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Boiler Not Repairable In Rented Property
Comments
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pramsay13 said:I would definitely get another opinion or two and some other quotes.
I'm not sure about oil boilers but £7000 does sound a bit high.
If it does need replaced what solution does your sister have?
Her paying for it if she has the means and reducing the rent for a number of months seems a sensible option.
I’ll ask my sister to suggest this to the landlord.
I haven’t spoken to my sister this evening but will call her tomorrow. As I mentioned in a previous reply, I don’t think she will want to engage with solicitors etc to formalise loaning the landlord the money. It may well be that if there is a more competitively priced solution she will consider it.0 -
MrsWenger said:
Something else I suggested to my sister was that the landlord might consider getting more than one quote for the boiler replacement. I have no idea whether £7000 is reasonable or not but I have always considered it prudent to get more than one quote in circumstances like these.I'd also suggest getting a quote someone like Octopus for a heat pump. We all need to cut back on fossil fuel usage, and a properly specified & installed heat pump could work out cheaper to run (even more so if on an appropriate tariff).A new oil fired boiler is not particularly cheap (£2000 looks like the budget end, and £3000+ for higher end). Fitting shouldn't be hugely expensive if it is a straight swap. But added all together, a heat pump may well be a lot cheaper. With Octopus, the LL might even get it on credit and so can spread the cost over the next 3-5 years.Edit to add - Do you know what make the boiler is and the fault ?Most oil boilers are pretty simple, and many use a Riello burner (dead easy to swap). The only real problem part is usually the heat exchanger - Makes like HRM and Grant may well have a spare one on the shelf.Her courage will change the world.
Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.1 -
FreeBear said:MrsWenger said:
Something else I suggested to my sister was that the landlord might consider getting more than one quote for the boiler replacement. I have no idea whether £7000 is reasonable or not but I have always considered it prudent to get more than one quote in circumstances like these.I'd also suggest getting a quote someone like Octopus for a heat pump. We all need to cut back on fossil fuel usage, and a properly specified & installed heat pump could work out cheaper to run (even more so if on an appropriate tariff).A new oil fired boiler is not particularly cheap (£2000 looks like the budget end, and £3000+ for higher end). Fitting shouldn't be hugely expensive if it is a straight swap. But added all together, a heat pump may well be a lot cheaper. With Octopus, the LL might even get it on credit and so can spread the cost over the next 3-5 years.Edit to add - Do you know what make the boiler is and the fault ?Most oil boilers are pretty simple, and many use a Riello burner (dead easy to swap). The only real problem part is usually the heat exchanger - Makes like HRM and Grant may well have a spare one on the shelf.
I don’t know whether the landlord would consider other options although I understand the point you make.
My sister said the landlord told her he will not be able to get any kind of loan or credit agreement due to his age.
I will definitely suggest to my sister that other quotes should be obtained.
i don’t know what the fault is or the make and model of the boiler. I can ask my sister though. All I know is that it was leaking water. The first engineer told her he thought it would cost about £2000 for a replacement boiler hence why it was surprising to hear £7000 had been quoted. Of course neither of us know the complexity of what is required but the general train of thought here supports getting other quotes.0 -
MrsWenger said: I don’t know what the fault is or the make and model of the boiler. I can ask my sister though. All I know is that it was leaking water.
Her courage will change the world.
Treasure the moments that you have. Savour them for as long as you can for they will never come back again.1 -
Hi,
Can your sister afford to lend the landlord this money?
How much is the rent - how many months is £7000?
If she can afford it then the solution might be for her to give the landlord the money as an upfront rent payment in a new fixed term tenancy where the rent payments and term are set such that at the end of the fixed term your sister and her landlord are back on an even footing.
A downside of that arrangement is that it ties your sister into a fixed term but it doesn't sound like she has any plans to move on.0 -
There's nothing to stop your sister also getting other quotes for ideally a repair, or otherwise a replacement. If she can get a better deal, then perhaps the LL will be in a position to sort it.Yes, it does seem strange that the LL hasn't accrued enough to cover these sorts of costs. Does he charge her below the going rate for rent? Or is he over-enjoying his elderly lifestyle while he can?At the moment, oil seems to be significantly cheaper to use than electricity - that's obviously a problem for your sis. I have no idea whether the LL's obligation is to maintain the cheaper option when there is an alternative; it's not as tho' your sis' is going to freeze, but it will cost her significantly more. It sounds as tho' the repair/replacement option is currently moot, since he doesn't have the money.So, your sis' may have to be practical if she really wants to stay there, and 'practical' may include some of the suggestions above, say of her loaning at least some of the money to him. She needs to consider the alternative outcomes; ultimately, if she is entitled to have the boiler fixed by him, and she insists he does this - ie threatens legal action - then he may have no option but to sell the property. What will a new LL be like, and how much will they charge in rent, especially if they have a ~£7k bill greeting them?So, sis may wish to try and find cheaper options for repair or replacement, and pass this on. Based on that, she may wish to consider options for her helping to foot the bill, with a properly secure contract that covers her. Perhaps repayment can be recovered by a reduced rent for X years (say £100 less pm for 5 years?), coupled with full repayment should she leave or he sell. Or, if she can work out the additional cost of using leccy over oil, he can deduct that from her monthly rent in perpetuity...0
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Practically speaking if finance is an issue to rectify the matter. Making a move to other accomodation might be the best way forward. As the LL s going to have other property costs to bear in the future. Selling up may well their only option.0
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ThisIsWeird said:Yes, it does seem strange that the LL hasn't accrued enough to cover these sorts of costs. Does he charge her below the going rate for rent? Or is he over-enjoying his elderly lifestyle while he can?0
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Let's hope the 'elderly' LL does not still have a mortgage. In theory, he shouldn't have. In which case, he should largely have been benefiting from the higher interest rates.
If the LL has genuinely struggled to build up a maintenance fund from these many years of rental, it does beg the Q, 'why'?
Is he incompetent? Living beyond his means? Allowing his son to 'invest' on his behalf, which means tying away the cash beyond easy grasp? Or what? All of these would seem to suggest he shouldn't be a LL.
Or, is the rental amount so below 'market' rates that there just hasn't been any profit?
All these possible reasons are looking uncomfortable for the OP's sis'.
So she may have to be bold with considering solutions.
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Hoenir said:ThisIsWeird said:Yes, it does seem strange that the LL hasn't accrued enough to cover these sorts of costs. Does he charge her below the going rate for rent? Or is he over-enjoying his elderly lifestyle while he can?
However that £7000 quote sounds like absolute nonsense and should go straight in the rubbish bin.Maybe also consider a call to trading standards to report the probably criminal tradesman!
For comparison you can get a Vokera Easi-Heat Plus 29C boiler for £1750 - and yes that includes fitting. They’re advertised all over eBay.
Most fitters like to both supply and fit. But if it’s just like for like replacement of a combi boiler it can be done by one person in a day.
Get a range of quotes but no way will it be £7k that’s just a crook trying a scam!Even British Gas wouldn’t charge that much and they’re known for being expensive.0
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