Heating turned off need help

eskimo26

Hi all just started a contract today with an estate agency/management agency with inclusive bills.

I've just walked in today and spoken to my flatmates to be told that they have been informed that the central heating won't be turned on until mid-october.

I've spoken to the letting agent and they have said that they had an agreement with the LL not to turn the central heating off until Mid-October.

I've explained that this is completely unacceptable and most likely illegal. It is also not in the contract I signed. (I specifically asked if their was a fair usage policy which imo is the correct way to do things but their wasn't).

So as it is the letting agent is speaking to the LL but I would like to leave and am trying to arrange alternative accommodation.

I just need to know

1. Is what they are doing illegal
2. Is it grounds for me to leave

Contract started today but I haven't moved my things in as this was arranged for the 14th when my current contract ends.

Soot2006

There are minimum heating standards in rented properties in the UK. I can't speak of the details with confidence, but Google provides quite a lot of information.



Whether or not the standards are breached and how you would prove this is more complex. It's not down to subjective "feeling cold" but rather you'd need to measure that the temperature in your room/living area was lower than the legal requirement. Then you have the clout to act against the landlord if s/he doesn't see sense the turn the heating on.



Our of interest, how is the central heating turned on/off?

Carrot007

Great. get an electric heater to use the inclusive at 3 times the cost.


(Watch out for a fair use policy, which no sane person would have signed up for).

eskimo26

Soot2006 wrote: »

There are minimum heating standards in rented properties in the UK. I can't speak of the details with confidence, but Google provides quite a lot of information.



Whether or not the standards are breached and how you would prove this is more complex. It's not down to subjective "feeling cold" but rather you'd need to measure that the temperature in your room/living area was lower than the legal requirement. Then you have the clout to act against the landlord if s/he doesn't see sense the turn the heating on.



Our of interest, how is the central heating turned on/off?

Thanks soot- I have no idea but i'd imagine it's perfectly legal to turn it back on I just don't want to play that game.

It's my impression that once a house is rented the LL has limited powers regarding access and what they can do with the property. (perhaps related to the rather ambiguous term that renters are entitled to "quiet enjoyment of their home".)

My issue is not that I will necessary use the heating but I have a condition that affects my muscles and would like the option.

I pointed out that i'd had experience with this on a previous rental and the moment it gets cold people will start using electric heaters which will cost the LL a lot more. Estate agent said that was for the LL to deal with if it happens.

My concern is I no longer trust them and the property is metered which they also didn't tell us. So it requires them to back and forth from their offices when it gets low. Given how clueless they are I don't see this working out well.

I don't want the stress of dealing with it i'm going into the final year of my degree with a chronic condition which is going to be stressful enough. :rotfl:

mrschaucer

Carrot007 wrote: »

Great. get an electric heater to use the inclusive at 3 times the cost.


(Watch out for a fair use policy, which no sane person would have signed up for).

Quite.
Argos have one at £7.99 https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8493547

eskimo26

Carrot007 wrote: »

Great. get an electric heater to use the inclusive at 3 times the cost.


(Watch out for a fair use policy, which no sane person would have signed up for).

Thanks Carrot there's no fair usage policy but the properties gas and electric is metered (we were not told). I don't trust them to top up regularly. Only because of a break down in trust.

I also pointed this exact thing out to the estate agent regarding electric heaters. I know full well that's what will happen what worries me is that as estate agents they don't or don't care.

Soot2006

Electric heater it is, then!



Takes away the stress of dealing with the landlord or agency. And gives you a nice warm glow when you need it. Then in October the heat will come on.



Good luck. It's annoying when things don't go as one imagined them to! And good luck with the final year of the degree. That's stressful enough - I'm an academic, so I pick up pieces of students all the time

eskimo26

Soot2006 wrote: »

Electric heater it is, then!



Takes away the stress of dealing with the landlord or agency. And gives you a nice warm glow when you need it. Then in October the heat will come on.

Good luck. It's annoying when things don't go as one imagined them to! And good luck with the final year of the degree. That's stressful enough - I'm an academic, so I pick up pieces of students all the time

Haha thanks for your best wishes Soot. My course is occupational therapy and repeat years are restricted because it's undersigned by the governing body so this is my final chance on a provisional year basis.

I'm still hopeful the estate agent will drop the contract- I think I could cause a lot of trouble for them.

Unfortunately that leaves me at the mercy of my uni accommodation team to find me a place and they are abysmal. I have the help of the disability team and will find out tmrw if they can offer me the room I need.

Fire_Fox

Your contract is with the landlord so communicate with them - letter or e-mail to form a paper trail - and copy to the letting agent. Have the University disability team help you with clarity and accuracy of the wording.

Recommended minimum ambient temperature for 'healthy' living areas (eg. reduce risk of respiratory infections) is 18C. If your bedroom doubles as your study this is arguably a living area. Many properties will not fall below this temperature in mid-September, but most will by mid-October. Overly warm homes are no healthier than overly cold ones.

Direct heat, such as that from electric underblanket/ electric overblanket, can be more effective than space heaters when you are sitting or lying, are safer to use and much cheaper to run (looking to your future).

Using a freestanding space heater increases the likelihood of running out of electricity when the letting agency is closed. I would worry about safety, especially fire risk, if your housemates follow suit and each buy an electric space heater.

IMO it makes more sense to try to resolve this issue with the landlord now. It may be the landlord is happy to 'accommodate' your needs once they know the University disability team is involved.

HTH!

G_M

Can we have some background details?


* is this England?
* do you have an AST?
* do you have your own, sole, tenancy agreement, or is it a joint one with the other occupants.
* what exactly does the tenancy agreement say with regard to utilities? Heating? Anything similar?
* What kind of heating is it and how is the heating controlled?
* if utilities are metered, how does that work? You put money in a slot? Buy credit? The landlord buys credit? what? (most properties have meters)
* Is this an HMO? Is it registerd? Should it be? (see council website)

eskimo26

Hi all I've now been offered an adapted room on the universities campus so i'd like to pull out of this contract.

Here are the details:

London based

Signed two copies of the contract on Saturday 7th to begin on Monday 9th.

Standard 12 month contract with 6 month break clause.

I was not given my copy of the contract because I had not yet forwarded the deposit+first months rent.

Forwarded the money on Monday 9th and was given keys by a flatmate who was holding onto them but was told they'll bring my copy of the contract when they next come to the property.

Contract as I remember it says all bills will be included and specifies broadband, gas, electric and water with no fair usage policy.

No mention of heating being turned off whatsoever.

It is a shared house with other students but I have my own individual contract.

Central heating and I overheard the property manager saying put in £xx in each of the gas and electric so we don't have to come back so often which I took to mean the gas and electric are metered.

Property Manager said the LL is in some dispute with the council regarding council tax and therefore I can't claim rent benefits (UC) but can claim disability i.e. PIP- wasn't sure what to make of that.

I read about HMO's and it is a 5 bed with 3 tenants on one contract, me on another and a fifth room still to be rented. There is also a studio flat in the back garden rented to a 6th individual. So I believe it is classed as a large HMO and they should have a license.