

alwaysonthego wrote: »

Though you do need to bear in mind that if you are out of your tenancy agreement and on a rolling contract that your LL can ask you to leave without giving a reason, I am not saying you should leave it but just making you aware.

Thankyou. the agreement was with an estate agent who has since gone bust so i dont know where i stand? I just want to be gone now. Im fed up of this house

Jomo

Check your contract?

You may be within your rights to withhold rent until it has been fixed.

mrmee_2

Jomo wrote: »

Check your contract?

You may be within your rights to withhold rent until it has been fixed.

We have looked with a fine toothcomb lol. nothing there to say i can hold rent. Our bank account is on hold. we are waiting for a new bank card. been waiting 2 weeks!!:mad:

mrmee_2

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Your local council has powers to enforce rules - and boilers need to be serviced every year by a Corgi approved fitter, who will provide a certificate of safety. Now, it is possible that this has been done...

I would contact the council and ask to be put through to the department that delas with private renting. Once through, I would expalin the situation and ask if the landlord has an obligation to repair or replace the boiler. I would imagine the answer will be yes. If I am correct, the council can then give you the correct advice on what to do next, including whether you can contact a repairman yoursself and bill the landlord. They might even give the LL a ring to remind him of his responsibilities - it could give the LL the nudge he needs. If not, they can pursue the LL through legal channels and the courts. Most LLs would want to avoid this.

Local authorities now have more powers than they used to have. I have seen reports in my local papers about LLs that have been taken to court and received heavy fines when they have not fulfilled their legal obligations. I would think that a working boiler is a legal obligation, especially if there is nop other form of heat available.

As far as im aware, the boiler has not been services since at least 2 years as that is how long we have lived here. the person the LL sent out cannot get the parts for the boiler as its at least 8 years old and have to be ordered. there has been no effort of a gas certificate and the person who came out was an ordinary plumber. nothing to say he was corgi registered.

He was quite rude, but there we go lol. I have been on the phone to the council this morning and have been offered a 1 bedroom flat on the 3rd floor. We are going to have to take it as its the only option

jennilb

Hi

I went to the environmental health department of the council when I had a 'working' boiler that sustained my flat at 6degrees c when it was 1 degree outside. I know this last bit because they sent a chap round who measured it. They then served a notice on the landlord forcing him to do the required works within a set (relatively short) time. If he hadn't have done it, they would have done it and then charged him for it and also fined him.

So I suggest you call your environmental health department!

Hope this helps
Jenni

Edinburghlass_2

Have a look at this board where you'll find landlords and tenants who can advise.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=16

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2199427

kingfisherblue

If you take the one bedroom flat, ask for the local housing authority to keep you on the waiting list. Due to overcrowding, you may get the chance to move again later in the year.

Otherwise, is there anything that you can rent privately? I understand if you don't want to go down this route again.

Finally, instead of spending a lot of money getting to relatives houses to keep warm, have you considered spending an afternoon at the local library? You don't have to be a member and you can read stories to your kiddies. Our library is in a community centre as well, so you can buy a cup of coffee or tea quite cheaply.