boiler problem...landlord or tenant?

ellies_angel

I live in a 2 bedroom bungalow. My heating is on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, controlled by a thermostate so that it only comes on when the temperature falls. So no the heatings not on, but it is (if you know what I mean) Its not on a timer. I pay monthly by direct debit, £35 per month. I also cook with gas.
I now lease my house out, have a landlords service agreement with British Gas, £48 per month which includes boiler cover, electrics, plumbing, annual servicing for my boiler, hob and fire and appliance cover for my fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, oven and microwave. Any problems its covered by British Gas, tennant happy, me happy.

Paul_the_Painter

Who on Earth told you the boiler needed time to "recover and cool"? If it was your gas man, I'd find another one.

If anything the boiler will be MORE reliable if it is never switched off, heating and cooling cycles are a major cause of wear in most mechanical systems.

Your boiler is in need of repair/replacement - and it is your problem

limeburner

I think they are to be honest. I advised them that its irresponsible to leave heating on when its 18c outside and there is no one in!

For Paul the Painter and others....yes a boiler (central heating) cannot be asked to run at maximum capacity 24 x 7 as it will overheat like any appliance. I am not referring to a boiler on but in use for heating.

I really do believe they have been totally irresponsible and they should pay the cost or go without to make them learn the value.

Yes I set the timer for 3 hours a day, but the tenants turn it off and just leave heating on all day even when they are out or on holiday!

DVardysShadow

limeburner wrote: »

I think they are to be honest. I advised them that its irresponsible to leave heating on when its 18c outside and there is no one in!

Yes a boiler cannot be left on 24 x 7 as it will overheat like any appliance.

I really do believe they have been totally irresponsible and they should pay the cost or go without to make them learn the value.

They pay for the gas, they pay you for the use of the boiler. So no grounds for you to complain. Do your duty and repair the boiler. I take it that you are of a generation which believes in duty.

And you are so thoroughly mistaken to say a boiler will overheat if it is left on 24/7.

jay87

Fixed heating appliances are part of the buildings as are fixed kitchens and bathrooms, therefore you as the owner are responsible for them as are tenants for contents

DVardysShadow

Turnbull2000 wrote: »

Apart from ensuring it doesn't kill the tenants, it's not really an obligation is it. The OP is entitled to ignore their requests or evict should they persist in complaining.

Not if you respect the law which tbs64 quoted for us in post #15

limeburner

alot of you are missing the point before you dash off answers without reading in a herd mentality.

the first time I fixed it. the gas safe engineer commented that the boiler thermostat was likely to overheat if they keep running is as they did. they were advised to change and they agreed. a timer was set according to their wishes which they turned off.

its their negliance. tenants need to respect property as their own and treat it accordingly. they pay rent to enjoy the property, but with that comes responsibility. Its their duty to pay the cost in whole or part.

if they took a slegdehammer to the boiler who is liable?

Wee_Willy_Harris

I'm curious to know how you are able to ascertain your tenants heating practices to such an extent and with such certainty?

Wee_Willy_Harris

limeburner wrote: »

alot of you are missing the point before you dash off answers without reading in a herd mentality.

the first time I fixed it. the gas safe engineer commented that the boiler thermostat was likely to overheat if they keep running is as they did. they were advised to change and they agreed. a timer was set according to their wishes which they turned off.

its their negliance. tenants need to respect property as their own and treat it accordingly. they pay rent to enjoy the property, but with that comes responsibility. Its their duty to pay the cost in whole or part.

if they took a slegdehammer to the boiler who is liable?

Or they could just pop down their local council, get a notice served on you to repair and, if you ignore it, the council will do it for you and present you with a HUGE bill.

Good luck with that one.

925dancer

limeburner wrote: »

I think they are to be honest. I advised them that its irresponsible to leave heating on when its 18c outside and there is no one in!

For Paul the Painter and others....yes a boiler (central heating) cannot be asked to run at maximum capacity 24 x 7 as it will overheat like any appliance. I am not referring to a boiler on but in use for heating.

I really do believe they have been totally irresponsible and they should pay the cost or go without to make them learn the value.

Yes I set the timer for 3 hours a day, but the tenants turn it off and just leave heating on all day even when they are out or on holiday!

It's none of your beeswax if they want to have the heating on all year round! If the boiler and heating system is well maintained and in good condition then there is absolutely no danger to them, system, or property. It might hurt them in the pocket when their gas bill arrives but again, that's none of your business.

Make them learn the value?! So their rent and power bills aren't payment enough to expect an appliance that is fit for purpose?

I happen to know someone with a child who has a rare genetic mutation, it affects him in many ways, one of those is that his internal thermostat doesn't work, she has to have her heating on all year round. The child is over a year old and her boiler is perfectly fine!

Again, how do you know it's on 24/7? How do you know it's not like other poster's and just clicks on when the temperature falls below the set thermostat limit?

YOU are responsible and if I was your tenant i'd be checking my contract to see when I could get out at the earliest opportunity. The potential of spending long cold winter's days without heating or hot water because my landlord was trying to teach me a lesson would have me running from you, very fast.

When did you last have a GSC carried out?