how is this best sorted?

Cavacrol

Well, it's a Build To Rent property (not owned by a private landlord etc). The only point of contact we are given is the property manager, who is on-site usually 9 to 5, Monday to Friday.
That person has been notified in writing (email) of all these issues.

To respond to your other questions, you have to pay rent/heating via an online site. Although I do know what the amount for heating/hot water is, the site does not allow you any option at all other than to pay the combined amount. There is no option to a pay a lesser (or for that matter, greater) amount at all. There's no continuous payment authority set up on my card by the way.

G_M wrote: »

Please confirm that you have been reporting the problems IN WRITING: ideally by letter sent to the landlord at the address "for serving notices". By all means send a copy to the management company, but you must write to the landlord.

Check the management company's website or other documentation - do they have a complaints process? If so, use it to WRITE again to escalate.

Of course there is the option!
* you know what the rent is yes?
* and you know what the heating charge is yes?
So deduct the heating charge from the total paid on your debit card.

Or have you (unwisely!) signed a 'continuous payment authority' on your card? If so, write to the LL and management company withdrawing this authority and copy your bank.

Handing over control of payments from your bank account to anyone else is never advisable!

Checking whether this is a problem just for your flat, or for others in the building too, is a good idea.

How is your actual usage monitored?
* Is there a meter measuring the amount of hot water used?
* how is heating measured. Seems wierd!

Are there no meters/controls for the flat, either inside, or in a communal cupboard somewhere?

Cavacrol

Sorry, I missed your final question.

There's no meter that I am aware of. Questions I've posed previously asking how to adjust the heating (it never comes on even when it's cold. No proper response from them beyond "read the manual." [The manual does not explain anything.]

I have now spoken to some neighbours who report that they are not having hot water issues right now but have in the past and that the property manager sent a guy to their apartment to adjust the settings.

In every other home I've ever lived in, the resident has access to their own heating and hot water temperature controls and timer. This feels a rather odd set-up.

G_M wrote: »

How is your actual usage monitored?
* Is there a meter measuring the amount of hot water used?
* how is heating measured. Seems wierd!

Are there no meters/controls for the flat, either inside, or in a communal cupboard somewhere?

G_M

Cavacrol wrote: »

To respond to your other questions, you have to pay rent/heating via an online site. Although I do know what the amount for heating/hot water is, the site does not allow you any option at all other than to pay the combined amount. There is no option to a pay a lesser (or for that matter, greater) amount at all. There's no continuous payment authority set up on my card by the way.

No. What you mean is that the management company prefer that you pay online.

Provided you pay your rent they cannot take action against you.

Since by law they have to give you an address in England/Wales, there is nothing to stop you sending them a cheque for the rent (ie minus the heating) with a covering letter explaining why you have withheld the heating charge.

However, since

1) you now say there exist some controls that they re-set for a neighbour which solved the neighbour's problem, and
2) the manager has promised to send someone to check

I would be patient for now and see what happens. Annoying at the weekend, yes, but at least you've had a response, and a promise.

Cavacrol

No, I did not say that there are controls that were re-set for a neighbour. I said that I've spoken to two neighbours who reported a lack of hot water issue and then found the hot water was restored following a visit from "a man". I've no idea whether this man fixed the issue himself or whether he just confirmed back to the property company that the hot water wasn't working and the property company then adjusted things centrally.

It's not clear at all what the setup is at present.

G_M wrote: »

No. What you mean is that the management company prefer that you pay online.

Provided you pay your rent they cannot take action against you.

Since by law they have to give you an address in England/Wales, there is nothing to stop you sending them a cheque for the rent (ie minus the heating) with a covering letter explaining why you have withheld the heating charge.

However, since

1) you now say there exist some controls that they re-set for a neighbour which solved the neighbour's problem, and
2) the manager has promised to send someone to check

I would be patient for now and see what happens. Annoying at the weekend, yes, but at least you've had a response, and a promise.

elsien

What happens if there's a maintenance issue over the weekend that can't wait till Monday? There must be some sort of out of hours number - I'd be tempted to contact that.

Cavacrol

There doesn't appear to be any emergency point of contact at all!

elsien wrote: »

What happens if there's a maintenance issue over the weekend that can't wait till Monday? There must be some sort of out of hours number - I'd be tempted to contact that.

carefullycautious

I have now spoken to some neighbours who report that they are not having hot water issues right now but have in the past and that the property manager sent a guy to their apartment to adjust the settings.


But you did say that someone fixed the neighbours settings see your reply above!!! quoted from post 11

Cavacrol

Yes, that's correct?

carefullycautious wrote: »

I have now spoken to some neighbours who report that they are not having hot water issues right now but have in the past and that the property manager sent a guy to their apartment to adjust the settings.


But you did say that someone fixed the neighbours settings see your reply above!!! quoted from post 11

xylophone

You say that there is no means of adjustment within the flat and yet there is the question posed

Did you push the control for the temperature on the bath past the restrictor or not. Or is it cooler than it normally is?

What exactly is the above?

You also mention

I have now spoken to some neighbours who report that they are not having hot water issues right now but have in the past and that the property manager sent a guy to their apartment to adjust the settings.

Did he adjust the bath temperature control? Is there also a kitchen sink temperature control? If not, where are the controls and how are they accessed?

There must be meters of some type relating to each flat somewhere within the building, otherwise how could there be any measurement of "actual usage"?

Who or what is the landlord of this block?

Have you tried the land registry?

Cavacrol

A restrictor is a push button thing that's part of the bath tap. You press it to take the water over a certain limit. It doesn't control anything aside from the water coming out of the bath tap --- and yes, naturally I have made sure I've pushed it. What's with the hostile tone of your message by the way?

xylophone wrote: »

You say that there is no means of adjustment within the flat and yet there is the question posed



What exactly is the above?

You also mention



Did he adjust the bath temperature control? Is there also a kitchen sink temperature control? If not, where are the controls and how are they accessed?

There must be meters of some type relating to each flat somewhere within the building, otherwise how could there be any measurement of "actual usage"?

Who or what is the landlord of this block?

Have you tried the land registry?