Boiler not working in rented property

aligerdie

Hi all,

Our boiler has not been functioning at all since last monday (15th Feb).

I informed the letting agents the same day, and the gas fitter came out to have a look on the wednesday.

Apparently the fan has gone.

I wouldn't normally pester the agents, I understand they have hundreds of properties to manage, but I really could do with the heating back asap. My daughter has cerebral palsy, and if the house isn't warm her legs go stiff and painful. Our heating is normally on constant, but set low, and I am finding it so difficult to keep the temperature constant.

I can't even put her in a warm bath to help as we have no hot water - I was told to use the immersion heater, but that doesn't work either.

Could you tell me how long is reasonable to wait before chasing it? The gas fitter told me he would order the part, and pop round saturday to fit it. I heard nothing.
I received a text late last night from him saying that the part hadn't turned up, but he would ring me as soon as it did - again I have heard nothing today, but I was originally told it would take 24 hours to get the part.

I don't want to be a pain and pester the agents - I know these things can take time. But on the other hand I don't know whether because I'm not kicking up a fuss, they don't think it's urgent!

I'd appreciate any advice, I don't like seeing my little girl like this.

Thanks

N79

By all means pester and chase but I doubt the agents can find the part any quicker than the plumber.

So far the LL has arranged a gas fitter to visit within 48 hours and the fitter is struggling to get a part. In such cases a week would be reasonable time period to effect the repair. If it is going to take much longer then it would be reasonable for you to ask your LL to loan you some portable heaters.

When did you report the immersion heater - fitting a new one is a very quick fix so if you have not reported this yet then do so - maybe the plumber can come and fit a new one in the meantime?

BitterAndTwisted

If your immersion-heater is not working either the agents and the landlord should be informed about this as well. Usually, if a boiler isn't working at all the landlord should provide an alternative source of heating and hot-water for you until the boiler is fixed, so please ask the letting-agents to arrange for a fan-heater or something similar to be supplied in the mean-time if you don't have one to use yourself.

As the heating-engineer sounds like they really are waiting for the new part, it does also sound like the agents are doing and have done everything that they can to deal with this issue in good time but it cannot hurt to get them to confirm that the part has still not arrived yet so they are completely in the picture.

As far as I am aware the law says that your landlord should deal with repair issues within a reasonable time but in your situation with a child with CP a reasonable time can feel like much too long.

Phone the agents and pester them and follow it up with a written confirmation. I'd pester them if it was me and my child

aligerdie

Thank you for your reply - and what you say is absolutely right.

I don't want to be unreasonable, and your take on it there makes it sound quick. I suppose I'm getting anxious because it's so cold!

We were offered portable heaters on Thursday - I had already been out and bought a convector radiator thing on the monday. I reported the immersion on wednesday when I chased it, but nothing has been mentioned since.

You're absolutely right, it is reasonable, I'm just frustrated!!

Thanks again

aligerdie

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

If your immersion-heater is not working either the agents and the landlord should be informed about this as well. Usually, if a boiler isn't working at all the landlord should provide an alternative source of heating and hot-water for you until the boiler is fixed, so please ask the letting-agents to arrange for a fan-heater or something similar to be supplied in the mean-time if you don't have one to use yourself.

As the heating-engineer sounds like they really are waiting for the new part, it does also sound like the agents are doing and have done everything that they can to deal with this issue in good time but it cannot hurt to get them to confirm that the part has still not arrived yet so they are completely in the picture.

As far as I am aware the law says that your landlord should deal with repair issues within a reasonable time but in your situation with a child with CP a reasonable time can feel like much too long.

Phone the agents and pester them and follow it up with a written confirmation. I'd pester them if it was me and my child

You're right about it feeling like a long time with a child with CP - she's struggling to walk now and it's horrible to watch.

That's why I wanted to check on here before I blew it out of proportion

I may just ring them in a minute and ask if they've had any updates from the plumber.

N79

Sounds like the agent has done all they can. I suggest you accept the portable heaters and use these in the interim.

Also do chase up the immersion heater. These break with annoying regularity, especially in hard water areas and always go when you need them the most but they are very simple and cheap to replace (provided that there is not some deeper problem with the immersion wiring / setup), don't require a gas safe (corgi) registered plumber - merely one with an electrical qualification and can be fitted in minutes. There is no reason why one of these could not be fitted in the next couple of days.

aligerdie

N79 wrote: »

Sounds like the agent has done all they can. I suggest you accept the portable heaters and use these in the interim. Also do chase up the immersion heater. These break with annoying regularity, especially in hard water areas and always go when you need them the most but they are very simple and cheap to replace (provided that there is not some deeper problem with the immersion wiring / setup).

Thank you for your help, what you say makes perfect sense.

I'll give them a ring now.

thanks again.

Fire_Fox

Without hot water the property is not classed as habitable, IIRC your landlord should really rehouse your temporarily - I am not laying blame on the landlord or letting agents, simply stating the facts. It may be worth you having an informal chat with Environmental Health at your local council.