We have to go two weeks without heating and hot water in rented accommodation

[MINEareCRAFTy]

Not sure what I'm looking for really. Advice, a space to rant maybe, sympathy?

By the time our boiler is due to be replaced on Tuesday, we will have gone two weeks without heating and hot water. I'm fuming. The landlord is in Australia (the irony), and the agent is beyond useless. Apparently the landlord has taken his time over quotes, wanting to get the best for us. How kind of him. However the plumber told us that he's just been messing around and it seems the agent have been covering for him somewhat. Looking online it seems we don't have a legal leg to stand on in terms of compensation, not paying full rent etc.

They have given us 4 fan heaters to use.

It was on it's way out for a while so my argument is, on top of how long it's taking to be fixed, why on earth didn't they plan for this when it was playing up?!

There's only so many times you feel able to impose on relatives for a shower and we have 4 children here 50% of the time 😢

Replacing a boiler is a big job. Yabu

Our system boiler broke down and we had 3 quotes and it replaced with a combi boiler and tank removed within the week. The landlord should be prepared with suitable contacts to ensure the property remains habitable and offer solutions e.g. alternative accommodation when it isn't for an extended period. 2 weeks is unacceptable for a straight forward boiler replacement.

I think reporting the landlord is a bit mean

He’s aware of the problem.
He’s got a few quotes and he’s organised to have it done in two weeks from start to finish

I honestly don’t think that’s bad going

It’s a big job and I can understand him not wanting to be ripped off.

My mum got British Gas to give her a quote . They came round and quoted her £4K for a new boiler and a new fire. This was about ten years ago.
Mums dementia was starting, so I’m so relieved she told me , as I rang and ripped them a new one..they were going to put a new boiler in On 30 year old painted radiators and pipes. If British Gas can do that..who knows what independents can do.

He sounds sensible to me to get some quotes to be sure you’re getting a decent system.

Not a great situation but you can all still wash and bath at home with a kettle or pans of water on the cooker. Add to small bath of cold water and have a quick wash.

YANBU but mumsnet always takes the landlord’s side! If the delay really is that unavoidable (and, as you say, it should have been planned anyway if the boiler was clearly starting to fail) you should be provided with better alternative heaters than fan heaters and be getting a rebate on the rent.

They've sorted alternative heating, so if you reported them it would come to nothing. They've made sure you have heating and no hot water is not an emergency, you could boil a pan on the hob if you really needed to.
Sorry that you're suffering but those are good time frames for a whole boiler replacement.

Tinierclanger
I’ve never noticed mumsnet always taking the landlords side
Far from it
I’ve often seen landlords getting a pasting...well deserved in some cases
I’ve read of people with mould on walls, leaks, not even allowed to put up a picture or do a repaint

My tenants have always had free reign.. one ripped out my new carpets, changed the doors, put up wallpaper..put up new blinds ... I only found out When my plumber told me.

Oh and I forgot about removing my fireplace and putting a fugly one of their choice in instead.

Be glad you are renting and not owning your home. Many a time I’ve had no hot water and worried about how to afford the repairs.

Yes, you pay rent and yes the LL provides a service of sorts. But it is getting fixed. It’s a big job and he no doubt wants to check he’s getting the best boiler and at a good price. Plumbers don’t give priority to LL over home owners.

A broken boiler isn't an emergency repair in England as long as there is (or the landlord has provided) a form of heat such as an oil radiator, and a way of boiling water, such as a kettle.

Sadly I've had two boilers die on me in rental accommodation! One the landlord admitted had been playing up in their house so they got a new one and put the old one in their rental.

Again, thanks everyone. The boiler passed it's service but has been losing pressure recently and then showing up another error message which isn't good apparently (A something).

Was meant to be done tomorrow and then they realised that there was a part they couldn't get hold of.

I'll get on with the pans of water and stop moaning! 👍

You have my total sympathy.Our boiler broke and we were in the same position for over a week,it was January and freezing.I nearly snogged the boiler man when he told me we now had heating and hot water.I cracked it up to 25 degrees and I'll never take it for granted again.

@MINEareCRAFTy We had to have our boiler fixed recently and it took about four different call outs because each time, they found something else was wrong. And it was done through our home emergency insurance so we had to go via a call centre every time. It was a fucking nightmare to be honest. I think we were without heating/hot water for about 10 days in total.

It took about as long as it used to take my various past landlords to get boilers fixed when I was renting.

I had a landlord who really took the piss by getting some totally unqualified bloke to come who obviously didn't know what he was doing at all, but yours sounds reasonably above board even if he is a long way away.

Hope you get it back soon.

Broken wing

Replacing a boiler is a big job. Yabu
Really...you don’t think this is a big job?
It’s not like replacing a leaky washer
At this time of year, plumbers are rushed off their feet.
We doNt know where op lives ..a good plumber is worth their weight in gold...and may just have to wait their turn.
Two weeks is not unreasonable

Op are you generally happy with your LL/ rental

@Dowser that's a good question, no, the agent is pretty awful to be honest. Can't blame the LL for that though

They've now said Wednesday so actually it's about 16 days

Well the LL chose the agent and pays for them. So if you have your LL address, wrote and tell them.

You can wash using a basin with a towel on the floor under you. Not ideal but we had no choice at one point when our water main was replaced and we had no running water for 48 hours or so. I had small DC at the time.

That said, if I were your landlord I'd give you a goodwill rebate of a proportion of your rent for the month, because your rent includes a working boiler.

Not trying to be funny but are you sure there isn’t an immersion heater. We recently found one we didn’t know we had.

Never ceases to bloody amaze me what renters are just expected to put up with in the UK, no heating in Winter and bathing with pans of water and kettles like a fucking camp.

Unbelievable. Our boiler broke Christmas Day. By New Years Eve we had a new one in and up and running.

Your landlord is being a fucking dick.

I'd be tempted to contact them regarding increased electric bills for the additional heaters and expect some suggestions from them for showering (a couple of weeks pass at a local gym to use the showers there eg).

This is why social housing is miles better than private and something we should be investing and promoting.

A social housing landlord would have properly government regulated timelines for repair. And failing repair within a matter of days would provide heaters/cash for increased electric/decanting to a hotel/and alternative vacant property on their books for a temp period.

I'd report this LL in a thrice.

Mumsnet, such a funny place. Telling the OP 2 weeks is fine, use heaters and boil the kettle.

I remember a previous landlord posting that her tenant was asking for a rent reduction for something similar. She was crucified for not installing a new boiler within 48 hours. Imagine the tenants not having heating and hot water!

Can you imagine, boiling fucking kettles of water in an unheated home to wash 4 kids? I have super long hair and it's thick as well, I would be unable to wash my hair. I swear we Brits are so backwards in so many ways. It's not the 1940s anymore. Of course, having lived abroad as a child and then moved back here I was shocked at how many properties had no shower at all. WTAF? That's like something from the 1900s. Plus, the OP's leccy bill will be huge running fan heaters and boiling the kettle dozens of time to strip wash like Amish people. FFS!

@dontalltalkatonc i agree.

OP in case it's any help/you hadn't thought of it there are showers at leisure centers/swimming pools.