Landlord refuses to install a heater in the kitchen, is this legal?

princeofpounds

The answer is maybe.

There are environmental health standards for housing (Google housing health and safety rating system - HHSRS).

Excessive cold is a hazard on the list.

If he is in breach of these an environmental health inspection could result in legally-binding improvement orders. Probably also a S21 notice at the earliest opportunity, such is the world we live in.

Anyway, this is a grey area and whether there is a breach depends on the detail if how the system actually works and whether localised cold is a problem.

Personally I would just move out at the earliest opportunity and be difficult about viewings leaving the LL with a nice void period that would cost more than the installation would have done.

Takeaway_Addict

I would expect a landlord only has to supply the heating mechanism...as such he could buy you a 2kw heater and then its upto you if you use it or not.

But, as mentioned, why not open the doors from other rooms to heat it?

specialboy

princeofpounds wrote: »

The answer is maybe.

There are environmental health standards for housing (Google housing health and safety rating system - HHSRS).

Excessive cold is a hazard on the list.

If he is in breach of these an environmental health inspection could result in legally-binding improvement orders. Probably also a S21 notice at the earliest opportunity, such is the world we live in.

Anyway, this is a grey area and whether there is a breach depends on the detail if how the system actually works and whether localised cold is a problem.

Personally I would just move out at the earliest opportunity and be difficult about viewings leaving the LL with a nice void period that would cost more than the installation would have done.

And all the LL would need do in your scenario is supply an electric heater, its then down to the tenant to pay for the energy to keep it running which the OP has already stated they are not prepared to do.

monty-doggy

I lived in a rented house that sounds same build, extended kitchen single skin extension and no insulation. It hurt my feet at times to walk on the laminate. The ll wasn't bothered, like it or lump it was pretty much the answer. Keep the door shut if you don't want to feel the cold in the hallway or keep it open to warm the kitchen. Always use socks/slippers. Church candles give off a lot of heat suprisingly. Put a thin square of carpet/ mat where you would stand at the sink or side and this helps too.

ViolaLass

monty-doggy wrote: »

I lived in a rented house that sounds same build, extended kitchen single skin extension and no insulation. It hurt my feet at times to walk on the laminate.

It's hardly unreasonable to suggest that you wear slippers!

Bogof_Babe

Get yourself an electric oil-filled radiator. I believe they are quite cheap to run. I bought one for our kitchen as there is no central heating rad in there, and although it takes a few minutes to warm up you can leave it on for hours without racking up a huge bill.

[Deleted User]

I have a similiar situation. The bathroom and kitchen are both part of an extension. The roof has no insulation (flat roof) and is allways colder than the rest of the house, with no way of heating. If the doorway from the lounge to the kitchen is open, the heat just goes from the lounge to the kitchen, and makes the whole house cold (I have two children and tell them repeatedly to not open the door but I seem to have a Mr Nobody in the house).

I wouldn't put a heater in there because there is no point with the lack of insulation.., but it probably costs me a fortune with lost heating from the rest of the house, in spite of my best but seemingly ineffectual efforts to keep the connecting door closed.

Its where the only damp in the house is too in spite of keeping bathroom window open.

But not a lot I can do, irritatingly. Viewed the house in April so possible problem wasn't as apparent then.

Tancred

gilbutre wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Temperature in my kitchen goes between 7º and 10ºC these days. Landlord refuses to install a heater in it (I have central heating) and tells me to use an electric heater.

Problem: it's gonna cost like £50 a month or more during winter. This extra heating expense wasn't advertized when I moved in the house a few months ago. Sure, no heater means cold. But this kitchen is special: it's an extension and apparently concrete floor has not been properly installed, the roon is just freezing cold.

Question: does the landlord have the right to refuse to put a heater in the kitchen?

The landlord is perfectly within his rights to refuse to install a heater in the kitchen. Kitchens are not normally provided with radiators in British houses, so why are you even asking this? A kitchen is used for cooking, and the heat generated by the oven and hobs provide adequate heat in themselves.

Tancred

gilbutre wrote: »

Well I go to the kitchen maybe 20 or 30 times a day! In total I probably spend an hour at least in it, but it's fragmented in many pieces.

Cooker helps but still when you enter the kitchen, it feels just like going out. I usually take on my scarf and winter coat before going there.

Scarf and winter coat? What a load of BS! You sound like a real pain in the nether regions.

donfanatico

Tancred wrote: »

The landlord is perfectly within his rights to refuse to install a heater in the kitchen. Kitchens are not normally provided with radiators in British houses, so why are you even asking this? A kitchen is used for cooking, and the heat generated by the oven and hobs provide adequate heat in themselves.

Lolololol, the funniest reply for ages