Housing Association Repairs Issue (no hot water)

Mickpeasoup

Hi Guys,

First & foremost, I hope I'm posting this in the correct sub-forum. It seemed the most appropriate.

Circa 4 days ago, we reported a faulty boiler to our housing association; we have no hot water whatsoever - not even tepid.

Yesterday, an engineer from the housing association attended, and upon leaving, told us a spare part needs ordering & this could take a while to arrive.

I phoned the housing association today, stating that (according to my research) the boiler should be repaired within 72 hours according to S11 of the Landlord & Tenancy act 1985. Their response was that it could take, and they have upto 15 days to repair it. They also suggested "boiling a kettle" to have a shower/bath which I thought was patronising & rude.

Can somebody please advise on what steps I should now take, as I'm not at all satisfied with the service & response currently received?

Many thanks.

user1977

Mickpeasoup said:

First & foremost, I hope I'm posting this in the correct sub-forum. It seemed the most appropriate.

Not really.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/house-buying-renting-selling

is more appropriate for landlord and tenant matters.

diggingdude

Boiling a kettle is appropriate. They don't have to fix a boiler within 72 hours, other than an emergency call out to stop a leak good luck to anyone getting a boiler fixed in 72 hours, housing association or private. 
Be patient, if they don't fix in the 15 days/appropriately explain why they haven't then follow their complaints process 

Alderbank

Mickpeasoup said:

I phoned the housing association today, stating that (according to my research) the boiler should be repaired within 72 hours according to S11 of the Landlord & Tenancy act 1985.

Do you mean the Landlord & Tenant Act 1985?

S11(c) says quite reasonably 'to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling-house for space heating and heating water.'

But there is no reference to 72 hours in S11.

Mickpeasoup

Thank you for the replies.

Every link I've found on Google suggests the same as the following link - https://mylegalclub.co.uk/how-long-does-a-landlord-have-to-fix-a-boiler/#:~:text=24 hours.,fix this in 24 hours.

I would say ~90 hours without hot water is most definitely unsatisfactory, so I'll contact Citizens Advice tomorrow & decide on how to proceed further with the morons.

Norman_Castle

How do you expect them to fix it without the replacement part?

MobileSaver

Mickpeasoup said:

without hot water is most definitely unsatisfactory,

It may well be unsatisfactory but you yourself quoted what the law was and that stated it mustn't be unreasonable, which is quite different.

As @Norman_Castle pointed out, a longer time is perfectly reasonable if they need to order a part from somewhere. It's a pain and not very nice to have limited access to hot water but it is what it is; they can't just magic up a replacement part by clicking their fingers.

mattyprice4004

Do you just want them to make hot water out of thin air? If they need to order a part, then that's what needs to happen.
To be honest I think you kind of set the tone when the suggestion of boiling a kettle for hot water was brushed off as 'patronising' - it's quite literally what a kettle is for, and boiling a few for a bath is perfectly reasonable. 
The housing association have an obligation to keep their costs down, so they're not going to replace a boiler for a part that can be replaced. 

I think you need to just chill out about it, and accept it'll take some time to repair - it's really not the end of the world. 
I was without heating and hot water for 10 days while I organised my own boiler replacement (I own my house) so I don't see why you can't wait a few days. I have a kid too, it's entirely possible to work around.

MobileSaver

Mickpeasoup said:

we have no hot water whatsoever

mattyprice4004 said:

I think you need to just chill out about it,

I think that's exactly what the OP is unhappy about.

I'll get my coat.

(As should the OP)

Jumblebumble

Mickpeasoup said:

Thank you for the replies.

Every link I've found on Google suggests the same as the following link - https://mylegalclub.co.uk/how-long-does-a-landlord-have-to-fix-a-boiler/#:~:text=24 hours.,fix this in 24 hours.

I would say ~90 hours without hot water is most definitely unsatisfactory, so I'll contact Citizens Advice tomorrow & decide on how to proceed further with the morons.

Why don't you follow the other advice on this link and call the Police to instruct the housing association to magic up the parts they need ?



"However, there are instances in which a landlord would refuse to carry this out, in that case, you would be well within your rights to contact the police as they will visit your home, check the temperature and call your landlord with strict orders to carry out his responsibility as a landlord by mending the heating problem"

born_again

Mickpeasoup said:

Thank you for the replies.

Every link I've found on Google suggests the same as the following link - https://mylegalclub.co.uk/how-long-does-a-landlord-have-to-fix-a-boiler/#:~:text=24 hours.,fix this in 24 hours.

I would say ~90 hours without hot water is most definitely unsatisfactory, so I'll contact Citizens Advice tomorrow & decide on how to proceed further with the morons.

Notice the word "SHOULD" Not HAS TOO.