Thermostat not working - who pays for replacement/repair?

MBN

Good morning

Hubby and I are tenants, and we have been living at our current address for almost 2 years (very happy with everything, no problems with the landlord whatsoever ), and we haven't had any problems with the property until now. We've recently noticed that the thermostat appears not to be working - it doesn't 'click' anymore (sorry for this silly explanation - didn't know how to explain this better ). We didn't do anything wrong, it just... happened.

My question is: who will pay for the replacement/repair of the thermostat? We have signed an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, and the contract doesn't mention anything about the thermostat, it just says that the landlord will pay for the fixtures/fittings - but does that include the thermostat?

The contract also says that the landlord 'will carry out any repairing obligations as required by sections 11-16 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985'. Unfortunately, I don't know anythining about this act.:o

Please please help us!

Thank you :beer:

Mrs_Arkwright

I wouldn't know for sure, but I would imagine the landlord should pay. My husband is a gas plumber and does work for landlords, and his bills for the work always go to the landlord, not the tenant.

Tallymanjohn

I think you'll find a thermostat is a 'fitting' as it's not something you take with you when you leave.

JanCee

It's the landlord's responsibility not yours.

needaspirin

Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 is the most important of
the landlord's obligations to carry out basic repairs. It works by
implying terms into a tenancy agreement (whether or not a tenant has
anything in writing) which cannot be overridden by any express terms. The
landlord therefore cannot seek to avoid, nor to contract out of, these
obligations.

Under section 11 the landlord must keep in repair and proper working order
the installations for space heating and heating water.

Thermostat is part of the heating system and is therefore the
responsibility of the landlord.

MBN

Many thanks for your quick replies.:T

And sorry for asking such a silly question - I wouldn't have posted it if I had known more about the Landlord and Tenant Act. I was planning to go to CAB, and ask them to give me a copy of this act - but thanks to you, everything is clear to me now.:T :T :T

clutton_2

just a short friendly phone call to your landlord will do the trick !