Landlord/tenant electric bill

relhuk1

Hi all, wanted to put this in the correct section but wasnt sure where?!!

Right, here goes, I finally paid off a huge elctric bill (£480) ouch! Last week and yesterday the boiler broke down (rented house and large family of 6). We had the gas safety check last week and the boiler man said then that the boiler was naff and not working 'properly'. Yesterday, the boiler broke down (yes in all the snow but we do have some heaters etc). I have spoken to the boiler man and described the fault and he reckons the main board has gone on it so will require a new one but based on the boiler being naff would be better to fit new one and he will convey this to the letting agent/landlord.
My question is this: Now I am forced to run up a huge electric bill again using electric heaters/kettle to wash etc that I would bet I'll need for a good few weeks until this is resolved either way - who foots the electric bill and what are my legal rights regarding it under the circumstances?:(. I've no doubt someone will suggest the CAB but Its really inconvenient to have to trudge there at the moment logistically!....and anyway why should I have to do the legwork?!
thanks in advance for any help on this.:)

BitterAndTwisted

You are responsible for the utilities used to heat your home. Even though the boiler has failed the landlord is presumably still fulfilling their legal responsibilities to ensure you have the means to access heating and hot-water. Getting the landlord to make a contribution towards your additional expenses is not a right: you will have to try negotiating. If the landlord is facing a nice, large bill for repairing the boiler do not expect them to be feeling particularly generous.

relhuk1

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

You are responsible for the utilities used to heat your home. Even though the boiler has failed the landlord is presumably still fulfilling their legal responsibilities to ensure you have the means to access heating and hot-water. Getting the landlord to make a contribution towards your additional expenses is not a right: you will have to try negotiating. If the landlord is facing a nice, large bill for repairing the boiler do not expect them to be feeling particularly generous.

Thank you for the advice! I sort of expected that answer anyway.It does seem a little 'unfair' though under the circumstances as my landlord is not the easiest person to get hold of (works on oilrigs or somesuch) so there will no doubt be a runaround trying to resolve this and in the meantime I must either 'cough up' for pricey electric heaters or my family freeze while others faff about in their own ineptitude!
Is there any sort of assistance I might get -being in part time employment and in reciept of WTC and Housing benefit too ?.....and NO before someone climbs on a big soapbox -I'm not talking about sponging and free rides.

jayss

Does boiling a kettle really count as landlord fulfilling access to hot water?
Surely not.

Is there an electric shower?

pmlindyloo

I think the answer to your being due 'compensation' would depend on how long it takes your LL to fix your boiler.

As regards timing, from what I've read, it would appear that the general consensus of opinion of what is a 'reasonable' amount of time, would be the length of time that it would take for a home owner to arrange the repair in similar circumstances. I would be thinking that a week would be reasonable?????

If your repair takes longer than this then I would consider that you could ask, in writing, for a reduction in your following month's rent for inconvenience and the increase in your electricity costs.

As B&T says there is no guarantee that this would be given but worth a try.

Please do not make your own deduction in rent - could have nasty consequences!

Also, please make sure that you keep evidence of when you reported the boiler breakdown, the response from LA/LL etc etc. A paper trail is always preferable.

Hope you get this sorted soon.

sooz

If you want to ask, read the meters before ( or now!) and after boiler fixed. Compare it to a 'normal' period of the same time. Don't just ask for £x, justify it with figures.

relhuk1

jayss wrote: »

Does boiling a kettle really count as landlord fulfilling access to hot water?
Surely not.

Is there an electric shower?

That is over-simplifying the situation -I have no hot water, my only source is to boil a kettle.I do not have an electric shower. Was any part of your comment intended to be constructive?:(

Werdnal

Compensation is to "compensate" for your loss. As you cannot quantify your loss yet - timescale, temperature affected by the weather etc, it is difficult to put a figure on this situation. You have no automatic right to compensation, but there is no harm in asking the LL to contribute to your additional costs - no obligation on his part to do so though.

How long have you been in the property?
Are you good regular rent payers?
Do you look after the place?
Do you want to stay long-term?
Have you had cause to report problems with the property before an does LL usually attend to issues quickly?

I would write to the LL, advising that you understand he/she is doing their best to attend to the boiler repair as soon as possible, but you are also conscious that having to resort to more expensive electric heating and boiling hot water on stove/with kettles is likely to add considerably to your next electricity bill. Would they please consider contributing toward this cost by reducing the rent temporarily whilst you are without the working boiler.

Keep it polite and await a response. As I said, you have no legal right to a contribution, perhaps a moral one, but not all LLs are the same. So long as you have been a good reliable tenant, there is no harm in asking!

Werdnal

relhuk1 wrote: »

Was any part of your comment intended to be constructive?:(

Bit of an unfair comment when people are only trying to help you :mad:

pmlindyloo

relhuk1 wrote: »

That is over-simplifying the situation -I have no hot water, my only source is to boil a kettle.I do not have an electric shower. Was any part of your comment intended to be constructive?:(

I know you're feeling pi*sed off but I think this comment was made just to clarify your current situation.

As already said, you need to compare your situation living in a rented house with the same situation as if you owned it.

You need to wait and see if the LL deals with the boiler as quickly as you would if it were your own house and you were dealing with it. Only then will you know if you have any possible claim for compensation.

Try not to get too frustrated. These things happen and as annoying as they are (and possibly more so because you are not in control) try to concentrate on doing something positive. Make sure your paperwork is in order about this, take those meter readings and telephone the LA/LL and get some definite information about time frames for the repair/repalcement of the boiler.

jayss

relhuk1 wrote: »

That is over-simplifying the situation -I have no hot water, my only source is to boil a kettle.I do not have an electric shower. Was any part of your comment intended to be constructive?:(

It was a question to B&T who implied the landlord was meeting their obligations, which I didnt think they were. I was asking about the shower to clarify if there was alternate hot water.

So yes it was meant to be constructive. Which part wasnt?