Tenant says I am responsible

G_M

DaftyDuck wrote: »

Surely you laid into me for saying that some months back? May be mistaken, but I argued tenant had right to choose supplier/payment method/quantity, much like leccy, and you said that was foolish? That tank should be filled for new tenant, and charged for on leaving, or refilled.

Well remmbered! My post here was tongue in cheek, and opened the debate.

It seems that Clare not only expects her tenants to understand the importance of oil supply continuity with minimal instructions, but also washes her hands of the check in/check out process.

Not my idea, this is my agents way of dealing with it.
The tenants are aware of this it is in the contract, so not my concern how they go about it to be honest,

not my problem guv....

Glad I don't rent from her...

A sight gauge is also rather dated nowadays and they aren't always easy to read.

I rather miss mine since getting a new plastic bunded tank. The wireless guage gives an aproximation, but I found the old visual check far more reliable.

Elfbert

The only people I know with oil fired central heating have some sort of gizmo on the tank which alerts someone - (I think the oil company? Possibly their bit of kit?) and they call to arrange delivery. It seems like if something like this is available, it might stop anything like this happening again.

G_M

Elfbert wrote: »

The only people I know with oil fired central heating have some sort of gizmo on the tank which alerts someone - (I think the oil company? Possibly their bit of kit?) and they call to arrange delivery. It seems like if something like this is available, it might stop anything like this happening again.

I'd never have one myself as it ties you to one supplier (no shopping around on price) AND ties you to topping up when THEY choose (ie when prices are high & they have no orders).

But for a let property it might solve the problem highlighted here.

Elfbert

A quick Google suggested that in this era of smart phones etc. you might just be able to get one that alerts you, and you then shop around/do whatever one normally does to buy oil.

marlot

ClareElizabeth wrote: »

Yes, I think I will in future have that clause written in to the contract. Good idea.
She is on a rolling monthly contract, am I able to add it in now?
The instruction seem clear enough to me, and seemed to clear for my other tenants as this has never been a problem.

Why not do a side letter as quid pro quo for paying the engineer visit. Along with a proper demo

mandragora_2

We've had oil-fired central heating for about five years now. Thanks to the fact that this is one of the jobs my husband deals with, this is the first time I've ever realised that you shouldn't let it run dry, so this thread's been very useful to me!! I don't think it's wise to assume that people just 'know' these sorts of things.

Right, I'm off now to get Himself to show me how to check the oil level in the tank.

SerialRenter

Personally, for the sake of keeping everyone happy, i'd pay for the issue to be fixed the first time it happened, especially if the instructions could have been more expansive.

If they did it again, then let them bare the cost.

Solutions:

• More instructions
• Clause in tenancy agreement (no you cant add it to the current agreement unless they renew)
• and lastly, buy a oil level monitor, stick the receiver in the kitchen along with a short note explaining the importance of keeping the tank from running out and to refer to the instructions for more details.
• Get a fairer system for oil levels when moving in/out. Remember the agents work for you, you can tell them how you want your property run.

ClareElizabeth_2

To clarify. It doesn't always cause problems if the oil runs out, and in this case it was a simple reset job. But it is prudent not to let it run out, a bit like petrol in a car, it might cause damage.
Whether or not the boiler can run dry is not in dispute.
What is in dispute is that the tenant feels she was not given adequate instruction on how to read the sight gauge on the oil tank to check the levels. She wasn't 'shown'. There is an A4 manufacturers sheet explaining this process in clear English with a diagram in the house. She knew she had to check the levels but didn't do this correctly, so feels this is my responsibility to pay for the resultant engineer call out when the tank ran dry.
This is a 17th century house in a rural location, there is no mains gas, and who the hell is anyone to tell me what method of heating I opt for in my properties. At the age of 44 I have never lived in a house with mains gas.
No, I do not have anything to do with check in and heck out, I live hundreds of miles away and am fully managed by a letting agent.
I was satisfied with the method the LA uses for the oil levels check.
The property is clearly advertised as having oil fired heating system, if tenants are unhappy with this they can chose another property. If they are unclear about anything they can ask.
My LA does tell incoming tenants that oil levels need checking on a regular basis, and I include several fliers from oil delivery companies which are pinned to a cork board in the kitchen.
The tenant is supplied with further instructions about 'living in an older house' but these do not include any further info about reading the sight gauge, I feel the instructions provided are adequate.
G_M I would not like you as a tenant, images of being charged for an electrician call out for a light bulb change because I haven't left instructions in 17 different languages on how to change a bayonet lightbulb (joke!).
The question really isn't about whether or not it is prudent for me to leave further/clearer instructions or provide personal demonstrations of appliances but whether I am legally responsible for the call out, having provided all necessary instructions and manuals to operate the sight gauge correctly, but failed to ask the LA to give a demo.

Okydoky25

When I had the miss fortune of renting an oil heated house I was told there was 1/4 tank. Day of moving in it was bone dry! LL Suggested it had been stolen so I suggested an alarm which was ignored. 4 days and extra cost of emergency delivery I have oil...which was then stolen! This caused a problem with the boiler.

LL had to pay to fix this and bought an alarm. Expensive lesson for him. I wasn't to impressed myself as I was left without heating for 3 weeks and had to buy another tank of oil! I left before the next winter! (Emptying the tank before I left!)

Moral. Put a lock and alarm on it and make sure tenants know how to use it!

Annie1960

If you want a legal opinion, go and see a solicitor.

Your attitude on this forum has come across as rude and arrogant. I cannot ever recall another thread where the OP has not bothered to thank any of the replies, that about sums up your attitude.