Heating in a rented flat

Batman_100

Hi.

I'm asking for some advice on behalf of a friend who's in a difficult situation.

My friend lives in a rented flat. The control panel for the Central heating is located on the inside of the boiler cupboard along with the gas meter. Her landlord has recently decided to switch the heating off and put a padlock on the door of the boiler cupboard. He's refusing to giver ger a key or tell her why he's done this. He also won't allow her to have electric fan heaters in her flat as her believes they're a fire risk.

So with winter about to set in, she's got no source of heat in her flat apart from an electric cooker.

Is the landlord legally allowed to do this and if not, who should she complain to? She's also in receipt of housing benefit, so is it worth notifying the job centre or housing department about this?

Kynthia

Can we confirm that your friend doesn't share the flat with the landlord and rents the whole property themselves?

stator

I'm guessing the bills are paid by the landlord and included in the rent?
I would advise your friend to run a mile, this landlord is clearly not a good one

dj1471

Maybe the boiler was found to be unsafe during the annual gas safety check?

In any case the landlord must provide heating and hot water. Initially she needs to send a letter to the landlord or agent (keeping a copy and proof of posting) insisting that heating be provided.

jamie11

If the LL has set the boiler up to heat at certain times of the day then the temperature of the flat should be controllable with the room thermostat.

anselld

Batman_100 wrote: »

Hi.
The control panel for the Central heating is located on the inside of the boiler cupboard along with the gas meter. Her landlord has recently decided to switch the heating off and put a padlock on the door of the boiler cupboard.

(1) The landlord is obliged to provide adequate means to heat the property

(2) Access to the meter should not be prevented since in a gas emergency it is necessary to isolate using the gas valve which is normally at the meter.

If the LL will not see reason complain to Environmental Health Officer at the Council. They have enforcement powers for safety issues.

sandsni

dj1471 wrote: »

In any case the landlord must provide heating and hot water. Initially she needs to send a letter to the landlord or agent (keeping a copy and proof of posting) insisting that heating be provided.

Strictly speaking the LL has to provide the MEANS to heat the property and water (if the OP's friend is a tenant with exclusive use of the property). But I know what you're getting at.

As someone else says, it really hangs on whether the OP's friend is a tenant or lodger.

trevormax

just to clarify:

your friend rents a flat and is not a lodger?
the LL has turned the heating off and put in place barriers to prevent it being turned back on? Is the cupboard inside your friends flat?
the LL doesn't allow your friend to have heaters in the flat. Does the tenancy agreement prohibit such things?

Assuming your friend is not a lodger and rents the entire flat (room, kitchen, bathroom etc) I would do the following:

Tell the LL to remove the lock to allow your friend to access part of the flat your friend is paying to rent
If LL refuses, your friend finds a friend to pick the lock without damaging it or learns to do it.
Your friend installs heaters anyway. The LL can not stop your friend from doing so. That would be like the LL saying you can't have a TV or a toaster. LL can jog-on. If the tenancy includes bills well thats a risk the LL takes when offering such a tenancy.
Change the locks on the flat since the LL sounds like the kind of person who will just let them selves in whenever they feel like it.

dj1471

trevormax wrote: »

If LL refuses, your friend finds a friend to pick the lock without damaging it or learns to do it.

Do NOT do this. If the boiler has been disabled because it's dangerous (which is possible, given we don't know why it's been done) then this is a great way to kill someone.

Batman_100

Just to clarify a few points, my friend has exclusive use of the property, she's not a lodger and the bills are included in the rent.

The heating isn't on a timer, it's been switched of completely. I haven't asked her if she knows where the emergency cut off handal is, it might be worth asking.

I'm only writing this on behalf of a family friend who's a vulnerable adult who struggles to manage her own affairs. She's getting very stressed out by this situation.

Batman_100

dj1471 wrote: »

Do NOT do this. If the boiler has been disabled because it's dangerous (which is possible, given we don't know why it's been done) then this is a great way to kill someone.

The landlord has refused to give us any information as to why he's done this. It could be for safety reasons, but we don't know this for sure. I haven't suggested picking the lock cus that would only make already tense relations with the landlord even worse.