Tenants rights on getting boiler checked

mandetlet

Hi im after some advice
We've recently moved into a rented house and have a concern with the boiler. Its around 30 years old and not a combi boiler, and is in the bathroom. We've noticed that around the top of the boiler and the ceiling in the bathroom there alot of black sooty marks. From what iv researched it could be a sign of carbon coming from the boiler. The boiler was serviced in January this year and passed, but the plumber did advise that the boiler be replaced due to its age. We've even spoken to the plumber last week when the pilot light went out, who then said that he spoke to the landlord when the check was done to advise him it needs replacing.

We've told this to our agent today (about the sooty marks) but they said that the plumber can come out to check but if he finds there is nothing wrong, then we would have to pay his call out charge of £55! We've said no as we know a plumber who is going to come and have a look for us, but is this right by the agent? We are concerned because its such an old boiler ad obvious signs of carbon coming off of it. I am also 6 months pregnant which is why we want to get it checked. I thought that is we have genuine (and visible) concerns about an old boiler that we can at least ask for it to be checked? The agent has been quite rude to us also like were a burden which is not nice.

Does anyone know what rights we have in this matter and can an agent actually make us pay to check whether the boiler is giving off carbon monoxide ? I know it had a safety check in January but that was 7 months ago and being such an old boiler, something could have happened in that time?

Pixie5740

Do you have a carbon monoxide alarm? If not then get one. You should have one anyway when there are gas appliances in the home. Don't get one of the alarms that just changes colour in the presence of carbon monoxide, get one of the ones that makes a loud noise, that would soon let you know if there is carbon monoxide being emitted.

mandetlet

Yes we have one that we have put near the boiler but it hasn't gone off

G_M

By law the LL has to get a landlords Gas safety Report each year, and give you a copy. This is not the same as a service.

Have you got this? If yes, then the boiler is safe (or at least it was on the date the inspection was done).

the plumber did advise that the boiler be replaced due to its age.

This is not the same as saying it is dangerous. If it was dangerous, the plumber (I trust he was a GasSafe engineer?) would not have passed the boiler for the GSR.

Yes, it's possible something has changed since the inspection. If ou have genuine grounds for concern you could insist the LL get a re-inspection. as well as needing an annual Gas Report, he has a duty to maintain the boiler safely.

When the plumber came last week, did he express concern about the safety of the boiler? Yes? In that case why did he not condemn it? No? then you have no real grounds to demand a re-inspection.

A CO alarm is a good idea. Buy one for £12.

G_M

mandetlet wrote: »

Yes we have one that we have put near the boiler but it hasn't gone off

Ah! so what makes you think there is a CO problem? The age of the boiler? Newer boilers last 10 - 15 years. Old ones used to last much longer. 30 years is fine as long as
a) it works and
b) it is safe

It seems to work, and the indications are it is safe. (annual report passed + CO alarm not going off).

Annie1960

Old boilers were very well made, and can last for way over 30 years.

As others have said, the only way to find out if it is emitting CO is to get a CO alarm. Make sure you test the alarm once a month by pressing the test button.

Laurensalive

I have a CO alarm and do test it once a month. Ask when the next annual gas safety check is due.

Paul_the_Painter

The boiler in my old place (which I now rent out) has just turned 30. The advice my plumber gave was - service it annually (which I do) install a CO alarm (which I have) and keep it for as long as possible. It dates from a time when there were many fewer boilers in the market, so loads of each model were produced, therefore spares are readily available, it's built to be robust, not the most efficient. However his estimate was I would only save about £100/yr on gas with a new boiler, which would cost £1500 - £2,000 fitted and last for 10-15 years.
Not much of an argument really.