Letting Agent emails me day after signing lease for rental property to say fireplace doesnt work

Lens9921

We haven't actually moved in yet but a day after our tenancy started and we signed everything we got a short email saying "Just letting you know the landlord called me today to let you know the fireplace is condemned you cant use it"

Is this kind of thing acceptable? Im quite annoyed, seeing as we wernt told we'd have no fireplace when viewing or signing for the property.

What would you do?

elsien

Depends if the fireplace is the only form of heating or not.  What sort of fire is it, open fire, wood burner,  gas fire and what are they planning to do about it?

 I am presuming it’s an extra on top of the central heating which may or may not be the case.

Lens9921

elsien said:

Depends if the fireplace is the only form of heating or not.  What sort of fire is it, open fire, wood burner,  gas fire and what are they planning to do about it?

 I am presuming it’s an extra on top of the central heating which may or may not be the case.

There is a raditor in there. I think the fire is electric or gas - not sure as told its unsafe to turn on, didnt go near it.

Lens9921

They arnt planning to do anything about it, ive just been told thats how it is.

MikeJXE

Lens9921 said:

elsien said:

Depends if the fireplace is the only form of heating or not.  What sort of fire is it, open fire, wood burner,  gas fire and what are they planning to do about it?

 I am presuming it’s an extra on top of the central heating which may or may not be the case.

There is a raditor in there. I think the fire is electric or gas - not sure as told its unsafe to turn on, didnt go near it.

Thank your lucky stars then neither are efficient so it's best to leave them off

diystarter7

Hi OP


There are minimum heating requirements and you should ask, and test if these will be met

If heating requirements are met, I'd ask for a discount based on lackig an option to heat small area, etc. Your choice.

From what you said, I'm guess its a gas fire, there do as advised.

Good luck

Thnaks

theartfullodger

Lens9921 said:

They arnt planning to do anything about it, ive just been told thats how it is.

Write/email Landlord (yes Landlord), copy agent, keep copy noting all issues with property, require adequate heating is provided.

Excellent draft letter on Shelter website & outline of what to do if not sorted.  If you don't have address for Landlord spend £3 with gov.uk land registry for owner's name and address.
.
Let us know how you get on.


Also look up HHSRS landlord guidance which lists long list of requirements including heating for what you are entitled to.

Good luck. Artful: Landlord since 2000

propertyrental

If you don't know what kind of fire it is it can't have been very high on your list of priorities.
If there's a radiator in there that suggests (gas?) central heating.
If it's condemned, it's probably a gas fire.

You could treat it as a a fault and request the LL repair or replace it, He might agree or you might have a fight on your hands. Or you could ask for a rent reduction - only nominal as it seems to be very much a secondary heat sauce... brrrrr... chilli!

silvercar

propertyrental said:

…..secondary heat sauce... brrrrr... chilli!

Or even ……secondary heat source…brrrr…chilly!

reading OP, it’s a fireplace, it may not having a heating device of any sort. It could be a fireplace connected to a capped chimney, or one without a flue.

Jonboy_1984

We bought a property that had previously been on the rental market with one of the national agency’s, and had been left their property manual with all the manuals for heating, appliances etc etc.

It also had their standard terms and within that was a statement that all fireplaces should be considered decorative, not assumed to have been swept before occupancy, and were not to be used unless the landlord had given specific consent (not that our property had one..).

user1977

Lens9921 said:

They arnt planning to do anything about it, ive just been told thats how it is.

So you were told at the viewing that it didn't work, and nobody told you it was going to be fixed?