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Moving out early - faulty boiler

tillaay
tillaay Posts: 3 Newbie
edited 4 July 2018 at 4:07PM in House buying, renting & selling
Hey all, just looking for some advice regarding my rights as a tenant and the possibility of moving out before my contract ends.

My partner and I moved into a rented flat last year and it has been racking up massive electricity bills since then, originally we were paying them as we believed the bills were due to us using a lot of electricity. We had a repair man come round to fix the immersion heater in January as it began leaking everywhere. He said that the immersion heater was so old that you couldn't even buy spare parts for it anymore and the manufacturer now doesn't exist. He also said that this us probably why we have been receiving huge electricity bills which turned out to be the case.

Since then we have had no hot water from the taps (we have an electric shower which heats the water separately) We have contacted the estate agent many times since then and they have sent 3 contractors out which all confirmed that the immersion heater needed to be re-fitted. The most recent contractor also said that it was actually a health risk as the pressure of the heater would become unsafe if left on. We contacted the collections branch of the estate agent who advised us to pay half the rent until the problem is fixed. However now the local estate agent are telling us that we need to pay the full rent plus all electricity bills.

We are unsure what to do in this situation and all we want to do is move out now. What are our rights in regards to the landlord breaching the tenancy agreement and moving out early?

Thank you
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Comments

  • Alter_ego
    Alter_ego Posts: 3,842 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    You have an electric boiler? (they do exist but are you sure)
    I am not a cat (But my friend is)
  • tillaay
    tillaay Posts: 3 Newbie
    It's an electric immersion heater (Churchill Imstor)
  • Pixie5740
    Pixie5740 Posts: 14,515 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post Photogenic First Anniversary
    tillaay wrote: »
    Hey all, just looking for some advice regarding my rights as a tenant and the possibility of moving out before my contract ends.

    My partner and I moved into a rented flat last year and it has been racking up massive electricity bills since then, originally we were paying them as we believed the bills were due to us using a lot of electricity. We had a repair man come round to fix the boiler in January as it began leaking everywhere. He said that the boiler was so old that you couldn't even buy spare parts for it anymore and the manufacturer now doesn't exist. He also said that this us probably why we have been receiving huge electricity bills which turned out to be the case.

    Since then we have had no hot water from the taps (we have an electric shower which heats the water separately) We have contacted the estate agent many times since then and they have sent 3 contractors out which all confirmed that the boiler needed to be re-fitted. The most recent contractor also said that if the boiler was actually a health risk as the pressure of the boiler would become unsafe if left on. We contacted the collections branch of the estate agent who advised us to pay half the rent until the problem is fixed. However now the local estate agent are telling us that we need to pay the full rent plus all electricity bills.

    We are unsure what to do in this situation and all we want to do is move out now. What are our rights in regards to the landlord breaching the tenancy agreement and moving out early?

    Thank you

    A faulty boiler does not give you the legal right to unilaterally end your tenancy early. Legally you need to pay the full rent amount as per your tenancy agreement and you need to pay your electricity bill. Withholding rent means your landlord could evict you using the Section 8 route.

    There is a process to follow if your landlord won't carry out repairs. Step 1 is to write to the address for the serving of notices given in your tenancy agreement about the repair.

    See Shelter's guide: What to do if your landlord won't do repairs.
  • hazyjo
    hazyjo Posts: 15,470 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post Photogenic
    tillaay wrote: »
    The most recent contractor also said that if the boiler was actually a health risk as the pressure of the boiler would become unsafe if left on.
    If a gas safe engineer thought it was unsafe, they would condemn it and you'd not be allowed to use it. If 'at risk', he should have still asked to disconnect it. You'd prob have actually been in a better position had he done that cos the LL would prob have been forced to replace it.
    2023 wins: *must start comping again!*
  • Alter_ego
    Alter_ego Posts: 3,842 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    hazyjo wrote: »
    If a gas safe engineer thought it was unsafe, they would condemn it and you'd not be allowed to use it. If 'at risk', he should have still asked to disconnect it. You'd prob have actually been in a better position had he done that cos the LL would prob have been forced to replace it.

    Yes but have you seen post 3 ?
    I am not a cat (But my friend is)
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    tillaay wrote: »
    It's an electric immersion heater
    Ok, it would be less confusing for everyone else if you called it that. "Boiler" usually suggests gas.
  • parkrunner
    parkrunner Posts: 2,610 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post
    How big have the electricity bills been?
    It's nothing , not nothink.
  • Alter_ego
    Alter_ego Posts: 3,842 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    parkrunner wrote: »
    How big have the electricity bills been?

    Doesn't really matter, the OP must have used it if readings are all correct. Electricity cannot leak away.
    I am not a cat (But my friend is)
  • tillaay
    tillaay Posts: 3 Newbie
    around £187 a month for a small 1 bedroom flat - & really sorry i should've mentioned it was an immersion heater
  • hazyjo
    hazyjo Posts: 15,470 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post Photogenic
    Alter_ego wrote: »
    Yes but have you seen post 3 ?
    Where's that :facepalm: when you need it lol.


    Ta :)
    2023 wins: *must start comping again!*
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