Reasonable time for no heat no hot water?

nimbo

fairy_lights wrote: »

Two days without heating or hot water isn't too bad IMO, especially as today is a Sunday.
The lack of hot water would be more of an issue for me as it's not too cold yet, but you can boil a few kettles of water and make up a shallow bath to wash your hair. Do you think maybe your stress about starting your new job tomorrow is making it seems worse than it really is?

unfortunately our bath is HUGE - I can almost swim in it.

To even get an inch or two would take forever. Regreting the fact that the 'nice' size bath was one of the reasons I liked the house in the first instance.

It's freezing here - there was frost on the car next door and everything - when I say I'm breathing out mist in the house I'm not exaggerating.

And looking forward to the job - going back to what I love in the same agency... So less stressful than working in a team that uses the grievance procedure to communicate.

Ms_Chocaholic

I once had no shower for a week (owner-occupier) - we didn't have a bath at the time either. We hung up a camping shower in the shower cubicle and made do till it was fixed.

elsien

Back to the "what would an owner occupier do", this one would wait till Monday rather than pay the silly Sunday call out rates I'd be likely to be charged. And I'd nip down the local swimming pool to use their showers. And it is perfectly possible to wash long hair using a washing up bowl, kettle and jug. Done it many a time. Ditto a strip wash using said bowl if you are plug less.

G_M

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Options

1) Ring the LL and say you have found someone who will come out today. Ask for their permission to instruct them and send the bill to them. (Would be esential to get a quote first) most LLs will say no unless the call out charge and hourly rate is same as their usual engineer

1b) Ring the LL and say you have found someone who will come out today. Ask for their permission to instruct them and say you will pay the difference between the standard charge, and the (inevitably higher) weekend charge.

2) Put up with it until tomorrow and go to a friend/family/gym/swimming pool for bath/shower. no hardship for a coupe of days

3) Ring the plumber and pay for it yourself. Tell LL you are doing this first, and use the LL's engineer. If using a different engineer, you must get the LL's agreement. It is his boiler.


The legal aspect quotes a 'reasonable time'. Next day is obviously reasonable.

First working day after being reported is more than reasonable.

sazpot

We have had many boiler problems in our rented property and managed to borrow electric heaters from family, thankfully the hot water tank has a immersion switch!

I think Monday is perfectly reasonable in the circumstances.

Do you get on with any of your neighbours? I would happily let any of ours in for a hot shower if their boiler was broken, weather I knew them well or not!

theartfullodger

Report this & any other repair issues IN WRITING (yes, WRITE/email - keep copy) - see advice here
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets

How long is reasonable to wait?? Well,
- if you own your own home, a week, couple of weeks, until next pay-day...
- if renting, maybe 7 or 10 hours


Go and buy some electric heaters, send landlord bill for any increase in bills.

Cheers!

DominicJ_2

"I had to shower using cold (cold) water for a week. It's hard but you actually feel very good afterwards."

You really dont! Not in an unheated house.

Mine popped one evening last year over new year, took me about a week to get a replacement fitted. Believe me I was motivated to get it replaced as quickly as humanly possible.

G_M

theartfullodger wrote: »

How long is reasonable to wait?? Well,
- if you own your own home, a week, couple of weeks, until next pay-day...
- if renting, maybe 7 or 10 hours

Indeed. But clearly 8 or 9 hours would not be reasonable.

jjlandlord

theartfullodger wrote: »

Go and buy some electric heaters, send landlord bill for any increase in bills.

Why would landlord be liable?

molerat

Round here the council will generally attend no heating / hot water within 4 hours 24/7/365, why should private landlords be any different ?