New boiler in rented property

Thompa25

Just looking for a bit of advice as I'm not 100% sure on the legal standpoint. Long story short my mother in law is renting a property which was originally a cottage for the farm workers, not that its relevant haha. The rent is cheap and the house and garden is nice, just in a bit of a poor state of repair.

The problem is it's costing her so much to heat the house that she thinks she is going to have to move somewhere else. She loves the house and the location and the garden, which she has done a lot of work to.

The house has single glazing all round and is stone built so no cavity insulation. The property has central heating but it's fed from a back boiler over the fire, so she spends a fortune on wood and coal as the house is always freezing. If she uses electric heaters the electric bill is astronomical as you can imagine. She has been there about 5 years and the boiler has never been inspected or serviced and I'm concerned that she can smell fumes in her bedroom above sometimes and there is evidence of smoke egress on one of the walls around the chimney. I have read something about being able to request the landlord to carry out any items highlighted on an epc and he has to carry them out (I might have made that up). There is no mains gas but a couple of the same properties, on the same row, with the same landlord, have oil fired boilers.

She is worried that if she complains then they will put the rent up, as it is cheap, but my concern is the mold in the bathroom and the smell of fumes in the bedroom. My first action is to install a CO monitor in the bedroom and just looking for some advice on what the options are, and where she stands legally.

Thanks for any help

G_M

You should certainly install a CO alarm (if not 2) asap. They only cost £10-£15.


The rent is cheap to reflect the condition of the property. If the property was in top class condition and built to current Building Regs standards, doubtless the rent would be more. That's the sad reality of the market letting economy.

Was she given an EPC when she moved in? And when was that? Since 2015 LLs have had to provide an EPC for new tenancies. If she did receive this, then she would have had an inkling of the problems.

I don't believe there is a legal requirement for a back boiler to be inspected (as is the case with gas), but that does not mean she cannot request the LL get an appropriate engineer to do so. I think a decent LL would do so after 5 years......

Similarly she could request replacement with oil, and/or double glazing. Both will enhance the value of the LL's property so he migh agree, though of course there's a significant expense to this so he may not. And yes, if he does improve the property he may review the rent.



But the reduced heating bills might balance out any increase in rent, plus of course she'd be more comfortable.


There is no simple right answer here, and she has limited 'rights', but a discussion with the landlord over tea and cake might bear fruit (pun intended!).

D_M_E

See guidance here

Sounds as though the EPC is F or lower and if it is landlord has to make improvements.

Also consider written complaints about fumes but first have you considered getting a co/smoke alarm - about £4 upwards - and installing that?

G_M

D_M_E wrote: »

See guidance here

Sounds as though the EPC is F or lower and if it is landlord has to make improvements.

Also consider written complaints about fumes but first have you considered getting a co/smoke alarm - about £4 upwards - and installing that?

though the LL has till 2020 before the mandatory minimum 'E' rating comes into force - plus there are exceptions....

Thompa25

Thanks for all the replies, I don't believe she got an epc, but was thinkng if it was the case he had to do the changes highlighted then we could have got one done. I've installed the Co monitor upstairs, there was already a couple downstairs, just wanted to be sure in the bedroom. I'm m at work at the moment so not really had a good chance to read all the comments properly but will and reply properly once I have.

Cakeguts

Thompa25 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, I don't believe she got an epc, but was thinkng if it was the case he had to do the changes highlighted then we could have got one done. I've installed the Co monitor upstairs, there was already a couple downstairs, just wanted to be sure in the bedroom. I'm m at work at the moment so not really had a good chance to read all the comments properly but will and reply properly once I have.

Is the property a listed building?

Lokolo

You can view EPCs here https://www.epcregister.com/reportSearchAddressByPostcode.html

G_M

Thompa25 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, I don't believe she got an epc, but was thinkng if it was the case he had to do the changes highlighted then we could have got one done. .

Every single EPC has 'recomendations' for improving. Even a 'B' will suggest that solar panels will make it into an 'A'.


No, there's no requirement to undertake the work!

[Deleted User]

I deliberately run my central heating at a minimum. I have lots of fleece blankets/coats/fleece dressing gown and keep warm that way. As cold effects my arthritis, I also use socks and gloves. Buying a heated throw might help. Not expensive to run.

markin

Check the cost of oil next door and make sure its actually affordable,and when the price go's back up.


I would think cost will be equal or more than wood, without doing the windows and loft, but its so much easier and less messy