Renting - Coal fire

RachelMac_2

Hello
Does anyone know if a landlord has the responsibility to show/explain how a coal fire system works? I am moving into a property that uses a coal fire to heat the radiators and hot water. I have no idea how it works or how to even light a fire. When i move in should i expect to be shown how to use it and does the Landlord have a duty to show/explain to me? I'm in Scotland just in case things are different to England. I have had to take this place as my tenancy is ending and this was the only place that was available for when i needed it. And as i have three kids didn't want to end up homeless.

Thanks.

HappyMJ

Just ask...you won't be shown anything without asking. The landlord wants you to use the things in the property the correct way so should have no problem showing you.

Carl31

Might be worth checking your itinery, we are not allowed to use ours, which is a pain as the house is very cold, and our landlords obviously used the fires as their main heating source

G_M

No legal responsibility to tell you (at least not in England!), but any sensible LL will either leave written instructions, or show you if asked.

Failing that, try googling - the internet is full of instructions for everything!

Beckyy

As others have said there is no legal responsibility to show you how to use it but common sense would - you may have to ask though.

I would check the chimney has been swept recently and see how often the landlord usually has it done, generally once or twice a year is sufficient depending use.

If the back boiler is the only method of heating you may need to find a good supplier of firewood and coal. Softwood gives off higher heat and is cheaper than hardwood but burns fast, hardwood is slower to burn but can be more expensive. Coal gives off great heat.

Our back boiler has controls by the water tank which allow us to change the temperature at which the heating kicks in. Guessing this is reasonably standard but not totally sure.

G_M

https://www.hetas.co.uk/

Elsewhere

I should ask for instructions - it might require special fuel such as anthracite, for instance. Also ask if there is a chimney safety certificate so you know when the chimney was last swept http://www.instituteofchimneysweeps.com/about.php#Satety
and install a carbon monoxide detector.

PasturesNew

Making a fire isn't difficult.... there's some kindling wood,rolled up balls of newspaper and the correct type of fuel for the area (coal/coke ...smokeless?)

Getting it to actually light up is a pain in the butt - and involves lighting a few bits of the newspaper and watching/blowing on it so it makes the kindling wood catch ...which then makes the top layer of coal to be alight.

Then it's job done - except all that cleaning out of the ashes etc....which is a (dirty) pain in the butt.

You'll need a coal scuttle (to top up the coal while the fire's going) and a brush/dustpan to gather the ashes. You also need to think about fire safety for getting potentially hot ashes from the fireplace to outside (e.g. a metal bucket) .... and a fire guard to stop you falling into the open flames.

I'd not want one

Elsewhere

We have a woodburner and an open fire - we don't find that it's much of a problem really to run them or clean them out - though if you are going to put the ashes in a wheelie bin make sure they are completely cold :eek: Luckily we have a compost heap...

For lighting the fire I'd recommend buying firelighters - foolproof and takes all the effort out. Cheapest place we've found for them is Wilkinson.

LEJC

As a LL I iclude instructions or basic manuals to all appliances in the house....Its certainly not an unreasonable request on the part of the tenant to know how to operate something.

Ask to bec shown before you move in.