Boiler question - Losing deposit

Hopetobedebtfree

Hi, I'm in desperate need of some advice. My partner and I have just bought our first home- moved from a rental property. We are waiting for our 2k deposit back from our previous landlord. He has told us that he needs to deduct 1k if a boiler repair. The boiler is not tested in the check out report however he claims we switched it off at the mains before leaving. We absolutely did not however pictures from the check out report show that there was no light at the mains indicating it was indeed switched off. This leaves it being either our end of tenancy cleaners or the check our agent (unsurprisingly both are denying this). The landlord claims that a heating engineer has confirmed that the switching off at the mains caused the pump to seize! This doesn't seem right to me. We simply can't afford to lose this money! Any plumbers (or anyone) got any advice on this? The deposit is protected and in terms of timescales etc the landlord has been above board- that is, he informed us within the requisite period. I feel aggrieved that the act of switching off a boiler at the mains would cause this to happen! Surely that's not right?

Money_maker

I would think he'd need a written quote to the value of 1K if he wants to try to deduct it.


Hopefully someone will be along shortly with some more technical information.

MisterP123

What is the 1k for exactly? Sounds like a nice round number.... and an expensive pump.

Was the boiler getting on a bit? Do you think landlord may see an opportunity for a shiny new boiler to make his property look a bit more appetising to prospective tenants?

Cynical.....? Moi?

They're a right pain them pumps. New one every power cut.

Hopetobedebtfree

It's was just under 1k... I was doing the rounding up.. we haven't asked for receipts etc as yet but of course we will. i would imagine it would be very difficult to prove that turning the boiler off at the mains cause this damage. Hopefully someone can confirm. Gosh I just feel sick at the thought of losing this money when we did nothing wrong!

Hopetobedebtfree

We will ask for info on last service of the boiler and age etc.

lewisa

1k for a boiler repair? Wow.

This sounds like total crap to me. Any gas appliance should be able to handle losing the gas or elec feed and not break.

When was the last time your LL had it inspected?

slightlychilled

Anyone leaving a property for any length of time, even a 7 day holiday will switch a boiler off. It would be irresponsible not to. Ofcourse you can switch a boiler off. Any boiler must be insured by the landlord in his landlord / buildings insurance, it's not the responsibility of a tenant..

Hopetobedebtfree

Thanks all for replies so far. Lewisa I don't know that yet but of course will be requesting that info. I've resisted contacting the ll as I am still somewhat in shock and don't want to say or do anything until I've got it clear in my head. Surely if that switch had the potential to cause damage to the tube of almost a thousand pounds we should have been warned not to touch it?

MisterP123

Personally, I'd try and calm down about this tonight. You've had reassurance from here that flicking a switch hasn't caused 1k worth of damage..... But if it had, you'd have known about it at the time.

1k for a repair is obscene. Hence me being cynical earlier. Landlord wants a new boiler and don't want to pay himself.

Relax for the night.

Hopetobedebtfree

Slightly chilled the land lords argument is that the isolator switch was used to turn it off which allegedly caused the issue. But I agree with you. If the isolator switch being used can potentially cause this much damage then why is it in plain sight, easily accessible and nobody gave any warning not to touch it. The main frustration here is that we actually DIDNT touch it but that argument is pie in the sky as the others who had access are denying it. Anyway, I think our best hope is to argue against the suggestion that using the isolator switch to turn off the boiler will directly cause this much damage. Any help with articulating that would be much appreciated

slightlychilled

The boiler is not removeable, it forms part and parcel of buildings insurance which a tenant is not responsible for.