Boiler Broken in Rented Accommodation - earliest replacement date in mid-Sept!

Debt_Free_Chick

Given the circumstances, would you not consider asking the LA to see to the boiler replacement, whilst you're at work? This may give the plumber/engineer more flexibility with dates, if you can't take the time off work.

LP87

Phoebe - I sympathise deeply!

Debt_free_chick - the LAs are reportedly a little crooked and have a terrible reputation in this area. My boss has had really bad dealings with them (as have several others of the very few people I have met whilst working up here) and it would appear that I shouldn't truust them as far as I can throw them. Like I mentioned above, I have quite a bit of expensive kit in my home which I use for work so the thought of someone I don't know being here makes me feel very uncomfortable.

The Landlady has offered (not to me but to the plumber) to be in but I have never met her and would feel uneasy with her being in here also. (Trust issues? Me?)

I'm just going to sit it out but thanks all for your replies.x

malcolmffc

I think letting the landlord in is going to be your best option. You will need to get over your trust issues with her. Remember she already holds the key to the flat and can enter the property with 48 hours notice at any time, so she could do this whilst you were on holiday and there'd be nothing you could do. If she was going to do something dodgy it would have happened by now.

I'm concerned to hear you talk about your Dad doing heating repairs in other flats. If he is not insured and made a mess of the work, you would
Likely be on the hook for £1000s and be facing eviction to boot.

skivenov

G_M wrote: »

If this was mid-winter, you might have a case.

Personally, in summer, when my boiler is off (no need for central heating) I use a kettle for dish-washing anyway. Far cheaper than firing up a boiler just for dishes!

And washing your hands after going to the loo. Maybe I'm unhygenic, but provided you use soap I don't see what's wrong with cold water on your hands!

LL is organising a brand new boiler as fast as he can. Be grateful you are not fighting a battle with a LL who refuses to fork out for this expense!

Agreed - I switch my boiler on in the morning for a shower, then it goes back off again and I use the kettle. - Moneysaving!

Werdnal

malcolmffc wrote: »

remember she already holds the key to the flat and can enter the property with 48 hours notice at any time, so she could do this whilst you were on holiday and there'd be nothing you could do.

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

malcolmffc

What's the confusion?

marliepanda

I think the confusion is that you are completely wrong. The landlady can only enter in the circumstances you describe in an emergency, not 'whenever they like' with 48 hours notice. Plus a tenant can insist in prior permission.

So stop talking rubbish and scare stories

malcolmffc

Every lease Ive ever signed (I'm on my 5th and hopefully final) allowed the landlord to enter the property for inspection or repairs provided it was at a reasonable time of day and subject to 48 hours' written notice.

marliepanda

And in every lease you signed that clause has been legally unenforceable under the right to quiet enjoyment.

If the landlord wants to take you to court to grant access then so be it, but they certainly won't grant it in non desperate circumstances. You can change the locks to prevent LL unauthorised access, despite most leases also saying you cannot...

Kynthia

malcolmffc wrote: »

I think letting the landlord in is going to be your best option. You will need to get over your trust issues with her. Remember she already holds the key to the flat and can enter the property with 48 hours notice at any time, so she could do this whilst you were on holiday and there'd be nothing you could do. If she was going to do something dodgy it would have happened by now.

I dissagree completely. Landlords should only be entering the property for an emergency, which virtually never happens, to inspect or for repairs. Apart from emergencies, these would only happen with advance notice and can be refused by the tenant. The LL would have to go to court to enforce access against the will of the tenant. Not every LL has a key to their let properties, although I imagine most do, and those that have a letting agent manage the property do so because they don't want to be going round the property.

OP is completely entitled to not want their LL alone in their property for a significant amount of time as they are a stranger. I personally wouldn't want to be sat round my tenant's home without them there either.