No hot water or heating- IT'S SNOWING!!!

BitterAndTwisted

Just because Shelter have advised that in their opinion three weeks is reasonable does not mean that the heating won't be fixed on Monday when the engineer is calling back. I can't see anywhere in the OP's posts that suggests the landlady is refusing to get the repair carried out, it's just not going to be this weekend

Advising the tenant to leave right now is a tad premature in my opinion.

G_M

You need to get things in writing - definately from you to her outlining what's happened, when, what you've done, what you've paid for, what she needs to do etc.
Ideally get something in writing from her (difficult) since if she writes telling you to get out immediately, or to fix it yourself or other rubbish, she condemns herself.

You also need to start the process for getting the work done yourself. Shelter tells you how here, but step one, urgently, is to get quotes yourself for the work by GasSafe engineers. Ultimately you can deduct the cost from rent, but you need to do it right. That's another reason to write to her as per Shelter's advice. Copy all letters to the agent - send them recorded delivery.

You also need to contact Environmental Health first thing Monday.

does not mean that the heating won't be fixed on Monday when the engineer is calling back.

Missed this. Is the plumber coming back? If so, well, she may be a looney and unpredicatable, but she is doing what's required.

tbs624

As previously mentioned, all available for hire: it would be "reasonable" for the LL to meet the costs of doing so until the heating can be fixed.

tbs624

clutton wrote: »

...........Again i rarely advocate this... but just leave.... and dont pay any more rent.... explain to the new landlord of the new flat why you have had to leave... (I would not mention EHO to him tho - just the refusal to fix the heating)

nothing you can say to this woman will make any difference and you wont get your deposit back from such a dip-stick... so stop paying rent and go....

Such unnecessary drama. Why on earth should the T's be expected to "just move" at the drop of a hat?

I agree that, in the OPs circs, by fixed term expiry I would be wanting to find somewhere else but in the meantime the LL*has* to maintain heating and can be forced to do so. The T can also seek recovery of any interim costs

Matters can also be pursued to court if the LA/LL tries to play silly b's over the eventual deposit return.

As B&T says, the next plumber's visit may see matters resolved but that does not mean that the T has to sit around without heating or hot water when temporary resolution is easily achievable.

anselld

Goingmad wrote: »

I can alert the Environmental Health Officer Monday morning, but then surely he will say the same that she can fix in a reasonable amount of time.

The difference is that the EH Officer can serve an enforcement notice requiring the LL to fix within a specified time (or face prosecution).

Gothicfairy

Good grief..

Whilst I do believe that landlords should be responsible for fixing problems like this ( which it sounds like is being done, all be it with agro) the idea that someone is going to freeze to death without heating is a touch over the top.

There are people on the OS forum that are doing without heathing and will survive the winter. Central heating is a new concept for human kind and we have managed without it for this long.
I do wish people would get some sense of reality..You would think that it spells the end of the human race the way some go on about it.

Even hot water on tap is a newish thing and still unheard of in many countrys.

tbs624

Gothicfairy wrote: »

Good grief..

Whilst I do believe that landlords should be responsible for fixing problems like this ( which it sounds like is being done, all be it with agro) the idea that someone is going to freeze to death without heating is a touch over the top.

There are people on the OS forum that are doing without heathing and will survive the winter. Central heating is a new concept for human kind and we have managed without it for this long.
I do wish people would get some sense of reality..You would think that it spells the end of the human race the way some go on about it.

Even hot water on tap is a newish thing and still unheard of in many countrys.

Okay - speaking as someone who has lived in properties without CH, and who prefers not to donate too generously to the coffers of the utility companies:

(a) we're not in the Third World, and
(b) if OS posters choose to do without use of their heating system, either on a principle or because they can't afford to keep the heating on for too long, then that's a different matter from being *unable* to use the heating because it does not work

No ifs, no buts, a LL is statutorily obliged to maintain the heating system in their rental property. Excessive cold is listed as one of the Housing Hazards under The Housing Health and Safety Rating System.

The OP's description of the LL's response to date is not too promising.

However, some of the suggestions from the OS board on ways of keeping warm in the interim period may be helpful

Gothicfairy

We are not in a third world country you are right but all this " freeze to death" stuff needs to be put into reality.. I never once said the landlord should not deal with this or that they should have to do without heating..What I said was we need a grip on it all and being without for 3 weeks is not the end of the world so some of the comments are just way over the top

Gothicfairy

clutton wrote: »

Turnbull - if OP does not get some outside help they will freeze to death in this weather....

OP if the property up the road is vacant - i would do a runner.... i VERY rarely advise this.. but any landlord who refuses to repair heating in the worse weather for 17 years.. deserves it...

It is things like this that I am talking about not the op's wish to get their landlady to fix something.

I would not be happy either about it but this sort of this is just way over the top.

clutton_2

Gothic fairy.... i very very very rarely advocate such extreme advice as "do a runner" - as i am a LL and know the legalities of this situation fully.

But as i said before any LL who can refuse to repair heating in this weather really should be taken to court........


By the way Cold kills more tenants than any other cause......

She clearly has no idea at all about the legalities of being a LL - and thus she is not going to get any better at all.....


Do we REALLY think the plumber is going to come on Monday and get his bill of £500+ agreed and paid by a Landlord who

"" called the landlady to try and get a plumber out sooner and she went crazy shouting that it was our fault and worked fine before we moved in (7 months ago) and we were lucky she didn't charge us! Every time I tried to reason with her she kept repeating, "NOT MY PROBLEM" and then she hung up!

She then called me back about an hour ago telling me to pack up my things and get out now as it's her house!

This woman is looney - and you cannot have a rational logical conversation with a looney