No Heating for 6 weeks.

magpiecottage

I think you may be able to make a complaint against Homeserve.

I am guessing that it is the firm listed on the FSA register here.

Although you are not the policyholder, FSA rule DISP 2.7.6(5) says you are eligible to make a complaint and, if necessary, take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service if you are, "person for whose benefit a contact of insurance was taken out or was intended to be taken out with or through the" firm the complaint is made against.

So complain to Homeseve. If they do not poduce a satisfactory response within 8 weeks then you can go to the Financial Ombudsman Sevice.

rb6k

Thanks for the advice, it all looks like it ought to solve things. I don't get why people are saying complain at the time, what do you think we did? We're still complaining! Putting it in writing is the answer by the looks of it and so that is what I shall do.

Shakethedisease

I don't get how tenants who've never been in this sort of position before are somehow 'magically' aware that 3 phone calls a day to the landlord's designated agents complaining isn't enough. And that everything should be put in writing and sent recorded delivery to the landlord's address ( even if they reside in OZ ) is enough to 'get things done'.

It won't, and despite your landlords Homesure service, and constant 'chasing up' you've been treated appaullingly.

There's not many landlords themselves that would be happy to sit for 6 weeks freezing their nethers off without heating because their heating engineers are idiots. Why they think their tenants should be happy with it, especially where children are also involved is completely beyond me !

Hope you get some compensation for this. None of it is your fault. No idea why the above posters somehow want to shift part of the blame on to you. You being somehow 'at fault' for not writing and mailing letters to a landlord you've never seen or indeed even have the address of seems to be avoiding the issue somewhat if you ask me.

Good luck !

Fire_Fox

DO NOT complain to Homeserve, you have no contract with them! You are contracted to the landlord so this is who you must write to; he is turn is contracted to Homeserve and the letting agents so should submit his own complaints to them if needs be. For future reference all faults with the property should be reported in writing - where there is an emergency you can communicate by telephone but must still follow up with a written report. This is as advised by Shelter.

ixwood

You can buy a heater for £10. Could you really not afford £20-30 for 2 or 3 heaters, rather than taking the radical step of moving out?

franklee

What other business who lets a customer down because a contractor lets them down would just say it isn't their fault? Any other business let down by a contractor would compensate their customer and then if necessary claim against the contractor.

The landlord is running a business so as far as the tenant is concerned the landlord has to put things right, in this case I'd say by paying compensation. That it isn't directly "his fault" because he wasn't the one doing the work, or able to find someone competent to do the work is irrelevant. The landlord can make a claim off the contractor which again is nowt to do with the tenant and the tenant is not responsible for chasing so long as the faults were clearly reported to the landlord/agent preferably in writing so there is proof.

rb6k

Thanks for the new replies. I did think complaining to Homeserve was odd, since they wouldn't have anything to lose in talking to me (they've not promised me anything in return for anything etc they are talking to the LL) so am glad to see that was the right move.

The rest of the replies are more what I was hoping for, this forum can be a bit snappy at people sometimes. I get that there are things I should/could of done but thats why I am asking! I don't need to be berated by people when I'm only asking for advice.

Fire_Fox

rb6k wrote: »

The rest of the replies are more what I was hoping for, this forum can be a bit snappy at people sometimes. I get that there are things I should/could of done but thats why I am asking! I don't need to be berated by people when I'm only asking for advice.

I think part of the problem with this thread is there is a complete lack of smilies! I find most of the regulars helpful and friendly BUT we do get frustrated when people don't bother to run a search before posting. We also get frustrated when we ask if someone has written to their landlord and they ignore or evade the question, and we get frustrated when we get half a story. Don't forget people are doing this unpaid so sometimes we will knock out punchy, factual responses in order to advise as many people as possible. We could equally well complain that you have not thanked most of the people who took the time to give you advice (even if it wasn't what you wanted to hear).

Euphoria1z

out of curiosity, i would have thought if a lettings agency is being used, they should be doing all this no? shouldnt the tenant take this up with the agency and the agency take it up with the landlord?

rb6k

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I think part of the problem with this thread is there is a complete lack of smilies! I find most of the regulars helpful and friendly BUT we do get frustrated when people don't bother to run a search before posting. We also get frustrated when we ask if someone has written to their landlord and they ignore or evade the question, and we get frustrated when we get half a story. Don't forget people are doing this unpaid so sometimes we will knock out punchy, factual responses in order to advise as many people as possible. We could equally well complain that you have not thanked most of the people who took the time to give you advice (even if it wasn't what you wanted to hear).

To be fair I have thanked everyone, but I'm sorry if I came across as ungrateful. I do appreciate all of your help.