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AIBU?

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Original poster

No heating for 15 days in rented flat

36 replies

redlondonbuses · 01/02/2018 10:36

Hello all, since just before NYE I have had total of 15 days without heating, one full set of eleven days and then subsequent four days at various intervals.

My landlady has contract with British Gas who have attended the property on seven occasions and have replaced the wireless thermostat.

During this time I have had a broken foot and the nasty virus that has been going around so have been housebound due to not being able to walk and exhausted from virus which took weeks to recover from. It has been absolutely FREEZING cold and a really hard time.

The thermostat basically doesn't work well, the plumber who came over most recently said that wireless thermostats just don't function that well, it could be as simples one of my neighbours might have a very effective router which derails my wifi.

I have asked my landlady for either a refund of two weeks rent or two weeks at the end of my contract in March. She has refused saying that she did offer to have her sister come to the flat to accommodate plumbers visits. I said I didn't want this as I was at home anyway (broken foot and virus) and also don't want some strange woman coming to my flat anyway!!

I have been considering leaving after six months and my landlady is aware this, I have a nightmare neighbour above me and the noise levels are unbearable, my landlady is desperate for me to not leave as she says she will lose a lot of money. I'm inclined to just say now that I will definitively be leaving as she has not made adequate provision for heating at the property (no service or maintenance was performed for 19 months before I moved in) and existing heating is inadequate.

Am I being unreasonable to expect some kind of recompense?

OP posts:
BabooshkaBabooshka · 01/02/2018 10:39

Contact Shelter on 0808 800 4444. They should be able to tell you exactly what you rights are and how to proceed. Good luck.

Caroelle · 01/02/2018 10:44

If your landlady made every effort to address the issue, it’s not her fault. She could however, have offered you some electric heaters. If you are that unhappy there, moving sounds like a good idea.

negomi90 · 01/02/2018 10:44

In the meantime order an electric heater of amazon to be delivered (if you can't go out and buy one). They work and are cheap and you won't be freezing.

Ofalltheginjoints · 01/02/2018 10:49

Similar situation op we’ve had no heating since start of January and it’s still ongoing, thankfully we have a heater from a family member but offered nothing from landlord, landlord fully aware but currently an arguement between letting agent and management company re responsibility.

If your landlord is ignoring the work needed contact environmental health at your local council they have powers that can force the Work to be compeleted if necessary.

I’m disabled and our lack of heating is having a huge impact on my health so totally sympathise with your issue, hope it’s sorted soon

DakotaWest · 01/02/2018 10:49

Unfortunately yes, you are unreasonable to expect compensation when it sounds like the landlady is making all reasonable efforts to solve the problem. If she sent people on 7 occasions, over a period of 11 plus 4 separate days, she seems quite keen to get it resolved.
She even offered for someone to be at the property so you didn't have to be, I can't see what she is doing wrong.

damelorente · 01/02/2018 11:00

Am I right in reading that you refused for a plumber to attend as you didn't want a strange woman in your flat? If you refuse for people to attend to fix the problem then why would you think you should be compensated.

MatildaTheCat · 01/02/2018 11:10

She should have offered you heaters to keep you warm. It’s a nightmare when boiler systems go wrong and she is trying to resolve it.

I would make plans to move anyway if you aren’t happy there. She’s clearly got a problem property but you don’t owe her anything.

specialsubject · 01/02/2018 11:19

it would be sensible for everyone to keep a couple of electric heaters in their homes, because rented or owned, boilers go wrong.

They aren't expensive.

landlords are not miracle workers. But landlords are legally obliged to provide annual gas safe certificates. Did that happen?

you don't like the place so give notice and leave.

Katyb1310 · 01/02/2018 11:27

We are in the same situation, no heating or hot water since the end of December, freezing cold and a poorly child. It's awful isn't it? I don't feel we can ask for anything though because they've made the effort to get things fixed, it's just still ongoing- but it's not the landlady's fault so I don't feel we can ask for anything.

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 01/02/2018 15:31

Thank you BabooshkaBabooshka I will give them a buzz
Caroelle I've been the one making all the appointments, waiting for plumbers dealing with plumbers, organising replacement thermostat etc all she's been doing is paying £60 a month for the BG contract. Have decided to move on.
negomi90 heater ordered!
Ofalltheginjoints so sorry to hear all your issues too Flowers
DakotaWest All my landlady has done is pay £60 a month by direct debit to British Gas, I have organised all appointments, dealt with all the plumbers, facilitated change of thermostat, set up the HIVE hub, cleared up after plumbers mess, dealt with all correspondence. Landlady lives in Sri Lanka and has done sweet FA. Offering for her sister to be in my property is insufficient as far as I'm concerned, it's bad enough having seven different male plumbers as a single woman, I don't want to leave a woman who I don't know in my property with my possessions.
damelorente Nope you haven't read correctly. i have had seven plumbers attend my property on seven different occasions. I did not see the point in having her sister (a complete stranger to me) to stay in my flat to wait on one occasion for a plumber to arrive, when I'd already had six other plumbers come and was housebound anyway!
MatildaTheCat yep, decided to move on.
specialsubject agreed, and bought one on Amazon prime. She didn't service boiler or provide gas certificate for 19 months before I moved in.
Katyb1310 so sorry to hear about your issues too, Flowers I really think you can aks for things so don't hold back.

OP posts:
specialsubject · 01/02/2018 15:43

do YOU have an up to date gas certificate?

doesn't solve the problem but that is the legal requirement. Are all the other legals ok, not that it is your issue if you are leaving - but make sure you know what should happen so you don't get another dodgy landlord.

glad you've got a heater now.

specialsubject · 01/02/2018 15:44

...although I have to say that complaining that the plumbers have penises is, er, a bit daft, assuming they aren't being waved at you.

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 01/02/2018 16:01

specialsubject at what point have I mentioned a penis?! I don't particularly like having unknown men in my flat when I'm alone, am pretty sure a lot of women feel like that.

OP posts:
Springiscoming123 · 01/02/2018 16:19

but wont LL have had to have the boiler serviced yearly to have a contract with british gas (op said LL pays monthly toBG

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 01/02/2018 16:37

Springiscoming123 I'd have thought so but when I initially had plumber over after I moved in in November the plumber said it hadn't been serviced or maintained for 19 months.

OP posts:
MsSquiz · 01/02/2018 17:00

As you live in a rented property with a gas supply it is mandatory for a yearly check to be carried out (a CP12), I would ask your landlady for a copy of the most recent one.

What is the issue that means you have been without heating for 15 days? Was this 15 days straight, or broken up over a period of time?

I work in property management and as far as I can see, you can request a rent reimbursement due to the inconvenience, but she doesn't have to grant it. She has allowed you access to arrange the British Gas contractor on her behalf, and she has not prevented any work or repairs benign carried out. She even offered for someone to be present to allow access should you have been unavailable. So she hasn't been unreasonable at any point.

I would definitely be asking for a copy of the CP12 to ensure legislation is met when it comes to gas in a rented property.

specialsubject · 01/02/2018 17:16

you complained that the plumbers were male. I believe that is the definition.

appalling sexism and not allowed in this country under the sex discrimination act. You cannot demand a female to do a job unless it is a particular reserved occupation. Plumbing/gas work is not one of those.

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 01/02/2018 17:36

specialsubject ok Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
redlondonbuses · 01/02/2018 17:37

MsSquiz the is really helpful thank you

OP posts:
Sugarhunnyicedtea · 01/02/2018 17:40

Not being serviced or maintained is different to a gas safety inspection. Do you have an up to date gas safety certificate?

DakotaWest · 01/02/2018 17:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Lweji · 01/02/2018 17:46

As an accidental landlady, I'd have paid to install a wired thermostat by now.

Original poster
redlondonbuses · 01/02/2018 17:47

DakotaWest go away please

OP posts:
Original poster
redlondonbuses · 01/02/2018 17:48

Lweji me too! Would have saved so much hassle

OP posts:
helpfulperson · 01/02/2018 17:52

Can you not switch the boiler on and off manually? My hive heating has a little box on the wall next to the boiler with one button for CH and one for HW. This works even if my wifi is down.