Decorators + Central Heating

KingCheeseZombie

Hi all,

Apologies if this is in the wrong place (did not seem to fit anywhere else).

We have lived in a rented property for 2 years and have just renewed for a third. On renewal, our landlord offered to arrange for our kitchen/bathroom to be redecorated (painted) while my wife and I were away for the weekend.

We have not needed to use the central heating at all over summer due to the warm weather; however, when we arrived back, the flat was extremely hot, as the decorators had turned up the central heating fully, to help dry the paint once they had finished. The adjustments they made to the controls meant that the heating was on high heat for 8 hours per day over a four day period.

While we agreed to the decorating to happen during this period, we did not give our permission for the central heating to be used to assist with the drying, and are now left to foot the bill.

I appreciate that we are not talking huge amounts of money for 32 hours of central heating use, but I would like some advice on where we stand on recouping the money, or just making a general point to the landlord that the decorators behaviour was not acceptable (if it wasn't).

Comments/advice welcome,

Thanks

PasturesNew

I'd just gripe and suck it up. It's probably £15 or so.

KingCheeseZombie

Agreed it might only be £15 or so this time, I just want to know for future reference - in case we ever get away for longer

moromir

Are you sure it has been on for the duration? Is it possible the decorator popped back the day before you got back to check all was well (knowing you were coming back), found that the paint wasn't dry and popped the heating on overnight just to finish it off?

Bearing in mind the LL has paid for contractors to come in to make the flat better for you, I'd put up with the bill, its not likely to come to much.

BitterAndTwisted

In my opinion it's not even worth mentioning. There are thousands of tenants all over the country who'd do a tap-dance with joy to have their landlord arrange for redecoration, never mind the additional expense of employing them over a Bank Holiday. I honestly think you're being a tiny bit petty and ungrateful

McKneff

The decorators wouldnt have had the heat on for the duration of their time there. It would probably have been impossible to work in.

It would have been turned up on completion so wouldnt have cost very much at all.

KingCheeseZombie

Nowhere in my OP did I say that I intend on kicking up a huge fuss about the matter. My wife and I do appreciate the fact that the place has been decorated, so please do not jump to the conclusion that we are not.

The issue that I am trying to gain clarification on, is whether I have the right to claim the money back in principle. If we were away longer and received a huge heating bill because it had been left on, I would still be trying to have the same question answered - although it would have probably received a better hearing out, as opposed to unnecessary and judgemental name calling.

I am simply trying to gather together all the facts before making my own judgement.

Any takers for the question at hand?

KingCheeseZombie

McKneff wrote: »

The decorators wouldnt have had the heat on for the duration of their time there. It would probably have been impossible to work in.

It would have been turned up on completion so wouldnt have cost very much at all.

The heating had been timed to come on from 19:00-03:00 - this may have been because the timer had reset itself after being turned off - they would not have been working in it - but they still turned it on.

inmypocketnottheirs

I would neither mention it nor expect payment.

KingCheeseZombie

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

I would neither mention it nor expect payment.

So if it had run up a heating bill of £200 I would not be entitled to a penny back?

If the answer is yes then that's fine - case closed. No one has answered the question yet though.

G_M

KingCheeseZombie wrote: »

So if it had run up a heating bill of £200 I would not be entitled to a penny back?

When this happens, come back and provide the circumstances which led to this £200 bill and you'll receive advice.

Meanwhile be grateful you have a newly decorated kitchen.