To want to kick the letting agent right in the shins?

[ballinacup]

DP and I rent our home. The rent is fairly substantial by local standards and its let on a fully managed basis. Our landlord however is an absolute gem who bends over backwards for us and treats us really well.

Yesterday, the boiler went off. No heating, no hot water. As it was Sunday, and because he's asked us to, we contacted the landlord and told him what was going on. He told us he's away on holiday at the moment, so to contact the agent in the morning and he'd do the same thing.

So we did. 'Yes Ms Cup, we'll deal with that, someone will call you back in a few minutes'. That was at 9am.

By 11am, no one had been in contact, so I called back. 'Ah yes Ms Cup, we've passed that along to a maintenance manager, they'll call you in 10 minutes'. What exactly does the maintenance manager intend to do? 'Er... I don't know really, but they'll call you back'.

1pm, no call. I call back and text the landlord. Agent repeats ad infinitum (she must be a MNer) 'It's with the maintenance manager, I can't do anything else'. In the meantime, the landlord replies to my text saying he's called them and explained the urgency as we have a 14mo DS, and they're definitely going to sort something out soon, the house is now 8degrees and there's not even luke warm water left in the tank.

No further word from the agent.

Called them again and had the same woman repeat over and over that the issue is being dealt with by a mysterious maintenance manager who can not be contacted/spoken to directly. The landlord has also called them back and threatened to cancel his contract with them and deal with all problems himself and STILL NO FUCKER HAS RANG ME BACK TO ASSURE ME THAT A NICE ENGINEER IS GOING TO FIX MY FUCKING HEATING!

What am I supposed to do in this situation? Suggest to the landlord that we get an engineer out ourselves and deduct the cost from the rent? It would probably work out cheaper for him anyway...

Aibu to want to go to the letting agent and kick her square in her bastard shins?!

YANBU!

Nope, YANBU. What a nice landlord!

YANBU to be so annoyed but to be honest if my heating breaks down I wouldn't be able to get it fixed straight away.

Annoying yes but maybe they are actually trying to sort it - it only broke yesterday and they are probably being given the run around. Seriously, some boiler engineers are bloody nightmares to get hold of and then when they do turn up you can bet your bottom dollar it needs some part you need to flippin order.

Living in rented accommodation does not guarantee everything gets fixed quicker.

Hope you get it sorted soon though - can you borrow some heaters from anyone??

The thing that's irritating me is the refusal to get back in touch with me and let me know what's happening.

If it were my own home, I'd be able to sit with the phonebook and find a local engineer to repair it quickly.

Coincidentally, I called the same engineer they sent out to service the boiler this morning to check his availability and he would have been able to come out today.

Yanbu, last month out boiler blew up (sparks am everything) that was the mon night, plumbe came out first thing tue, told landlords handyman what needed fixing, landlord was in Spain so didn't get a "decision" until the fri afternoon - parts ordered. Supposed to to be fixed the Monday - no plumber on Monday, plumber now unable to do job, 2nd plumber coming thurs when parts arrive, no parts and No plumber on thurs . Parts arrive Saturday, plumber cant cometil thurs and takes one look at 30 year old boiler and says no way can be repaired and also cuts off gas fire which was main source of heat apart from useless electric heaters) needs new boiler in new location with gas piped upstairs etc etc. new boiler arrives fri and plumber installs boiler on mon and tue (3 weeks after it breaks down) after 1 glorious week of central heating and hot water wake up to a freezing house, boiler has leaked all over airing cupboard, needed some washers replacing even though a brand new boiler!!!

jojane that sounds like an utter, total nightmare.

The thing that's irritating me is the refusal to get back in touch with me and let me know what's happening - Totally agree however, she probably has a massive pile of problems to sort out regarding various properties so although it is really important to you, as far as she is concerned it is just a problem in her in tray!

Maybe call the engineer back, get him to come over and then call the agents and tell them you have sorted it, and you will have 3% rental commisison to cover your troubles!!

Your landlord is doing everything he can so good on him to be as concerned as he is Not like my previous landlord.

I would call am engineer and get them to do the work, contact the landlord to make him aware of what you are going to do and the urgency because of your DS and suggest that the letting agency pick up the fees.

classic example of obviously bad customer management. The OP is not asking for an instant fix, all she is asking for is acknowledgement of the problem and an update on what is happening. She has no evidence that anyone is doing anything.

the landlord is paying for this 'service' and is equally annoyed. As I would be.

sadly in my experience letting agency is an occupation for the fool of the family.

OP -hope someone has bothered to call you now, do keep the landlord informed so he has ammunition and suggest going and buying some electric heaters for tonight.