Can't afford to fix boiler

YorkieDave

I rent out rooms in a house. It's the only house I own. I live in a rented house elsewhere. The two people renting the rooms haven't paid rent for months. I haven't been able to evict them due to coranavirus restrictions. Now the boiler has broken in the house they rent from me. It's not economical to fix at all. Two plumbers have looked. I don't have the money to replace it. The non-paying tenants are threatening court if I don't fix or replace it. What do I do? Any advice would be much appreciated!

SpiderLegs

Short term. Get them some highly inefficient electric heaters.
Longer term. Get out of the property letting business.

YorkieDave

SpiderLegs said:

Short term. Get them some highly inefficient electric heaters.
Longer term. Get out of the property letting business.

Thanks for the quick reply. That won't help me unfortunately as they rent rooms in the house with bills included. Also, that won't give them any hot water for bath or shower. I'm worried about what will happen if they report me to the council or try to take me to court. I plan to get out of property renting as soon as I can!  

Slinky

I wonder how long it would actually take to get to court?  I can't imagine it would be quick.  All the time it takes they are getting colder and smellier. 

I'd be tempted to go down the 'I'm getting it sorted, waiting on a plumber, waiting on a boiler to be delivered, waiting for Brexit, waiting for a vaccine, waiting, waiting, waiting, terribly sorry and all that about you having to wait, I'm trying to get it sorted, etc etc.'  Maybe, they will just get fed up and sling their hook. Can't imagine that you'll get the place back anything other than trashed however this ends.

numbercruncher8

Surely gotta be a wind-up?
Some options, default on your current rent and use that money to pay for a new boiler.
Renegotiate with your lender and try to free up some capital.
Unsecured loans are expensive but possible to get.
I expect you may already be aware of these routes.

[Deleted User]

Perhaps wait until the council speaks to you, and explain the situation to them. They may come up with a solution - sometimes to prevent an eviction they will make a payment when there are arrears.  If they are unemployed, get the HLA paid to you directly (this should have been done a long time ago). Save Save Save.  Because you can delay it, but eventually the boiler will have to be replaced if they are still there.  Or offer them a lump sum to move out and sell the property.

ProDave

Tell them when they have paid their rent arrears you will get a new boiler.

It's ironic they don't want to pay but still expect a full service.

YorkieDave

numbercruncher8 said:

Surely gotta be a wind-up?
Some options, default on your current rent and use that money to pay for a new boiler.
Renegotiate with your lender and try to free up some capital.
Unsecured loans are expensive but possible to get.
I expect you may already be aware of these routes.

I wish it was a wind up. I am on a DMP so borrowing money isn’t an option.  

Angela_D_3

So whats the worst ggey can do,  take you yo court at which point you explain yo the judge they haven't paid their rent.  They can't throw stones whilst living in a glass house.  Do nothing,  they are lucky you are much nicer than me id have changed the locks and put their stuff on the street.  

DayDreamerandGeneralWaster

ProDave said:

Tell them when they have paid their rent arrears you will get a new boiler.

It's ironic they don't want to pay but still expect a full service.

This. Perhaps they cannot pay if they have been made redundant. Perhaps they have taken full advantage of knowing if they stop paying their rent they can't be evicted at the moment. 

Well if they are taking advantage, l expect they will be moving on soon enough. 

grumiofoundation

Angela_D_3 said:

So whats the worst ggey can do,  take you yo court at which point you explain yo the judge they haven't paid their rent.  They can't throw stones whilst living in a glass house.  Do nothing,  they are lucky you are much nicer than me id have changed the locks and put their stuff on the street.  

My nicer you mean law-abiding? 

If the OP does what you would do then they would face a criminal investigation for illegal eviction, if found guilty would face a fine, even potential jail time and to add insult to criminal conviction might end up paying compensation to their non-rent paying tenants.

Please don’t become a landlord.