Radiators not working in new house

TAT_TAT

HI,

I bought a new build apartment and completed the purchase in Mid Nov.
I reported all the radiators were not working on the completion date and have been waiting for the developer to fix them.
I chased up 2 weeks ago and gave them a call almost every single day last week to urge them to fix the radiators but still none of the radiators had been fixed.
The staff just kept saying they would have a look at it but nothing happened.
What could I do? I think I have given enough and reasonable time for the developer to fix the radiators which are crucial in winter.

lisyloo

Send them a "letter before action" saying if they don't fix it then you'll take matters into your own hands and send them the bill.


This worked a treat for us.
They are busy so it's a case of he who shouts loudest.


If they are not on site I would recommend spending 75p to send it recorded delivery.
Not legal required but rules out "it's lost in the post".

TAT_TAT

I did that.
I sent them an email saying if they couldn't provide me with an exact date when the radiators can be fixed, I would get a private technician and send them the bill. Also, I did a follow up call just to give them one more chance but they said the same thing - "yea, we will look in to this".
I also wrote a complaint letter detailing everything happened.
But they don't even bother getting back.

bigisi

So get someone out to fix it then send them the bill and if they don't pay, a letter before action. If they still don't take them to court.

lisyloo

Do you have any legal advice on your home insurance by any chance?
Would it be worth giving them a ring?

lincroft1710

It is unusual for none of the radiators to be working.

Does the boiler work? If so, has the system actually been filled with water? You can check this by bleeding each radiator.

Is the room thermostat working?

davidmcn

As above, have you done any investigation into what the problem actually is? Often these things are trivial to sort out by yourself.

AdrianC

When you say "the radiators don't work" - I presume the heating is using the same boiler as the hot water? So you do have hot water?


It's not just a case of controller muppetry, is it?
Or the rads needing bleeding (and then the heating re-pressurising)?

You have checked the very basics, like the pump is working and there's adequate pressure?

TAT_TAT

Hot water is fine.
The staff briefly mentioned something about valves but they didn't follow it up further.

Wanderingpomm

TAT_TAT wrote: »

I did that.
I sent them an email saying if they couldn't provide me with an exact date when the radiators can be fixed, I would get a private technician and send them the bill. Also, I did a follow up call just to give them one more chance but they said the same thing - "yea, we will look in to this".
I also wrote a complaint letter detailing everything happened.
But they don't even bother getting back.

A letter and email are not the same thing. Send a letter before action. Through the post, signed for so they cannot deny they got it

lincroft1710

Presumably you have TRVs (thermostatic room valves) on each rad. What is the current setting? If it is low, turn one high and see if the rad heats up. Also the boiler setting for the CH could be too low.