Legal Renting Requirements - Our House Is A Nighmare

Fire_Fox

Contact Environmental Health and emphasise your health problems. They could deem the place uninhabitable which would mean the landlord needs to rehouse you or release you from the contract. And get an electric blanket, it will touch far more of your skin than a hot water bottle, spreading a gentle heat.

Elle7

Thanks Hazy.

We are using the storage heaters correctly, the electrician showed us how when we moved in. Thank you for checking though

Downstairs is one big room. One side is a big window instead of a wall, and the stairs are there. The other has the kitchen and front door. There is one storage heater in the middle of the room. There are no doors at all, which makes life more difficult. We do make the most of cooking heat! And I'm using duvets and blankets as well as gas heaters I've bought.

For the most part visitors find it okay in here, although they do comment on how cold it is. It really upsets my arthritis though, and my muscle conditions are deteriorating. I was using hot showers to try and minimise damage, but with no hot water since Friday it's bad now.

I think I'm annoyed that they knew about this, and this is the third time this year it's broken, but they didn't say anything. I appreciate that we wouldn't have rented it if they had, so it wasn't in there interests, but they are aware of my condition because I came from hospital to look around, and they didn't think to say anything.

Is 2 weeks standard to have boilers fixed? I'm dreading what condition I'll be in then. I'm already planning moving out, which is a shame because I really liked it here.

Elle7

Thanks Fire Fox, I'll do that now. An electric blanket is a great idea too, I'll try to find one.

I feel horrible contacting EH, because I know the LL needs to rent the place out to make income, but I'm so unhappy and it's made me more ill than I thought possible.

All the advice is greatly appreciated.

Fire_Fox

Let us know how you get on. At the end of the day you don't have proper heating and hot water, it is affecting your health, it is winter, they have known about this problem and not taken action. Landlording is a business, if you do not treat your customers right, do not have a proper 'float' and do not properly maintain your premises and equipment then you risk your business going down the toilet.

In general it is your responsibility as tenant to inform all the utilities and council tax that you are the new occupant - you open accounts in YOUR name and make arrangements to pay. The previous tenant/ landlord/ agent merely close and pay off the old accounts in THEIR name.

Elle7

Well, the landlord did send a plumber who turned up this morning and ripped out the fitted drawers - before coming down to state that it's completely broke and now leaking. He left messages for the landlord and has now left.

He's text me since saying he can come and fix it next Thursday - but I've heard nothing from the landlord. Is next week acceptable? I'm struggling without hot water in any form.

Environmental health have posted me some forms about the agent/landlord/property, and then they'll send an officer round.

Mrs_Imp

If you have free-standing heaters, make sure that at least one of them is under the window. That way you'll be heating the air before it comes in to your room. Otherwise the warm air rises, drops when it gets cold and you end up with a circular current (and a hot head and cold toes)

Try a heated vest. I have one from the internet, and it's wonderful. It uses batteries, which you will need to charge up regularly. It's made such a difference to me, as it means I can still work outdoors in winter. I wear it over a normal vest, and under my t-shirt, jumper etc. It's utter bliss.

samasama

If you're still looking for an electric blanket ... I'd recommend Silentnight Comfort Control ones (just bought a double at Argos £29.99 reduced to £24.99). They're superb and can be left on the lowest setting overnight to keep you warm. On the highest setting they warm the bed within about half hour.

tbs624

Elle7 wrote: »

Well, the landlord did send a plumber who turned up this morning and ripped out the fitted drawers - before coming down to state that it's completely broke and now leaking. He left messages for the landlord and has now left.

He's text me since saying he can come and fix it next Thursday - but I've heard nothing from the landlord. Is next week acceptable? I'm struggling without hot water in any form.

Contact the LL and ask them to sort out temporary means of [edit:water] heating for you - they can set the costs down on their tax return. See for example http://www.hss.com/imagshop/guides/og_793.pdf