Can the landlord keep adjusting water temperature?

sammi.jo

Hi there

I live in a shared house in a single-tenancy bedroom. The bathroom, kitchen and stuff are shared.

The landlord keeps turning the water down on the boiler. The problem is, when the water is turned down, the tap in the bathroom runs at a hot temperature, and the bath/ shower does for a bit, but then the bath and shower go lukewarm, or cold.

I didn't realise it was him at first and left a quick note on the boiler asking people not to turn it down, but I went to walk into the bathroom this morning and there he was! He said that he was in there because 'somebody keeps turning the water up'.

I explained that it was me, and why I was doing it, and he proceeded to run the bathroom sink tap and say 'feel that, it's boiling'. I said that the bath does not get so, and he aggressively told me that it was on the same pipes.

Now he's said that if anybody turns it up again, he's going into INSTALL A LOCK on the boiler cupboard. This means I won't even be able to turn it up just for my shower and turn it back down.

It also affects the washing-up, because the kitchen sink tap doesn't get hot.

Is this allowed? I'm actually at my wits end and considering moving out.

Insomniac666

1 .Who pays the water rates?
2. Does the LL reside at the property?

sammi.jo

1) He pays for it
2) Nope, he doesn't live at the property.

My first thought was to take thermometer readings of a sink/bathful of water and confront him about it. If he placed a lock on it, then my idea was to take the readings to the council; don't councils govern private landlords?

Insomniac666

Hasn't he got to give notice if he intends to enter the property? the whole "uninterrupted living" etc....

sammi.jo

On the contract, it says he can enter public areas when he likes as long as there is a 'lawful reason'.

princeofpounds

Given your tenancy is just for your room it is not quite so straightforward a situation as he does have some rights of access to common areas. At least you are a tenant and not a lodger, so you have some security of tenure. However, given his obviously entrenched views I think this relationship is going to move beyond repair.

Your only negotiating stance is to offer to take on the water rates as a house so that the cost is no longer his concern.

What do your flatmates think about it? If they all have a problem then all getting together to complain to him will make him realise that he has to let it rest or face a total void.

You could point to various contractual issues, measure water temperatures and threaten to complain to the private sector rental team at the council, but I doubt he will listen and you will be out at the conclusion of your tenancy.

Finally, if you wanted to get really legal on him you could complain of harrassment (which this is to be honest, although proving).

He sounds like a bit of a jerk really - if he isn't happy with yout water use why on earth does he insist in paying for it?

sparky7

Is it not the temperature he's turning down not the pressure? maybe he's trying to save gas?

Insomniac666

sparky7 wrote: »

Is it not the temperature he's turning down not the pressure? maybe he's trying to save gas?

if he's saving money why does he just pass the bills on to the tenants instead?

poppysarah

Move.


Nutter landlords are a waste of life energy.

newfoundglory

poppysarah wrote: »

Move.


Nutter landlords are a waste of life energy.

Agreed. Life is too short. Move on.

princeofpounds

I was just thinking about this further and fiddling with utilities to the discomfort of tenants can even be construed as conduct amounting to illegal eviction.

Now that's going too far but if for some reason you are stuck there for a long amount of time (12 month contract or similar) you will probably need to throw as much as you can at the landlord so he agrees it is not worth the trouble and agrees early surrender.

If you are free though, I'd just move.