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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No heating or hot water !

42 replies

HomerDancing · 02/03/2018 17:51

Hi

I reported to my landlord (private, we deal directly with him) 24 hours ago that the boiler broke and we have no heating or hot water.

He came around and had a look at it, thinks it’s A big problem and Can’t fix it. He will call the boiler company to sort.

We have texted him this afternoon after no contact from him, he said he’s waiting for a callback from the boiler company and they MAY come tomorrow.

It’s very cold in here as we only have single glazing. We have borrowed plug in heaters from a friend , but it’s still very very cold and absolutely freezing in the bathroom, we can see our breath in there !!!!

He has just called and basically said no one will come out to us due to adverse weather conditions. We have to use saucepans to wash with. He said when they do come out to us, they will need to order a part which will take a few days.

What are our rights now ? It’s minus 3 outside and we have no hot water , the water is pure ice cold. We only have one warm room with the plug in heater.

The landlord said that now we have the heaters (that we sorted) we ‘have heating ‘.

Please can someone advise on what we can do ?! And our rights here?

OP posts:
Original poster
HomerDancing · 02/03/2018 17:52

What is the law in terms of how long we can go without hot water and heating , especially in winter seasons ?

OP posts:
HateTheDF · 02/03/2018 17:55

As a private tenant who has had the same issue before I think all the landlord has to do is try and get the problem fixed as soon as possible which is what he is doing.

Is there anywhere else you could stay over the weekend?

Purplerain101 · 02/03/2018 17:56

I don’t know the laws so hopefully someone will come along soon who does. I would like to think that you could deduct rent when it’s next due for all the days you were left without heating. Could you get an emergency heating engineer out yourself and pay for it and then take it off next months rent?
Such a nightmare!

Original poster
HomerDancing · 02/03/2018 17:57

Thanks for your response

I didn’t actually think of that , I will talk about it now with DP.

OP posts:
pestilentialboundary · 02/03/2018 17:57

Do you have a combi boiler?

If so the condensation outlet pipe may be frozen. Can be cured with a kettle of hot water.

Original poster
HomerDancing · 02/03/2018 17:58

Total nightmare !

I was thinking the same about deducting rent! But again no idea of the law !

OP posts:
Original poster
HomerDancing · 02/03/2018 17:58

Yes a combo boiler , the landlord tried that this morning and still no good

OP posts:
AuditAngel · 02/03/2018 18:03

You could try a hairdryer if it is frozen.

We are in the same position. We have a contract with British Gas, it took 5 hours this morning to get through to them, simultaneously trying phone and online chat. We have an appointment for Thursday 8th of March!

AuditAngel · 02/03/2018 18:04

Ours is giving an error message that isn't in the handbook, or online.

Original poster
HomerDancing · 02/03/2018 18:06

Oh my god ! Surely there is legal restrictions!

OP posts:
TopBitchoftheWitches · 02/03/2018 18:07

What's the error message?
It will take a few lots of boiled water for it to work then you have to reset the boiler.

Mine went yesterday and the plumber has removed the long part of the pipe so I can fix it if it freezes again. Plumber did say that it was frozen at the bottom of the pipe, not the top.

YetAnotherUser · 02/03/2018 18:10

It's a shite situation to be in, but I usually ask "What would you do if you owned it?"

Landlord has done the best to fix it, and hasn't managed it. So they've arranged for a gas Safe engineer to sort it as soon as possible.

Not really much more that can be done is there?

LIZS · 02/03/2018 18:11

There is a huge demand for heating engineers atm and logistical issues due to weather. Unfortunately there is likely to be a delay in getting repairs. If you have small children or are vulnerable larger companies like British Gas may be able to prioritise you, otherwise you wait your turn. Speak to Shelter about your rights but withholding rent is not a good option unless you want to be evicted.

Original poster
HomerDancing · 02/03/2018 18:18

An engineer has not been arranged. He is waiting for a call back from the company and has been all day.

I won’t withhold rent ! I said I thought about deducting but was conscious of the law !!!

OP posts:
Original poster
HomerDancing · 02/03/2018 18:18

There’s no error message. It is just flashing reset, which we have Done a few times.

OP posts:
TheBrilliantMistake · 02/03/2018 18:19

Follow the pipe from the boiler to outside.... usually a plastic pipe. Try to unfreeze it with 3 kettles of boiling water poured very slowly (not quickly) over the outlet outside. Then turn off the boiler and turn back on. Some boilers may need a reset button to be held for about 5 seconds to initiate a reset procedure... which can take about 30 mins to complete.
This is a very common issue on Worcester/Bosch boilers.

AnnieOH1 · 02/03/2018 18:21

Just a random thought but our boiler after freezing needs to be reset even if its been switched off. Also there's something about how when it freezes it can flood the chamber so may come back up in a few hours once it's drained/dried.

Longdistance · 02/03/2018 18:21

If the hot water on pipes doesn’t work, a hairdryer as it’s constant heat. My dh also took the pipe out in the garage and put a bucket under it

TheBrilliantMistake · 02/03/2018 18:22

This particular issue is caused by a condensation pipe that normally drips small amounts of condensation out of the boiler, but in very cold climates it can form ice and block the outlet. Slowly a long block of ice is formed inside the pipe, so use plenty of hot water, as it can take time to melt it all.

Original poster
HomerDancing · 02/03/2018 18:25

Thanks all

The thing is we can’t reach the outside pipe as we are on the 2nd floor and can’t reach it , it’s quite far down and to the left !

The landlord is convinced it is not the condensator pipe , but he isn’t an engineer.

We have had a hair dryer on the inside pipe but no luck.

OP posts:
Luckymummy22 · 02/03/2018 18:27

We had a frozen condensation pipe this morning and DH had to thaw it out.

As soon as he did this heating came back on again

TheBrilliantMistake · 02/03/2018 18:28

Once this pipe us blocked, the boiler will protect itself, so unblocking the pipe is not enough. A reset is usually required. Sometimes a reset is only a power down and back on, but usually it is initiated via a control somewhere on the boiler... worth doing. YouTube search for your specific boiler to demonstrate the reset.

scurryfunge · 02/03/2018 18:28

I think the landlord has done what they can in the circumstances as the demand will be very high this week. Just wrap up and stay in one room for the time being or decamp to a friend or relatives for a bit.

teaiseverything · 02/03/2018 18:29

To be fair, he sounds like he's trying and it wouldn't surprise me if an engineer hasn't called yet. They're under insane pressure. I say all of this as someone who's had 80% arsehole landlords by the way. Wrap up, lots of hot drinks and keep those heaters on. Please just be careful when you're asleep though.

MrsElvis · 02/03/2018 18:31

This happened to me and it was an on off problem. My flatmate worked out a daily rate for our rent and we didn't pay for the days we were without heating / water.