LL heating obligations

darren_clarke

I was wondering what obligations LL have to the heating, say for instance your boiler breaks, but you have an immersion, do they have to fix it, or can they just buy you a heater, as say, that you now have a adequate form of heating?

or do they have to fix the boiler as the boiler was in when you moved in

BitterAndTwisted

A landlord is legally obliged to provide a form of heating, but there's no legislation to define what that form must take. So your landlord could decide to provide an alternative source of heating and not get the boiler repaired.

HappyMJ

darren_clarke wrote: »

I was wondering what obligations LL have to the heating, say for instance your boiler breaks, but you have an immersion, do they have to fix it, or can they just buy you a heater, as say, that you now have a adequate form of heating?

or do they have to fix the boiler as the boiler was in when you moved in

I'd be handing in my notice. Using electrical heating as a short term backup is fine but using it on a long term basis is very expensive....just look at the rate per kWh on your gas bill and compare it to the one on your electric bill. You paid more for this property because it had gas and you would save on the energy bills so I'd just find somewhere else to live. No tenant would take on a property with a non working boiler so it'll stay empty until landlord fixes it. If you are in a fixed term then negotiate a discount on the rent...and make sure it's enough to cover the extra usage.

sandsni

As B&T said, the LL is obliged to provide a means to heat the property + provision of hot water. There's no legislation regarding whether it should be oil/gas/electric/solid fuel. If the provision of a central heating boiler was mentioned on your tenancy agreement, you might have a bargaining tool to persuade the LL to get it fixed. Your LL is under no obligation to give a discount in rent to pay for the extra cost, but if s/he's a decent sort they might be willling. Personally I'd be more inclined to fix the boiler than negotiate rent discounts mid-term (it's far better for the property if the central heating is working and being used).

darren_clarke

we have been in the house less than 2 months, do far the have had probs with ele, not working, not hot water, I got gas delivered that leaked away because of leak on gas fire that got condemned, 2 weeks ago, every time I speak to the LL all he says is I am sorting it, but plumbers are all too busy, went the council yesterday over the damp that is appearing, and got fobbed off with a form,

am tied in to the contract till January next year, with only just moving,

at the mo, we are using about £15 a day in ele, as the house is that cold, ten minutes with no heating you can see your breath in the air

USM

Have you detailed the problems and expected resolution in writing to the landlord?

darren_clarke

not in writing, he been out to see and said I will get it sorted,

HappyMJ

darren_clarke wrote: »

not in writing, he been out to see and said I will get it sorted,

Get it in writing...

dimbo61

You need proof that you have informed the Landlord that the boiler is not working so you need to WRITE A LETTER and post it from the post office with proof of posting ( NOT recorded delivery!!)
Ask for a time scale for the boiler/central heating to be fixed and a reduction in the rent to pay for the expensive electric heaters you are now using.
Go on the Shelter website for help and advice on the letter you need to send

G_M

Not sure I agree. The Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 11. 1) c) says

c)to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling-house for space heating and heating water.

it says "the installations..." implying those that exist.

If it meant the LL simply had to provide heating (any heating) it would say "to keep in repair and proper working order installations in the dwelling-house for space heating".

That definate article is critical.

Which is why teaching good English at school is important (just to go off on a rant at a tangent!)

sandsni

G_M wrote: »

Not sure I agree. The Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 11. 1) c) says

it says "the installations..." implying those that exist.

If it meant the LL simply had to provide heating (any heating) it would say "to keep in repair and proper working order installations in the dwelling-house for space heating".

That definate article is critical.

Which is why teaching good English at school is important (just to go off on a rant at a tangent!)

But then how does it apply if a LL decides to replace the existing installations? Does the Act suggest s/he can't remove or disconnect existing installations but is bound to repair them? I'm sure there's something to be said here about the spirit of the Law vs the letter of the Law