Living with no heating and hot water?

johnandkymberley

Hi all,

Ok our gas certificate was due last Saturday. The engineer came and said there is a problem with the pilot switch and he'd get back to us last week. We haven't heard back from him by Wednesday so left numerous answer phone messages and contacted the letting agency. Anyway we still haven't heard anything back. My hubby rang the plumber tonight and 'someone' - we think it's him, said that he's in Benidorm till Friday!! We've tried ringing the out of hours service, but they won't do anything as the landlord is already aware. We are moving out on the 4th November, and my biggest fear is for the next three weeks we aren't going to have any heating or hot water. The house isn't even fully double glazed. There's mould at the windows and to top it all off, I've just found out I'm pregnant (Yayyy!). The landlord is a tight !!!! and as he his selling after we move out I don't think he will want to fix or spend any money on anything!

Has anyone got any advice? Will we get rent back, should they foot the bill for alternative accommodation or supply heaters?

Really appreciate any help and thoughts on this as I just don't know what to do? Feeling extremely upset about it as it's been nearly 10 days now and ive had enough! Ok, maybe this is my pregnancy hormones....haha!

Looking forward to your replies, thanks in advance

P.s we still don't have a gas certificate either!!?

Kynthia

Did he say the boiler was unsafe and disable it?

johnandkymberley

Hiya,

Yes he disabled it, does that make it even more urgent? But he didn't say it was 'unsafe'

X

Kynthia

Hopefully others will give some advice too. Normally I'd say that a tenant needs to understand that repairs take time and as long as they are completed in a reasonable timescale then you can't really complain. However if it's cold then the landlord should provide or reimburse you for some plug in heaters.


However you've not been given any info and have no idea whether a repair is in progress and a part is on urgent order. This is not on. If I were you I would ring the agent and landlord saying that you want information on what is happening, and you want an urgent repair or at least some heaters and a water heater in the next 24 hours. If not you will be ringing the tenancy officer in the council and alerting Environmental Health that you have not heating, hot water or a valid gas safety certificate. You should then put a copy of the conversation in writing to both the agent and landlord, keeping a copy and your proof of postage from the PO.

lazer

Is there a fire?

johnandkymberley

Hi, yes there's a gas fire but we were advised not to use it as we don't have a gas certificate?
Thanks for your replies, your giving me great advice

johnandkymberley

Also if the landlord doesn't do anything when will the letting agency step up and do something? Is there a timescale for these kind of things? X

anselld

johnandkymberley wrote: »

Also if the landlord doesn't do anything when will the letting agency step up and do something? Is there a timescale for these kind of things? X

If the landlord chooses to do nothing then the letting agency will do nothing; after all they are the agent of the Landlord.

johnandkymberley

anselld wrote: »

If the landlord chooses to do nothing then the letting agency will do nothing; after all they are the agent of the Landlord.

So what can I do? I'm living without basics? I can't even wash the pots in hot water or have a bath?

dimbo61

Not British Gas by any chance?

dimbo61

Was the gas central heating working before the visit from the plumber?