How long is acceptable to be left without heating?

[lostandforgotten]

Living in a housing association property and the heating has broken down this morning. I am more annoyed as it was already leaking brown fluid all over my worktops when the engineer came out to look at it and the part was supposed to have been ordered and it turns out it hasn't although I'm not sure if this part is the reason it's broken down. The lady on the phone says it will be tomorrow when someone can come out and couldn't give me a time, they've got till 4 o'clock apparently. They are also refusing to provide any temporary heaters and told me to put some more blankets on . I also have no hot water either expect the shower. It's snowing a blizzard out there aibu that this isn't acceptable and they need to do something today?

Oh and another lady I spoke to asked if there was anybody I could go and stay with I'm the middle of a bloody pandemic.

As its an emergency you would be able to go to someone else. Just sort yourself a heater for one room - beg steal or borrow etc) and use that - you have hot shower so be patient. I would say even in this weather several days - its just how long it takes

It obviously isn't ideal, but I think 24 hours is probably an OK time to be asked to wait. Hot water bottles can help to keep you warm, and loads of layers.

After tomorrow morning it will be over 24 hours though. I think they should at least me providing temporary heaters. Apart from the fact that there is hardly anywhere to buy them from right now I'm not paying for them out of my own money, I can't afford it.

If you are disabled or have a child under 5 in the house then they should aim to prioritise you and treat you as an emergency, you which usually means attending within 12 hours. Otherwise, 24 hours is reasonable.

Unfortunately, unless you are elderly or disabled, or have a baby under 2 in the house, they are able to leave you without heat for 72 hours.

While it would be lovely to provide temporary heaters, I don't know many landlords or housing providers who would provide that. I doubt they would have temporary heaters to lend out unless that's a specific part of the contract.

Sorry, I should say the 72 hours is only if they have attended and are awaiting receipt of parts.

i was 2 days in november when my boiler broke and i was waiting on someone coming out

We once had no heating or hot water for a week including Christmas day, with two small children. No way to speed up getting a new boiler though, we survived.

The local council have temporary heaters to give out when somebody something breaks down when somebody is living in one of their housing stock. The two people I know living in council owned accommodation have been given heaters within an hour when their heating broke down.

I had this before in December the year before last, and whilst waiting for the plumber to arrive, my landlord sent someone over with four electric heaters.

Mine is a private landlord though, so perhaps that's different

We got some money back once from the electricy company when our heating was off for a weekend.

The irony was we had friends staying from Scotland and it would have been warmer there We were all under blankets, it was bloody freezing!

I think 24hrs is reasonable for them to order and collect the part, although it's not great that they didn't do this when they said they would. They may have already given out all their temporary heaters hence not being able to provide you with one. To keep you warm for today, do you have an electric blanket or sleeping bag? Those wheat packs that go in the microwave are also great, as are hot water bottles. It's really bad timing OP, I do feel for you.

Our boiler was condemned last winter, it was four days until they could get the part to fix it. We bought a couple of cheap fan heaters from the supermarket and it was fine.

It’s not ideal but I don’t think that’s too long a wait. My parents in their late 70’s were without heating and hot water for a few weeks last winter while waiting for a boiler part (owned house). It’s a large Victorian house with no doubly glazing. They layered up and borrowed an electric fan heater for the lounge, kitchen was ok while cooking and they were warm once in bed. They came to me twice a week for their baths and strip washed at the basin in between after boiling a kettle. They didn’t even have central heating until after I moved out so I suppose they’re quite hardy.

If you’re working from home it might be a bit chilly to concentrate but it sounds like they plan to get it sorted pretty quickly.

Our HA always provide temporary heaters but don't ask for them back , so there's the problem - they have run out.

I think a day is fine tbh

@lostandforgotten They probably only have a limited stock. I really do not mean to rude OP but i once bought a hse and discovered a gas leak that night. It was shut down and I was 4 days without heating or hot water in the middle of winter and 2 young children. I had to go out,buy portable heaters and boil pans for water for baths etc. Then had to put £2k on my credit card for new copper pipework when the plumber could do the work to fix the problem. 24 hrs is not unreasonable. With respect OP you cannot expect the council to do everything. It is one of those things.

Do you have any friends or family who could lend you a couple of fan or convector heaters, OP?

If any of my friends were in your shoes, I'd get my 2 fan heaters out of the loft and drop them round for them. And some fleece blankets to snuggle under!

try getting British Gas servicing out! I could write a whole thread on that (but I won't!)
It may be op that all their heaters are already out (because they are waiting for engineers to fix things which is complicated by either engineers isolating or being sick re covid or they can't get the b++++y parts because of brexit!)
Reality check: When you own your own property & try to get things done, believe me op, you have to wait even if you are in a priority group if they don't have parts or engineers

The fire brigade also have emergency heaters . May be worth asking them if the HA won’t provide any .

@HRHPP that's interesting & worth knowing!

Elizabeth, if you read the thread properly it is not a council house but a housing association house, different thing. They are a business and I am paying them 500 pound a month to provide a service.