Fairly new boiler has broken, claimed obsolete?

G_M

The warranty may cover it, if it was a 5 year warranty. Be aware most warranties are invalidated if
* the system was not flushed at the time of installation
* the boiler is not serviced annually

Even if out of warranty, yes, you could claim it was not 'fit for purpose' (Sale of Goods Act), but you'd need an independant report to show the fault was a manufacturing fault.

If you have a boiler breakdown policy (British Gas or similar) it may (should) be covered.

I'd have though a half decent engineer could source the part and fit it, and check why the previous one melted at the same time.

Luckily it's summer, so heating is not an issue. You could install an electric shower above the bath as an alternative. Cost around £100 + £100 labour? But it means the property is improved having an alternative hot water source, so it's not totally wasted money.

I assume it's a combi boiler? If conventional, is there not an emmersion heater in the hot tank?

katejo

Innys1 wrote: »

If you buy something that's about to be discontinued, it will become "obsolete", at least in the eyes of the manufacturer. That doesn't mean you can't get spares for it, mind.

As for a new boiler lasting far longer than 5 years, dream on. Most modern boilers won't last much beyond 7. Older, simpler boilers, mind, can keep chugging on for decades. I replaced an old boiler recently which hadn't missed a beat in 25 odd years, with no annual servicing.

In terms of your dilemma, that's one of the risks you take with being a landlord. Having said that, the tenant should understand you don't keep a spare boiler in your back pocket in case of emergencies. If it were her own home and boiler, the spare wouldn't arrive any quicker.

My boiler (Vaillant) is now about 12 years old and still going strong. I get it serviced each year by the same local firm and the engineer says that it is in a very good state of health for its age
Another engineer told me that the boiler in my previous flat wouldn't last more than 7 years and that they were designed to die early. I had it for 12 years and it is still there in that flat now (after 22 years). I would get a 2nd opinion.

AlexMac

£3k is amazingly expensive unless
- you have a large house requiring a big installation and added a pressurised cylinder (we paid £3k last year in our 4-bed/ 2 shower/5-basin house but did just that), or..
- you mistakenly got BG to do the installation

get a second oprinion by all means, but otherwise cut your losses, bite the bullet, keep the tenant happy and get a new boiler. You were unlucky; as 'Which' says " Top brands include Baxi, Ideal, Glow-worm, Grant, Potterton, Vaillant, and Worcester "

We had a small Glow-worm fitted recently in a small flat for £1.3k by a gas-safe contarctor- including a 2-year warranty!

G_M

'Which' descibe Baxi as a top brand??

:eek:

Owain_Moneysaver

d000hg wrote: »

I'm guessing this would not be covered by insurance right - they are going to claim it as 'wear and tear'?

Landlord Insurance might not cover the boiler repair but might cover putting the tenant in a hotel for a few days whilst emergency repairs are done - such as fitting an electric shower over the bath.

stator

If you want to keep the tenant sweet offer a discount on the rent for compensation for the increased electrical costs of constantly using a kettle.

G_M

stator wrote: »

If you want to keep the tenant sweet offer a discount on the rent for compensation for the increased electrical costs of constantly using a kettle.

though of course this is more than offset by the saving resulting from not runing the boiler......

the compensation is for the hassle, not the cost!

AlexMac

G_M wrote: »

'Which' descibe Baxi as a top brand??

:eek:

You have a point GM; memo to self; when all else fails, read the whole web-page!

"Which" do say, at http://www.which.co.uk/home-and-garden/heating-water-and-electricity/reviews/boilers/

-"Reviews of 283 condensing boilers and 27 Best Buys
- Top brands including Baxi, Ideal, Glow-worm, Grant, Potterton, Vaillant, and Worcester ..."

But they then go on (if you're a subscriber) to make no mention of Baxi in their "27 best buys" - every one of which is Worcester Bosch!

So it looks as if Baxi only come top of a list if its in alphabetical order. Having said that, I'm not dead set on Worcester Bosch, as the one I had fitted about ten years ago only lasted three years before requiring major and tricky reairs; replacement of its electronics. Whereas the three Vaillants I've had all worked like a dream.

Not that this helps the OP with their Boogered Baxi!

stator

G_M wrote: »

though of course this is more than offset by the saving resulting from not runing the boiler......

the compensation is for the hassle, not the cost!

Gas is cheaper than electric but I agree it's mainly the hassle.