Who is responsible for bleeding radiators

blued

Errata wrote: »

It is easy, but that's not the point. The LL is responsible for the heating system and how it functions, not the tenant.

The heating system was serviced, bled and safety checked prior to them moving in. However the hall radiator does tend to need bleeding every few months (which should have been explained to them) and this is the first time I've had a request like this (3rd tenant). I guess I'm just surprised that someone would make a request for something so trivial. I'd rather do it myself, or ask a friend when they're over if I wasn't sure, than bother the agent/landlord and then have the inconvenience of someone coming round.

Marvel1

They maybe worried that something will go wrong e.g. opening it too much and causing damage, and who pays for the damage?

theartfullodger

The bleedin' radiators are the responsibility of the bleedin' landlord to ensure the tenant (yes TENANT - not agent) has the correct bleedin' instructions. (Well, to be precise, that tenant has effective heating system..)

Expecting an agent to look after the interests of the bleedin' landlord is likely to lead to disappointment & tears..

Have you got documented agreement from the bleedin' HMRC that your non-resident landlord status is sorted & bleedin' well agreed??

Cheers, Artful (bleedin' landlord, me..)

silvercar

1954 case Warren v Keen established tenants responsibilities:

Lord Denning LJ stated:

"What does 'to use the premises in a tenant-like manner' mean? The tenant must take proper care of the place. He must, if he is going away for the winter, turn off the water and empty the boiler. He must clean the chimneys, when necessary and also the windows. He must mend the electric light when it fuses. He must unstop the sink when it is blocked by his waste. In short, he must do those little jobs about the place, which a reasonable tenant would do. In addition, he must, of course, not damage the house wilfully or negligently; and he must see that his family and guests do not damage it; and if they do, he must repair it. But apart from such things, if the house falls out of repair owing to fair wear and tear, lapse of time or for any reason not caused by him, then he will not be liable to repair it."

mrginge

Its nearly june.
Why have they got the heating on?

G_M

Indeed. 'Tenant-like' behavior.

Light bulb blows and tenant calls the landlord/agent? Tell him to either
a) pay an electrician himself to change it or
b) change it himself or
c) rely on the other lights in the house!

This is the same.

In your place, I would bypass your agent and email/phone/write to the tenant giving him those 3 options for the radiator, as well as reminding him there is a key in the house for this purpose, AND linking him to a utube instruction. Or enclose a photocopied instruction on how to bleed a rad.

Be friendly, and tell him to let you know how he gets on.

anselld

blued wrote: »

The heating system was serviced, bled and safety checked prior to them moving in. However the hall radiator does tend to need bleeding every few months (which should have been explained to them) and this is the first time I've had a request like this (3rd tenant). I guess I'm just surprised that someone would make a request for something so trivial. I'd rather do it myself, or ask a friend when they're over if I wasn't sure, than bother the agent/landlord and then have the inconvenience of someone coming round.

Just a thought, blued, but if there is continual build up of gas within the system that is probably an indication of corrosion ( which produces gasses) since there isn't really anywhere else it can come from.

Did you have the inhibitor level tested/ topped up when serviced?

(doesn't change the view that T can bleed their own rads)

Old_Git

do you think the council would bleed the radiator .
I don't think so .
This reminds me of my tenant she wanted me to get an electrician round because the light bulb was flickering .I told her to change the bulb .

googler

mrginge wrote: »

Its nearly june.
Why have they got the heating on?

Because, despite the time of year, they are/were cold?

missbiggles1

Old_Git wrote: »

do you think the council would bleed the radiator .
I don't think so .
This reminds me of my tenant she wanted me to get an electrician round because the light bulb was flickering .I told her to change the bulb .

We got called in by a tenant once because the bath had stopped draining - we travelled 100 miles to unblock the hair from the plug hole!