Heating broken - landlord ignoring us

pyroliske

We have rented this house for 7 years, always pay rent on time and don't bother our landlord at all. Three years ago during a gas safety check he was advised that our boiler was leaking slightly and would need replacing in a year tops.

That was the last time we had a gas safety check done. The boiler limped on until three nights ago when we turned the heating on and it wouldn't fire up. The pilot light is on it just won't fire up. So we called the landlord.

And called and called. He refuses to contact us back even though we know he's got the messages. They've always been funny about doing things on the house and try to wriggle out of paying which is why we and their other tenants rarely contact them. It's been about 18 months since we contacted them last and that was because the tank in the attic was leaking and had come through the ceiling. I ended up fixing the ceiling myself in the end as he never came back.

We've arranged for a gas engineer to come out and tell us if it's terminal or not, if it's a small thing we'll probably foot the bill ourselves. But if it's not I'm not sure what we can do if he won't respond to our calls.

csgohan4

Your landlord sounds like a catch. The fact he has neglected his duties with a MANDATORY annual gas safety baffles me.


Have you got a Carbon Monoxide alarm, have you been more drowsy than usual. If you have to the latter I would contact the gas company asap.


Your landlord will face prosecution for neglecting his duties. Remind him of this. Letter before action.


I suspect he is avoiding tax too, being such a bad landlord, do you pay the rent in cash?. Report them as well, karma will bite back.


https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-revenue-customs/contact/reporting-tax-evasion


Not fixing the ceiling is quite bad too. I would find another place to live too.

theartfullodger

You need to write (yes, WRITE! - or email, keep copies) to landlord, noting the issues first.

See good advice on this here, including a draft letter..
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets

Landlord sounds a complete twit: Why any landlord would not arrange gas safety check, if only to protect himself, is beyond me.

PasturesNew

Get onto the council housing dept - they'll come round and look and put a boot up his jacksy.

Ollie92

A law was recently introduced (October 1st 2015) for Section 21 documents that now means your landlord cannot ignore you and you will have no risk of eviction should you complain.

Inform your local council that your landlord isn't responding to you and that severe work is required to the property, they should send a rep out to check the property and if they agree they will order your landlord to carry out the necessary works.

Hope this helps!

Pixie5740

Ollie92 wrote: »

A law was recently introduced (October 1st 2015) for Section 21 documents that now means your landlord cannot ignore you and you will have no risk of eviction should you complain.

That's only for tenancies starting from 1st October 2015 onwards so unfortunately it doesn't apply to the OP.

Pixie5740

If it's been 3 years since your last GSC I'd contact HSE and report your landlord. Follow the repair process in the Shelter link provided by Artful and start communicating with your landlord in writing, that means letters (ink, paper, stamp and proof of postage). Also get a carbon monoxide alarm if you don't already have one. They're inexpensive and could save your lives.

G_M

Report here:

By law landlords must carry out an annual gas safety check and provide tenants with a copy of the record of that check. New tenants should receive a copy before they move in and existing tenants should get a copy within 28 days of the annual check being done you don't have a current gas safety record you can report to HSE via form LGSR1.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqtenant.htm



and read:

* Repairing Obligations, (draft in progress to include new 1/10/15 rules banning retaliatory eviction)

mrginge

I suspect he'll be in touch pretty quick if the rent happens to not get paid....

[Deleted User]

Yes threatening a S21. Not helpful. Particularly as the tenant needs to get a repair /boiler replacement done.

I'm afraid LL's like this do exist. And as I am sure the tenant is well aware, persisting when the LL says no, brings being given a S21 closer (a lot) or another NO.

I'm afraid though the OP can't manage without heating, so he/she is going to have to take the risk and inform HSE of the lack of a gas safety certificate, get a CO monitor, and use Shelter's method of writing to the LL, informing him of the need for a 'repair' and suggesting if he doesn't do it, the OP will pay for the repair and take it out of the rent. This process needs to be followed carefully though.

agrinnall

Why are you still in a property that almost certainly has had a dangerous boiler for at least 2 years?