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Boiler Broken do i pay rent?

brightonmum
brightonmum Posts: 6 Forumite
in House buying, renting & selling
Hi there,
am hoping someone can help me, my boiler broke down last saturday night and since then i have had no heating.
on monday an engineer came out and condeemed it and emailed a quote to my landlord (as private let) they agreed the price and on thursday the engineers were due to fix it, due to the weather they werent ble to get out tody or yesterday.
this means for a week the property has been empty ( i had to move in with friend s i have a 15 month old) and could not stay there with no heating.

we have a ast. i was wondering since we havent stayed in the property for a week and had to contribute to friends to stay there do i pay rent for the week we havent been able to live there?
i actually cant find anything in my tenncy about it yet.

has anyone got ny ide where i stan on this please? alo need answers quick as rent due today and i havent yet paid it (as couldnt get the bank and no sure if i should pay it untill the boiler is fixed) and would like to tell my landlords what happened with rent but not untill i know if i have to pay even if we havent be able to live there?
«13

Comments

  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 35,765 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hi

    You cannot reduce your rent. What yoiu should have done if you had to move out is ask your LL to find you alternative accomodation.
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    No you can't withhold rent my boiler doesn't work either so I've gone out and purchased electric heaters. Call the landlord to provide those for you. It's up to you to pay for the electric bill though but you can request the difference in running costs. If you are paying £30 a month in gas then it may cost £90 per month in electric so you can claim £60 back from the landlord or £2 per day the heating's not working. You would need to have proof to be able support a claim in court if the landlord refused to pay and you wished to take it that far.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • brightonmum
    brightonmum Posts: 6 Forumite
    Hi,
    i didnt think to ask about that as it would have cost them more by putting us in a hotel, so i shouldnt not pay the rent for a week?
    im happy to pay for the other 3 weeks
  • brightonmum
    brightonmum Posts: 6 Forumite
    the electric heater would not heat my flat and to be honest i could not have afforded them being on my own with a baby
  • brightonmum
    brightonmum Posts: 6 Forumite
    ok so i need to contribute to stay were i am including extra travel costs etc but i shouldnt ask for the rent reduction for a week? or shall i ask them rather than just not paying it?
  • RAS
    RAS Posts: 35,765 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    brightonmum wrote: »
    Hi,
    i didnt think to ask about that as it would have cost them more by putting us in a hotel, so i shouldnt not pay the rent for a week?
    im happy to pay for the other 3 weeks

    Contact your landlord and tell them that since the heating is off, either they need to provide alternative heating or accomodation. You may find they are prepared to pay for you to stay at your friends, or not.
    If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    brightonmum wrote: »
    the electric heater would not heat my flat and to be honest i could not have afforded them being on my own with a baby
    Get more than one! I have a 3 bedroom house and they work fine. It takes less than 10 minutes for a room to be warm even in this freezing weather. Expensive to run yes so request the landlord pay for a top up if you are on a meter key.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • brightonmum
    brightonmum Posts: 6 Forumite
    im not on a meter, and the one i had for sunday did not even heat the living room, i think ill write and ask them (and explain the situation with not being able to get to the bank) i will let you know how i get on, thank you for your replys nd letting me know i cant just withhold the rent much apprciated.
  • HappyMJ
    HappyMJ Posts: 21,115 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    brightonmum wrote: »
    ok so i need to contribute to stay were i am including extra travel costs etc but i shouldnt ask for the rent reduction for a week? or shall i ask them rather than just not paying it?
    Electric heating is not as expensive as everyone makes it out to be. My meter so far today has used £3.74 including all other electric as well. It's worth it for just a week until the boiler is replaced. You cannot refuse to pay the rent if you do you will be evicted and still owe the rent.
    :footie:
    :p Regular savers earn 6% interest (HSBC, First Direct, M&S) :p Loans cost 2.9% per year (Nationwide) = FREE money. :p
  • tbs624
    tbs624 Posts: 10,816 Forumite
    There is another thread which contains the info you need - see https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2888752
This discussion has been closed.
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