Landlord restrictions on heating

lookstraightahead

Op, can you be more specific about the wording on the contract as it makes a difference 

[Deleted User]

It doesn't seem likely that the landlord is being greedy here, he is not permitted to profit from providing utilities. Rather, his overall aim will be to pass on bills to tenants so that they pay for their use. As to whether his contractual terms lack clarity, thereby leaving him no recourse if tenants use more that they are paying for - possibly. Landlords should enable tenants to have a habitable environment and access to heating controls in Autumn, and in fairness tenants in HMO should be prepared to pay for this use.

stuhow20

stuhow20 said:

My son has just moved in to a private HMO for university where the rent includes all utility bills.  The agreement states "The central heating is manually controlled by the Tenant as explained in the document which is issued prior to moving in."

The document explains how to use the Time O Stats around the house.

However the heating is turned off and apparently will only be turned on in the "colder months" which one tenant states was told this would be end of October to end of February.

A number of the tenants have asked for the heating to be turned on in the evenings as it's started to get colder in the evenings and it's a huge house. But they have been told it won't be switched on and to wear more layers. 

They are also not allowed to have heaters in their rooms which is in the agreement. Didn't really see any reason to question this as the agreement states the tenants ave control.

I have seen under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 that a room must be able to be heated to a minimum of 18 degrees when the outside temperature is -1 but can't see anything other than that. 

I have emailed the agent and landlord for clarification but just want to see if anyone had any info that would help.

Just spoke to landlord and seems the agent is giving wrong info to tenants and heating is available all year round and operated by the Time O Stats in each zone. 

la531983

All sorted then.

Only the arguments now to deal with about people wanting the heating on and others not, and everyone paying an equal share of it. Good luck.