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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A month with no boiler and high C02 levels for two years AIBU?

36 replies

Whenwillth1send · 13/03/2018 15:24

Our boiler was turned off a month ago due to high C02 levels, so we've had no heating, hot water or washing machine for that time. The children have shivered through -7 temperatures with only two fan heaters to keep them warm. I'm on my fifth day off work while this gets sorted, I've taken days off for appointments where nobody has turned up, been to client meetings dirty. In addition to a large family and 3 jobs, I've had to wake up at 5am to boil kettles, go to the launderette twice a week, and wash dishes in freezing water. This isn't even the worst part..
Last year the boiler was turned off for high C02 levels. After a couple of weeks, it was fiddled with then turned back on. I noticed that I had dark circles under my eyes and a severe headache shortly afterwards, bought a C02 monitor but it was beeping continuously, (not the 3 beeps to indicate high C02) so I assumed it was malfunctioning and carried on. During the last year, my normally healthy children have had alot of days off school; the A grade student eldest has constantly complained of dizziness and taken days off, the kids were sick for ten days before getting antibiotics, I had to go from full time to part time in order to cope with all the days off. My health has deteriorated severely as well. I don't have any faith that even if I am told the boiler is fixed, it will be fixed, as they have told me this multiple times before and it wasn't true. I am currently compiling evidence that we have been badly affected by what has gone on. I've nearly left my job from sheer exhaustion at having to deal with freezing washes, an hour a night boiling kettles in addition to my already too busy life.

My AIBU is, I want to be moved (council property and we are hugely overcrowded anyway) as I can no longer trust them and don't feel safe here AIBU to request that we are moved immediately?

OP posts:
Original poster
Whenwillth1send · 13/03/2018 15:47

I should say, I've had to prove to them that the boiler was turned off two years in a row due to high C02 levels as they did not initially accept that that had happened. They have not really apologised or accepted that during the last year we would have had C02 coming into our flat, which is my biggest concern.

OP posts:
IWantMyHatBack · 13/03/2018 15:51

I assume you mean CO (carbon monoxide) from what you've said.

This sounds terrible! As it's a council property you should definitely request to be moved ASAP.

Buy another CO monitor today.

I'm sure someone will be along with better advice

IWantMyHatBack · 13/03/2018 15:54

Can you afford for someone to come out and check the boiler?

IWantMyHatBack · 13/03/2018 15:57

Useful link: www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqtenant.htm

MiniEggMeister · 13/03/2018 16:02

How does the boiler affect your washing machine?

IWantMyHatBack · 13/03/2018 16:05

Ah I hadn't spotted that

LovesLaboursLost · 13/03/2018 16:08

They’re not going to move you because of a dodgy boiler, so forget that and concentrate on getting the boiler repaired or replaced. What’s the current delay with fixing it?

MiniEggMeister · 13/03/2018 16:10

Have you been to the gp and told them you are concerned about CO? They can check for CO levels. Do you feel different now the boiler has been off for a week? Do you have the safety certificates from the gas checks?

I'm not sure if Transco will check it for you if you report a gas smell but as it's off atm that wouldn't work. I think the gas safe register do random checks on occasion if you have concerns about work carried out.

Flomper · 13/03/2018 16:11

This very same thing happened to us recently, old boiler in our house became faulty and it transpired it was leaking CO into the utility room and no longer sewled. Luckily, the seals could be replaced and the part fixed to keep it going for awhile longer, whihc cost £350. It is on its last legs though so I am saving up for a new boiler in the summer which I think will be about £900 or so.

ivykaty44 · 13/03/2018 16:14

Email your district council

Bullet point that you are concerned that the Co2 levels are high and it is not acceptable to be without a boiler for over 4 weeks.

Explain that you have blind copied a third party into the email as in the event of any deaths you wish this to be made public

If the matter isn’t resolved with 5 working days you will be left with no option but to take matters further

Original poster
Whenwillth1send · 13/03/2018 16:16

It is council, I am concerned that it was deemed unsafe two years in a row, but turned on again in 2017 after one check. They said this year it had lethal levels of Carbon Monoxide (apologies if I got the wrong abbreviation) so clearly we would have been breathing in some Carbon Monoxide in 2017. It has just been fixed again, but I am concerned that yet again we will be told it's all fixed, when in fact, it's pumping out Carbon Monoxide at us again. The thing is, we've all been really sick in the last year, with Carbon Monoxide related illnesses (dizziness, headache, breathing problems etc) of course I can't prove that that was what it was, but given that we know it's extremely likely that we've had high readings for the last year it wouldn't be too wild an assumption.

OP posts:
rollingonariver · 13/03/2018 16:26

Do you have a CO alarm? If not get one today, if your boiler has been leaking CO it could suddenly kill you and your family. It has happened, it's not dramatic you need to get an alarm tonight.

RockinHippy · 13/03/2018 16:32

I can't answer on getting moved/new boiler etc, but please take yourself & kids to see your GP & get your bloods tested. You could well all need B12 injections to clear the CO from your bodies. It could be serious not to. This could also help your case for forcing the council to act, or provide compensation if they don't.

I had something similar happen to me, wish I had been a lot more clued up back then, as several old friends pinpoint that as the beginnings of my health problems. Can't blame it all on that, but with hindsight, it definitely played a big part

CuriousaboutSamphire · 13/03/2018 16:37

Get a CO monitor, they are about £10.

Do it now!!! As a matter of urgency.

And keep on at the council...

LovesLaboursLost · 13/03/2018 16:42

So they say the boiler is fixed but you don’t trust them? Obviously you need a carbon monoxide monitor. You may even get one free if you can find a giveaway scheme. That seems a lot more straightforward than moving. And if you genuinely believe your children have carbon monoxide poisoning, go to the dr for tests.

Original poster
Whenwillth1send · 13/03/2018 16:53

Thank you all for your replies, I am reading through them slowly, there is some very useful information in here, which I will be using. Thanks again!

OP posts:
Original poster
Whenwillth1send · 13/03/2018 16:56

I have a question, the boiler has been off for a month, would that affect Carbon Monoxide levels in our blood? Would we be able to get B12 injections if the levels are not high now? It was from April 2017 to Feb 2018 that we were living with high levels of Carbon Monoxide.

OP posts:
RockinHippy · 13/03/2018 17:00

Your GP will only know if you need B12 injections by your blood test results. See your GP & tell them what's going on

Motoko · 13/03/2018 17:07

Go to the GP and ask.

Contact Shelter for help dealing with the council.

Get a CO monitor today.

flumpybear · 13/03/2018 17:09

You do know carbon monoxide is a silent killer don't you? People just die, in their sleep, little ur ni symptoms

Demand (nicely) you're re-accommodated now - seriously people die. If you can't do it tonight, make sure there's plenty pc ventilation in bedrooms mainly but also the rest of the house

Totally unacceptable situation

LakieLady · 13/03/2018 17:25

Get on to the environmental health department of the council and see if they can do anything (they'd definitely be able to if you were in a private rental).

Submit a formal complaint for what you've been through, and copy it to your local councillor(s) and MP.

This is really shocking. I can't believe a council is treating its tenants like this, my local council would have had this properly sorted within a week.

Oh, and check that you have a current gas safety certificate. If it's out of date, complain about that too.

BerkInBag · 13/03/2018 19:31

Is it the Council or an ALMO/Trust.

My MIL recently moved into a housing trust run Council property. I have found that it helps to contact your Ward Councillor and get them to chase matters like this. You really do have to keep the pressure on the trust unfortunately.

Original poster
Whenwillth1send · 13/03/2018 20:40

Thanks again for your answers, I've bought a few Carbon Monoxide detectors, B12 and a few other things Smile. I've received an answer to my complaint which gives false information eg that the boiler wasn't turned off in 2017 when I have proof and facebook posts which prove it was, denies utterly that any of our health has been affected by the high readings. As I was told that the readings were at lethal levels when it was turned off this year, to suggest that at no time were we ever at any risk is just ridiculous. I had said that I was going to print out our medical records, but they are certain, without even looking at them that we have suffered no consequences at all. So clearly they have superpowers. I would really appreciate any guidance on how to progress with this. I've rejected their token compensation, it's not about money.

OP posts:
rollingonariver · 13/03/2018 20:58

Go to the GP. Your fb posts mean nothing really, you could be lying. Blood tests don't lie.

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