How to ask LL to fit a timer to central heating?

lolly_896

Afternoon all,

Currently renting on a rolling tenancy - We have been here nearly 5 yrs. About 10 months ago, the LL decided to change boiler, great we thought the old one was approx 27 yrs old. And she decided to change it in the winter months, infact the plumber delayed fitting it because of the snow we had.

The new heating system is a nightmare, it's either on or off. Makes getting up in the morning pretty cold. There are no thermostats on any of the radiators which is annoying. - There used to be, havent a clue with the plumber took them off.

We do have a gas safety check - although i don't have a copy of the certificate. I have text her to request a timer, but no reply. Should i put it in writing, or will this make no difference

Thanks Lauren

martinsurrey

I would be concerned about the boiler installation not meeting building regulations.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/boilersheating/

and read the

Domestic Heating Compliance Guide (PDF 994Kb) Around pages 10 on.

any new or replacement system should have time control and room control. (see table 2 on page 15).

Check that the installer was gas safe registered and that the installation was either notified to building control, or with their registration scheme.

If they were registered they have not met the requirements of a replacement domestic heating system and if they are not registered they have much bigger problems!

lolly_896

Im sure he was safe registered, they sent us a letter saying something to the effect. It was from the Gas Safe people i think...

So what do i do next - I guess i will now put it in writing and see what happens next

ETA - When were these put in place? Sorry does this mean all radiators need thermostat things and timer - or just thermostats - or just timers?

Thanks again

dimbo61

A timer will turn on and off the boiler and hence the central heating.
Thermostats on the radiators control the temp of each room

lolly_896

Eton_Rifle wrote: »

I don't think your landlord needs to do anything further now so I believe your options are:

1) appeal to landlord indicating more controllable heating will make the home more attractive to future tenants too.

2) offer to pay half

3) pay for it all yourself with written permission for the work.

I had a central heating system fitted to a rental house last year and apparently thermostats aren't the done thing nowadays. My wife got some long technical explanation for this but by the time this explanation was repeated to me, it might as well have been a recipe for pease pudding. Therefore the reason remains an impenetrable mystery to me and since I don't have to live with it myself, I have lacked the impetus to solve it.

The house I'm renting doesn't have timers on th central heating and I agree, it's a nuisance but we've adapted to it now after plenty of initial grumbling.

I didn't think she had to do anything further - but the legislation says differently from what i understand from the above mentioned links. I dont think she has to have a timer, but thermostats on individual radiators seem to be a must

G_M

The Landlord has to have Building Control certification for a new boiler/central heating system. That's law.

A GasSafe engineer can certificate the installation and register it with the council BC dept as compliant.

However it sounds like your installation does NOT comply, so either the engineer lied to Building Control, or he never registered it.

If the former, the landlord has been cheated and the engineer should be reported. If the latter.... well the LL has again been cheated!

But ultimately it is the home-owner's responsibility to see that installations in the property are registered properly, so the council could come after the home-owner (your landlord).

(and/or the engineer if he lied on the registration form.)

Quite what action you take is tricky. You COULD try and get Building Control round to check if the installation complies - they might take action if it does not.

But in the first instance, I would approach the LL, explain, and he may be happy to be warned that his engineer has ripped him off!

lolly_896

I think it must of been registered as compliant as i had a letter from gas safe saying something about the heating system.

Im going to give it a few more days to see if she responds to my text, then i'll write a letter kicking up a bit of a stink.

Thanks again all

mchale

lolly_896 wrote: »

Im going to give it a few more days to see if she responds to my text, then i'll write a letter kicking up a bit of a stink.

Thanks again all

Jesus, why not just ring the LL and talk about it in a calm adult like manner rather than texting and see what she says first, then if you don't get the answer you want make it formal with a letter.

laurel7172

I had a new boiler fitted last year, and apparently thermostats ARE all the rage. One in a main room and one on each radiator to boot (I already had the TRV's, so there was no mileage in telling me they were compulsory).

As far as I can see, everyone on here has been advised by a professional, so I'm now extremely confused...

lolly_896

mchale wrote: »

Jesus, why not just ring the LL and talk about it in a calm adult like manner rather than texting and see what she says first, then if you don't get the answer you want make it formal with a letter.

Because she doesnt have the decency to respond to my text. When she texts to see if im going to be around for surveyor for mortgage or to collect any stray mail. Or to ask where rent was - which as always was paid on time but hadnt gone in due too natwest fiasco. I always reply promptly.

If she'd have just replied no sorry, i'd have dealt with it

jgh

lolly_896 wrote: »

We do have a gas safety check - although i don't have a copy of the certificate. I have text her to request a timer, but no reply. Should i put it in writing, or will this make no difference

The landlord is legally required to give you the tenant's copy of the gas safety certificate, it even says "tenant's copy" on it. Your landlord is breaking the law if he/she does not do this.
My plumbers prefer tenants to be present when the service is done, they then hand the tenant the tenant's copy, keep their plumber's copy and mail the landlord's copy to the landlord along with the invoice.