Landlord put lockbox on heating

busylizzy93

Ath_Wat said:

Locking a thermostat does not stop them having a perfectly adequately heated dwelling if they still have the ability to turn the heating on and off.  The OP has not specified exactly what they can or can not do, or whether it is indeed just a thermostat that is locked.

As the thermostat should not be the controller for the heating system (although many people seem to erroneously think it is and try and use it as one), I don't know how people can be so convinced the landlord is in the wrong without further clarification.

I think I have got the name wrong but it is the controls to actually turn the heating on and off that he has locked away. The thermostat upstairs isn't locked but the actual controls to turn it on or adjust the timer is not longer accessible 

busylizzy93

Norman_Castle said:

busylizzy93 said:

Hiya

We live in a shared house and the landlord has come round today to fix a couple broken bits and while he's here he has put a locked box over the thermostat so we are unable to turn the heating or hot water on when needed. Despite upping the rent by £50 a month! Is this legal?! Is there anything we can do or say? 
Thanks in advance! 

The thermostat sets the temperature for the heating. Have you tried the heating or hot water?

Think I may have named it wrong! The thermostat upstairs is available but the controls to turn the heating on and off it the one which has been locked away 

busylizzy93

ProDave said:

What do you mean by a "lock box"?

It is possible to get thermostats where the setting cannot be adjusted, or a limit can be put on the maximum setting.  We fitted one once after (when running a B&B) finding the room thermostat set to 30 and the windows wide open because it was too hot.

He's literally drilled a clear box to the wall which covers the heating controls which can only be opened with a key. They have said they will set a timer when they feel it is reasonable and have told us to wear a jumper instead. Which we obviously already know to do 

busylizzy93

theartfullodger said:

busylizzy93 said:

Hiya

We live in a shared house and the landlord has come round today to fix a couple broken bits and while he's here he has put a locked box over the thermostat so we are unable to turn the heating or hot water on when needed. Despite upping the rent by £50 a month! Is this legal?! Is there anything we can do or say? 
Thanks in advance! 

No.  Point out to him on P24 of HHSRS guidance to landlords...

""" What about flats and HMOs?

Centrally controlled space heating systems should operate in a way that makes sure

occupants are not exposed to cold indoor temperatures. Occupants should be

allowed to control temperature within their dwelling """

- and mention you will be approaching council for  a HHSRS survey

Read the document and work out what else he's doing wrong.

But a cheating toad like this is going to be a pain of a greedy landlord to deal with.  Suggest you (all) move out....

Thank you! This is very helpful! Will deffo have a read through of that and have it ready to show him next time I speak to him! 

lookstraightahead

How utterly disgusting. You are his client / customer, he's not entitled to limit your warmth! 

[Deleted User]

There is no doubt that he should not be locking away the on/off controls.

He also cannot make a profit off of your energy use.

However, this scenario does speak to the problem facing landlords regarding arrangements with bills included in HMOs as energy costs skyrocket.

The risk that someone will leave the windows open and run the heating all day makes such well intended arrangements for to include bills as basically unviable.

It is now time to place tenants in control on their heating choices and the costs. Tenants will then have to deal with the overuse of their housemates but thats how it is.

Ath_Wat

lookstraightahead said:

How utterly disgusting. You are his client / customer, he's not entitled to limit your warmth! 

Well, no, he's the landlord and they are the tenant.  Businesses are perfectly entitled to limit their customers or clients' warmth; landlords and tenants are governed by an entirely different set of laws.

housebuyer143

They used to do this in my uni halls, heating only came on at certain times and it was horrible. 

Not everyone feels the heat the same and wake and sleep at the same time. Some people have medical problems that make them cold. When you are cold, you should be able to heat your home and have hot water.

I suggest you buy an electric heater to ensure you are warm. Can't stop you using electric. It's significantly more than gas too so they will likely regret it. 

unforeseen

When I was in the RAF, heating for the station would be switched off on April 1st and not switched back on again until October 1st.
The only exception was the Medical Centre. 

Ath_Wat

housebuyer143 said:

They used to do this in my uni halls, heating only came on at certain times and it was horrible. 

Not everyone feels the heat the same and wake and sleep at the same time. Some people have medical problems that make them cold. When you are cold, you should be able to heat your home and have hot water.

I suggest you buy an electric heater to ensure you are warm. Can't stop you using electric. It's significantly more than gas too so they will likely regret it. 

In a shared house, though, is it one person's right to have the heating on whenever they like if everyone else has to pay for it, and might end up finding it uncomfortably hot?

It's possible a landlord could have had complaints from other residents and be responding to them. I am not sure of the legalities but I would imagine in this situation that it is possible to have a house that would be considered adequately heated under these circumstances.  If your university halls could do it I would have thought a private landlord can, unless university halls are under different legislation.