Broken Bolier In Rented Property - What To Do???

franklee

d_flashberry wrote: »

I will try that but think I am going to have another bash on the phone after I have given a couple of days for the parts this time. Most companies do usually respond to emails, certainly from my experience.

But, but, buuuttt you've been doing that for a month and a half. I'd have written formally after two weeks! Do please write as above on paper that way if things drag again you will have your bases covered. Nothing fancy just dig out your emails and base it on those. If you don't have printer ask a relative or go to the library

xylophone

2000 and is well past its sell by date.

:eek:

Our Potterton Netaheat (serviced annually by the company that installed it) is well over this age and although one or two parts have been replaced over the years, still works perfectly - indeed we dread the day that that it does finally have to go to the great boiler home in the sky.....:(

d_flashberry

xylophone wrote: »

:eek:

Our Potterton Netaheat (serviced annually by the company that installed it) is well over this age and although one or two parts have been replaced over the years, still works perfectly - indeed we dread the day that that it does finally have to go to the great boiler home in the sky.....:(

Well I wasn't going to question a guy that does that for a living. I know they can be very costly to install. You might be one of the lucky ones. I don't know when my next shower will be!

d_flashberry

franklee wrote: »

G_M was giving you specific advice to write, that is snail mail, on real paper with proof of postage etc. type write. This is necessary to make your complaint formal and start the clock ticking on a reasonable time to get the repairs done. The problem with phone calls and emails is that they are informal means of communication. Maybe the agent will reply to them, maybe they won't but if you want to escalate the matter you have to have formally reported the problem and formally complained. The way you formally complain is to look in your tenancy agreement and see what forms notice is permitted to be served in. It probably won't say you can text or email, so the default to be sure is to old fashioned pen and paper write to the address for the serving of notices. Not really that hard to do if it's already in email ... reformat, top and tail, print, sign, put in envelope, address envelope, get proof of posting or hand deliver and ask for a receipt ...

I would also send a copy direct to the landlord.

You are also entitled to the landlord's address if you write to the agent and ask for it. Again by that I mean on paper write so it's beyond dispute you have met the requirements of the legalisation and can also escalate that if the agent doesn't reply with the landlord's address with 21 days.

Yes but it was the manner in which they commented which I had issue you. I appreciate all the advice but not being told it's not the LA's fault when it bloody well is.

benjus

d_flashberry wrote: »

Yes but it was the manner in which they commented which I had issue you. I appreciate all the advice but not being told it's not the LA's fault when it bloody well is.

That's not what G_M said... he was talking about the Landlord not the LA. The Landlord may not even be aware that there is an issue with the boiler. It seems that the LA is being totally unhelpful in this situation, but you need to report the problem to the Landlord, in writing (even if you have to send it C/O the LA), before you can get any further. You can't complain that the Landlord is taking too long to fix it until it's been correctly reported.

Maybe you should read the posts in detail before you comment further. You've been given good advice.

franklee

Exactly so benjus.

d_flashberry given "The staff at the letting agency have been very poor and don't have a clue how to speak to members of the public. They seem to be more concerned with other things." I suspect they are efficient at collecting money but they may well deal as ineffectively with the landlord as they do with you. Phone calls are easy to ignore, the phone rings again before your call was dealt with, after the interruption your call doesn't get written up, then it's lunchtime. Next day Sharon is off work and Liz has taken over. Liz has no idea what's gone on and repeat. A good landlord will be wanting the repair done just as efficiently just as you do. Your landlord may have no idea how inefficient the agent has been.