Boiler fault - Rental

Javens

Boiler stopped working in my rental flat on Thursday. Landlord sent engineer out today, who has stated the boiler needs a new board inside, and as the boiler is very old, he advises a new system be installed.

Landlord has asked him to get a quote for new system.

Engineer will give quote on Monday, but says he is very busy with work so not sure if he will be able to do it.

My question: as a tenant, how long is reasonable for me to wait for this to be completed? I have had to leave the property as it's too cold and no hot water to shower etc. If landlord drags their heels, am I stuck paying for a property I cannot live in?

Naf

Ask the landlord for some temporary heaters - convection or electric radiators ideally; they ought to provide you some. In the meantime I'd buy a £20 convection one anyway just to have something.

Javens

Thanks - I have just ordered one from Argos for £20. I'll pick it up tomorrow, so at least the flat will be heated. I do not want to anger the landlord by asking them to pay for this, even if it's their responsibility. I'd rather keep them happy so hopefully they do not make the process of a new boiler long winded.

Hot water I can live without for a short time, as I can shower at my parents house.

Smodlet

Hi Javens. So sorry to hear what a rotten time you are having. Being cold and without hot water, especially at this time of year is horrible.

Just been looking back at my first ever thread and it seems a month is a reasonable time from obtaining quotes to having boiler installed, at least, in Spring. Might take a little longer while it is still winter as plumbers and gas engineers tend to be at their busiest now.

Has your landlord (LL) made any provision at all to mitigate the situation for you, e.g. provided electric heaters? If he/she has done nothing, I would suggest you consider contacting the Environmental Health dept. of your local council for advice. I understand you don't want to compromise your relationship with your LL but you don't have to act on what you are told. It never hurts to be informed, I find.

If you find you are "officially" unable to live in such conditions (common sense and the law/what Environmental Health think are mutually exclusive in my experience) surely your LL should waive the rent for the period you are without heating/hot water, at the very least? I don't know the legal position. With luck G_M or Mossfarr might be along to help you soon. They are both LLs and extremely helpful.

Hope your situation is resolved soon.

Pixie5740

A reasonable time is the same as an owner-occupier would reasonably expect to the work to be carried out in. You reported the issue on Thursday, the landlord managed to get someone to look at it today, an out of hours day, and is getting quotes for a new boiler. An owner-occupier would be looking at the same kind of timescales, in fact someone might not even be out to look at in until Monday.

To give you an idea of timescales my boiler broke down around this time of year and it took 6 weeks to get a new one fitted. It's a busy time of year for gas safety engineers and their suppliers. Hopefully your new boiler won't take quite as long but it does sound like your landlord is on the case.

Presumably you have a kettle so you do have some access to hot water until the new boiler is installed.

Javens

6 weeks!!

I’m hoping it’s quicker than that but understandable it’s a busy time of the year.

Can’t imagine using a bucket and kettle as a shower for 6 weeks. There’s no bath, just shower cubicle.

Pixie5740

I was lucky that there's a shower at my office. In previous properties when my heating has broken I've used showers at local swimming pools to tide me over. Not ideal but needs must.

knightstyle

If it is an old system does it have a hot water tank? If so there should be an electric immersion heater to give hot water when the boiler is not working. If there isn't one it can be installed quickly while you wait for the boiler to be sorted.

Smodlet

knightstyle wrote: »

If it is an old system does it have a hot water tank? If so there should be an electric immersion heater to give hot water when the boiler is not working. If there isn't one it can be installed quickly while you wait for the boiler to be sorted.

Which is a good option but will cost a fortune compared to heating water by gas and why should the tenant pay for this?

worried_jim

Javens wrote: »

6 weeks!!

I!!!8217;m hoping it!!!8217;s quicker than that but understandable it!!!8217;s a busy time of the year.

Can!!!8217;t imagine using a bucket and kettle as a shower for 6 weeks. There!!!8217;s no bath, just shower cubicle.

Took me six weeks to replace mine when it packed up in May 2016. Most fitters that are any good will be booked up. Had to call a plumber today, hopefully coming on Monday to fix a valve.

It is always a busy time of year! Boilers in the winter, bathrooms/kitchen in the summer.

Javens

I don’t know much about boilers but I don’t think there’s a water tank. It’s a combi boiler and instantly heats water.

It’s a Potterton Combi 80.