No hot water!!!!

mistyarthur

Hi I'm currently in a rented house paying 575 a month but for over a month now we have had a problem with the heating and hot water.

Originally everything worked fine but then we started to have a problem with the hot water and to get it to work had to turn the heating up to the max, we contacted the landlords and due to the complete lack of watches on local plumbers it took over a week for a plumber to turn up to look at the boiler. He decided it was the diverter that was gone and we just had to turn up the heating to get it to work but he'd get it fixed...three weeks later and another 2 plumbers we are told it will be another week to get the part!
The latest plumber said the fans on its way and it needs a new boiler really and the reason our gas bill was so high is because of this and it is trying to use the flame for too much and is not being efficient. Boilers in the size house we are in are typically twice as powerful. To put it in perspective the house we are now in is a three bed terraced and the gas bill is more than it was 3-4months ago in a five bed detached!
I'm am wondering whether I would be fair to ask for a reduction in the rent for the past month until it gets fixed because for the past 2 weeks we have had absolutely no hot water at all? I go to the gym for showers!!! and we have also being paying for extra gas to heat the house when it already warm just to get hot water.


Sorry this post is incredibly long but I don't want to seem like I'm just after a bit of money of the rent, I know it is not all the landlords fault it is partly the fault of plumbers who just don't answer phones :rolleyes: but we have been paying a premium on a gas bill because of it.
Thanks for all your help.

jbbonce

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago but it lasted only 2 weeks and we got those weeks rent free

clutton_2

it seems to me that the landlord is doing his best to sort this out as fast as he can. what has he said about a new boiler ? have you talked to him directly ? ask him .....

Gorgeous_George

It is often difficult to get a reliable plumber at this time of year. I think the LL may be doing his best.

I'd recommend any tenants out there to check the heating system in late summer. Switch it to high and make it work for an hour or so. If it fails, you have a better chance of getting a plumber.



GG

mistyarthur

I know he's trying but that doesn't affect the fact we have been paying close to double the amount we should on a gas bill for the past month. He has decided to get the new part and it should be fitted shortl which is good news. I will speak to him about the high gas bill and see what he says. The second and third plumber both said how unefficient the boiler is and how much higher our gs bill is than is probably necessary.

Gorgeous_George

Personally, I would make a token payment as a gesture of goodwill providing rent had been paid on time and without a fuss. Maybe a week's free rent but I am so genorous there's no wonder I hardly break even!



GG

franklee

Have a read of this post on landlordzone, it's written by one of the top posters on there:

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4478&postcount=3

The tenant is entitled to hot water at all times, the fact that it takes a while to get a plumber out to fix this is the landlord's problem, not the tenants, so you can ask for compensation. I hope this helps.

Gorgeous_George

If my tenant tried that line, I'd give him a travel kettle (safety tested, of course).

It's difficult to decipher truth from fiction. In law, reasonableness is a great term.

Links to other forums are not acceptable to a judge.



GG

prudryden

There are a lot of self-promoted gurus on the landlordzone who do a good job and give excellent advice, but none of them are infallible and 100% right 100% of the time.

real1314

Hmmm that guy on Landlordzone "sounds" like he knows what he's talking about but..

I doubt any court would back up his "hot water at all times" claim and they would laugh at "25% reduction"

Ok, you SHOULD have the hot water available, but if you're in a house worth say £100k, trying to lop off 25% of the rent for a hot water system that costs £1k to replace would be as disproportionate as a "bank fee".

The landlord could offer you free gym membership for a month at £30 so you can have a good shower every day !!


I think you are entitled to a reduction, but I'd go for £50, but the efficiency of the heating is a more difficult issue to resolve - it was like that when you took it on.

mistyarthur

real1314 wrote:

The landlord could offer you free gym membership for a month at £30 so you can have a good shower every day !!


I think you are entitled to a reduction, but I'd go for £50, but the efficiency of the heating is a more difficult issue to resolve - it was like that when you took it on.

If only the gym was 30!!!

I do agree we took on the heating with its efficiency problems it is really just the fact we have been paying over the odds with having the heating up full blast and the fact it doesn't even work anymore, have you ever had an ice cold shave at 6 in the morning!...at least it wakes me up. lol