House share - no heating

Megan_Dittrich

Hello everyone :j

My partner lives in a house share with three other members.

They have had no heating at all for 7 months and counting (November 2016 as time of posting). He has contacted the letting agent various times and only in the last month has she really put some effort in to getting it fixed. We are now in the final stages of getting heat in the house but its been an ice box since October and mostly warmer outside than in!

I was wondering if anybody could help me and confirm if he could get any of his rent back due to this? Isn't heating a major part of a renting contract?

It makes me so angry that they have had this happen to them and still expect to pay £400-£500 PCM for their room despite no heating amongst other problems. :mad::mad::mad::mad:

Can anyone help me out here with some knowledge? Google isn't helping today! :eek:

Many Thanks

Cold and annoyed Girlfriend!

G_M

He can ask, but to be honest I suspect he's not really followed the full repair enforcement procedure......... Letting it go on for 7 months?

* Repairing Obligations: the law, common misconceptions, reporting/enforcing, retaliatory eviction & the new protection (2015)

Megan_Dittrich

he has followed all procedure and has been emailing them and phoning them daily since he found it wasn't working. all the housemates have been complaining and nagging the company but they have been dragging their heels refusing to fix it in the summer because it wasn't needed. :mad::mad:

G_M

1) On what date did he write to the landlord at the address provided "for serving notices"?

2) On what dates did he follow up his letter to the landlord with subsequent letters?

Did his letters clearly specify
* the problem
* the date the problem commenced
* the action he wanted
* the timetable he expected for the action?

3) On what date did he contact Environmental Health?
What response did he receive from EH?

4) on what date did he commence the procedure recommended for resolving the issue himself and deducting the cost from the rent?

5) what form does the heating take? Night storage heaters? Gas central heating? Wood burning stove?
* Is there a gas safety Report (if required)?
* has he had hot water? What form does the water heating take?

Rain_Shadow

Meanwhile, I think I'd have splashed out under a tenner on something like this.


http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/6846180/?grossPrice=Y&cm_mmc=UK-PLA-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_HVAC_And_Fans_And_Thermal_Management-_-Air_Conditioning_And_Climate_Control_Units&mkwid=sw11rmDxQ_dc|pcrid|88057040163|pkw||pmt||prd|6846180&gclid=CPvcq7jHvtACFUEcGwodA6IC8w


I certainly wouldn't have sat around shivering.

always_sunny

Don't some properties only have electric heating? I have seen plenty of them advertised.
If that is allowed/legal, then surely 'heating' can be even an oil radiator plugged to the electricity and cost less than £30! No need to suffer.

G_M

always_sunny wrote: »

Don't same properties only have electric heating? I have seen plenty of them advertised.
If that is allowed/legal, then surely 'heating' can be even an oil radiator plugged to the electricity and cost less than £30! No need to suffer.

Good point. An additional Q to those in my previous post:

2)
Did his letter request an alternative source of heating be supplied?