Boiler repairs as landlord - am I being unreasonable?

Gigervamp

katepower wrote: »

I have just had another call from the tenant to say that the hot water is now also intermittent in the shower itself and that she is very unhappy. I have no idea why this is as the shower is electric and completely seperate from the shower. I will have to use the LAs contractor as I have no idea where to go from here.

We have an electric shower and the water often goes cold, usually if someone else is using a tap. I think it's to do with the water pressure as it's not a power shower.

duchy

It does seem there are lessons to be learned.

It seems you secured a tenant before confirming the property was ready to be let- and then discovered the electrics weren't viable -and a boiler cover policy would have removed the issues with your tenant as she'd have dealt direct with BG or whatever for an appointment.

Seems to me the delay in the move in date got you off on the wrong foot with her-and was avoidable had you had all the checks dome prior to adverting and perhaps set the tone for your relationship.

hardpressed

Can the OP tell us when the boiler was last serviced? Whoever serviced it is the best person to call to repair it.

theartfullodger

£5 says BG condemn boiler & say you need a new one:

It has been suggested they do this surprisingly often, and they do sell boilers... funny that.

Pandilex

If they have an electric shower tenant is being completely ridiculous.

I lived in a house with an electric shower and I didn't turn the boiler on a single time while I lived there. It was old, and had an ancient water tank.

The only thing you need hot water for when you have an electric shower is washing up and central heating.

It's not exactly freezing cold yet, so it's hardly an emergency. You could provider a cheap fan heater while it's being fixed if they're really complaining about that.

For washing up, just use a portable water heater, also known as a kettle! That's what I used for a year.

Ignore all the haters, sounds like there are a few over-entitled tenants in this thread. Once you become a homeowner you realise how much of a pain in the !!!! it is to get people out to fix things on short notice.

Jagraf

Pandilex wrote: »

If they have an electric shower tenant is being completely ridiculous.

I lived in a house with an electric shower and I didn't turn the boiler on a single time while I lived there. It was old, and had an ancient water tank.

The only thing you need hot water for when you have an electric shower is washing up and central heating.

It's not exactly freezing cold yet, so it's hardly an emergency. You could provider a cheap fan heater while it's being fixed if they're really complaining about that.

For washing up, just use a portable water heater, also known as a kettle! That's what I used for a year.

Ignore all the haters, sounds like there are a few over-entitled tenants in this thread. Once you become a homeowner you realise how much of a pain in the !!!! it is to get people out to fix things on short notice.

Some people have rented and have owned their own homes, and been a landlord, so I think having a perspective from all sides is good.

I suppose it depends on whether you want to have a happy tenant which makes a landlord's life easier. It usually makes sense business wise (as it is a business). It's not really that much of a pain to get people out to fix things at short notice if you have the right things in place, stuff that if its your own home you may go without as you only have yourself to please.

You sound as if tenants (customers) should put up with less than favourable service. That's really not good business sense in my experience.

tunnel

Isn't there still a free boiler scheme whereas a tenant or LL can have a shiny new boiler fitted free gratis, there is numerous hurdles to jump through and certain criteria to meet but must be worth a look. just my 2 penneth if 2 gas safe blokes wouldn't touch it.

G_M

tunnel wrote: »

Isn't there still a free boiler scheme whereas a tenant or LL can have a shiny new boiler fitted free gratis, there is numerous hurdles to jump through and certain criteria to meet but must be worth a look. just my 2 penneth if 2 gas safe blokes wouldn't touch it.

Green Deal ECO scheme.

Owner/tenant needs to be claiming one of several benefits.

Cautious_Optimist

Pandilex wrote: »

Once you become a homeowner you realise how much of a pain in the !!!! it is to get people out to fix things on short notice.

Yes. So the sensible thing is to then NOT to go on to become a LL.
Because then you have the stress of dealing with workmen AND tenants.

If you don't enjoy providing a service, don't enter a service industry.

lemontart

electric showers can play up for 2 reasons , water pressure or thermostats on the way out . I may be a cynic hear but does sound like boiler was not serviced so no gas engineer already known to op to short issue out and may well be an old electric shower too. I have been a pennant and a landlord in my time as well as refurbishing and selling houses over the years.