Cowboy Plumber

Wallop

I write this with great embarrassment... here goes...

My boiler in my rented accommodation packed up on a Saturday, and after I felt fobbed off by the "emergency" repairs number from the agent, told me they would come Monday. I decided to get an emergency plumber and hope to recoup the costs (mistake one I know, I know). I got a local plumber, I cannot fathom what madness drove my decision making on selection. They came, told me they needed a new part and could fit Monday. Monday comes, they fit the part, it starts working. I have paid out of my own pocket for these repairs and call outs, hoping to get most of it back from the LL. (I am aware there are loads of mistakes here, please dont point them out, looking for advice).

However, having paid by bank transfer, the boiler is now working, but over pressurising, The invoice has not been sent to me to reclaim from the LL and the guy is now hanging up on me when I ask for the invoice (he wants £50 which he claims is outstanding, I said I will pay if he show me an invoice, but he hangs up).

So what do I do? I have no invoice to even negotiate with to the LL and the boiler isn't quite right still.

Mitigating circumstances are, I had a massive cold when this was going on and was fuzzy headed and wanted warmth, but I have made many mistakes I know.

Browntoa

Not your boiler

Not your place to arrange repairs.

Landlords now within his rights to charge you for putting this right

Wallop

I am aware of that, which I think I implied.

Do you have any advice as to how to go about trying to recoup my costs from the cowboy plumber?

I have notified the agent of my mistake and the agent and LL will handle the boiler from now on.

Mr.Generous

If its over pressuring on a combi probably the expansion vessel gone, if it hits the threshold to trigger the pressure release valve (PRV) that will need changing too. You have no chance whatsoever of getting your money back, the landlord may end up charging you for more expensive work.

Wallop

To give you a bit of colour, after we first moved in, we realised the house was infested with rats, it was horrible, they were running on the floor and I was having to change the rat traps myself because the LL was so slow to believe there was a big issue and only paid for a guy to come once a week to check the one trap he has set, we caught about 20, and at one point, the traps were snapping all the time yet the LL wouldn't pay for proper treatment or alternative accommodation while it was sorted (after three weeks of hell it eventually was sorted, but it was a real struggle with the LL). The place is, in general, falling down, the roof leaks and that took weeks to get fixed after several bodge jobs. I thought, I'll get it fixed, might pay a bit much (out of my own pocket) but I'll be warm and get back what I can, I don't trust the LL not to drag his feet.

By the way, I actually am a LL myself, of three flats that I manage myself, so this is really really embarrassing...

Bigphil1474

OP, I'd speak to the local council, sounds like the place is unfit. Also, simply catching rats won't solve the problem. You need to find out where they are coming from. If it's outside the property then stop their access, if it's inside, they need to do a proper defestation.
As others have said, if you had a botch job done and it costs the landlord more to put the new problem right than the old problem, you might get billed. Depends on your landlord, but bigger landlord companies have their own contractors who they have vetted so know the standard they work to, rather than some random local guy picked off a list. Bear in minder he would need to be gas safe registered for domestic work - presumably you checked his gas safe credentials - and my heating engineer brother doesn't like being called a plumber.
Generally, I'd advise you don't pay for any repairs yourself unless you have agreement from the landlord, otherwise you end up in this pickle. Would you allow your tenants to do that?

macman

It could just be over pressurising because the cowboy didn't close the filling loop valves fully, or one of them is not seating fully. A very simple thing to fix.

Lochmaben

The best thing you can do is go to your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau. They will advise you for free