Poor heating system, what are my rights?

mummydarling

Hi all,
I moved into a rented property in October, paying £850 a month. There are four bedrooms, one is a loft conversion.
To cut a very long story short, due to the type of boiler (back boiler in lounge) I have been advised by a plumber sent by the letting agent that I basically have to choose between the radiator in the lounge working, or the radiator in the loft conversion (my bedroom) He also said he was amazed the radiator would even work in the loft due to the poor plumbing in the house.
So...I chose to have the radiator in the lounge working as I have 3 kids and they spend time in there. Now we have snow and my average bedroom temperature is 6 degrees.
I am frozen, sleep with lots of clothes on and duvet plus 4 blankets, I have a chest infection and the skin on my feet is cracking and bleeding due to the cold, my sleep is really disturbed due to being so cold.
I have put this in writing to the letting agency but heard nothing as yet, do I have any rights as a tenant regarding this?
Please help, i just can't face the rest of the winter being hypothermic!

zzzLazyDaisy

I don't know anything about your rights - someone will be along soon, I'm sure.

But as far as keeping warm is concerned - during this very cold snap, I suggest that you sleep in the lounge and keep warm.

BitterAndTwisted

Buy an electric fan-heater with a thermostat, a timer and an extra duvet. A double duvet can cost as little as tenner at places like Asda, perhaps less.

I believe that a landlord has to supply an adequate heating-system but in the current cold-snap a lot of systems could be found to be inadequate.

pimento

Two things that make me toasty in bed.

1. An electric underblanket. They heat up really fast these days and make all the difference.

2. A real feather and down duvet. None of this hollowfibre stuff. It'll cost a bit more, but boy, will you be able to tell the difference.

angrypirate

I would argue that the current heating system is not fit for purpose. Landlord has a responsibility for it to be fit for purpose. Speak to environmental health at your local council and see what they say. I would also suggest buying a thermometer and seeing what the temperature in your room is at night. Anything below 12degC and you have a damn strong arguement. If its above 15, get a good duvet, a hot water bottle and stop being a pansy.

anselld

I would agree on the need to provide fit for purpose heating. But environmental health is OTT under the circumstances. Has anyone even explained to the LL/LA that there is this problem and given them chance to fix it? If asked, any decent LL would probably be willing to provide an electric heater as a short term fix.

tyllwyd

If you are paying for a 4 bedroom house, then I would have thought that you are entitled to heating that works in that fourth bedroom - if not, maybe threaten to ask for a rent reduction! But to cope for now, I'd say definitely either get a portable heater for the loft room - or if the bills are a problem, why not ask two of the boys to share a bedroom so that you can move into the other one. There is no point in you suffering this much just to avoid inconveniencing them!

mummydarling

Hi everyone, thanks for all the suggestions!
Just for the record I'm no pansy, the daytime temp is 4-6 degrees so pretty sure it's lower than that at night!
I currently use a 13.5 tog duvet and 3 blankets, plus sleep in my clothes.
I have e-mailed letting agency, not much faith as they were really disinterested last time I told them about the heating, it took two weeks to get a plumber out.
I am sleeping in the lounge tonight, and thanks for the suggestion about the boys sharing.....how did you know I had two boys? Spooky.

poppysarah

Sleep in the lounge until you can move.


Did you see an EPC before you signed for the property?

poppysarah

mummydarling wrote: »

.how did you know I had two boys? Spooky.

With 3 kids you had to have 2 of something

mummydarling

Well it was a good first guess!!!!
What is an EPC?
Is that the energy form?
I was given that on the day I moved in (after I signed the tenancy agreement)
Must admit this house is turning into a complete nightmare. When I came to view it, the landlord was a bit cagey about everything! (I put it down to poor communication skills) He and his wife have now emigrated to Malta strangely now some of his comments make sense, he said they were moving because he couldn't do another winter here! Possibly because he knew his heating was crap and he didn't want to have it replaced! Now I'm living here it's becoming clear it's the house that Jack built....yes I know I know, I didn't have to take it on, but I really needed to move from where I was due to events with my estranged husband. I'm now stuck here for another 10 months!