Landlord dictating time for heating in flat

Arleen

rtho782 wrote: »

10 hours of heat a day?! That's massive!

People on economy 7 find their storage heaters work 7 hours a day. As an owner occupier, I run my heating ~3 hours a day.

I don't think this is an issue.

It depends on how much time you spend at the house and what is the temperature outside. Just because 3 hours for you is enough now, doesn't mean it's enough for other people at other times.

And I agree that landlord controlling the heat is unreasonable, especially if it leads to doubtful habitability of the place.

G_M

KILL_BILL wrote: »

I had a look on another forum and the guy - Jefferey (solicitor) seems to think it is under section 11 but i wanted to get other views on the issue before i go back as a disrepair issue or a harrasment matter

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?18897-Landlord-turned-off-heating-what-are-tenant-s-rights

Whilst I have great respect for the landlordzone forum, and acknowledge that jeffrey is an experienced contributer, I have my doubts.

S11 of the 1985 Act relates to repairing obligations (read it - Landlord & Tenant Act 1985). The boiler in this case requires no repair.

Although the clause states "keep in proper working order" I do not believe this means it must be switched on ('working') all the time, but simply that it is not broken or defective.

S11 makes no mention of access to controls - it is simply about whether those controls (including the timer) are functioning.

So I disagree over the relevance of the Act to this scenario.

However, as I previously suggested

* this could constitute, or contribute to, harassment, contrary to the Protection from Eviction Act 1977

* this could be contrary to the the Housing Health & Safety Rating System which was introduced under the Housing Act 2004

Preventive measures that can have an effect on likelihood and harm
outcomes:

• Appropriate levels of thermal insulation to minimise heat loss. Level depends on
location/exposure/relationship to other dwellings/buildings orientation;

• Appropriate heating system safely and properly installed and maintained and
controllable by occupant;

FBaby

10 hours of heating a day is very reasonable and I would think above the average number of hours people paying for their own heating have on. Your LL has offered to supply a fan heating which seems very reasonable.

If you think that you are being charged too much for what you are getting, start to look for another place.

KILL_BILL

FBaby wrote: »

10 hours of heating a day is very reasonable and I would think above the average number of hours people paying for their own heating have on. Your LL has offered to supply a fan heating which seems very reasonable.

If you think that you are being charged too much for what you are getting, start to look for another place.

How does a landlord supplying a fan heater appear to be reasonable when the heating that is in situ works in the first place, but when he advertises and charges and all inclusive price for the rent heating and then decides to renege

The 10 hours is not of continual heat and the three hours that it is off the temprature in the room drops dramatically especially in those three hours.

iammumtoone

That is much more than I have my heating on and to be fair I think if you were paying for it separately you would not have it on more than this.

Can you control the temperature of your own heating? If so can you not just turn it up for the hours it is on. You can also take measures yourself to help retain the heat, thick curtains, make sure the curtains do not cover the tops of radiators etc

If you are really cold in the three hours in between invest in an oil filled radiator in one of the rooms, keep the doors shut in that room and the rad will heat it, make sure you get one with a thermostat to help save on costs.

System

KILL_BILL wrote: »

How does a landlord supplying a fan heater appear to be reasonable when the heating that is in situ works in the first place, but when he advertises and charges and all inclusive price for the rent heating and then decides to renege

The 10 hours is not of continual heat and the three hours that it is off the temprature in the room drops dramatically especially in those three hours.

Surely by offering you a means to heat your property that means you could heat your property - I'm guessing that the rental agreement doesn't specify what type of heating should be used at different times of the day?

streetlovin

KILL_BILL wrote: »

How does a landlord supplying a fan heater appear to be reasonable when the heating that is in situ works in the first place, but when he advertises and charges and all inclusive price for the rent heating and then decides to renege

The 10 hours is not of continual heat and the three hours that it is off the temprature in the room drops dramatically especially in those three hours.

I do agree with you on this. Living in a house without proper insulation myself I can confirm temperature drops massively even for a short period of time. It is winter still! Surely if he charges the same amount of rent per month for the whole year, heating is only really required for winter so he should be able to fully provide you with that. If I was you I wouldn't expect any less.

Is there anything in the contract that says the landlord is allowed to adjust the availability of heating when required..? Either way I don't think you have much of a choice rather than finding new place to be honest... Any fight with landlord never ends well, it is easier to find a new place.

deFoix

Poor quality original post. Vague. Lack of detail which makes me suspicious. And without specific reference to terms of contract how is it possible to make a firm comment?

If you really did care you would have recorded the temperature in the flat over a period of time and made a specific claim.

KILL_BILL

iammumtoone wrote: »

That is much more than I have my heating on and to be fair I think if you were paying for it separately you would not have it on more than this.

Can you control the temperature of your own heating? If so can you not just turn it up for the hours it is on. You can also take measures yourself to help retain the heat, thick curtains, make sure the curtains do not cover the tops of radiators etc

If you are really cold in the three hours in between invest in an oil filled radiator in one of the rooms, keep the doors shut in that room and the rad will heat it, make sure you get one with a thermostat to help save on costs.

All the heating in tenants flats is by central heating - ie one radiator to heat the main room. thats it

KILL_BILL

Boler1985 wrote: »

Poor quality original post. Vague. Lack of detail which makes me suspicious. And without specific reference to terms of contract how is it possible to make a firm comment?

If you really did care you would have recorded the temperature in the flat over a period of time and made a specific claim.

What is it that you dont really understand bearing in mind the clear details that have been given above.

Temp does not need to be recorded to make a valid claim for breach