Need advice

[Beansonapost]

DH viewed a property a few weeks ago ... he said it ticked all the boxes.

When he viewed he noticed tenants using electric heaters instead of the gas central heating. When he asked the former tenants they said they used it because they wanted to save money.... DH then asked the agent if there are any issues with the property and was told no.

We got an email a week ago asking us to air the property and not dry clothes on the radiators.

Fast forward to today... we came down from Scotland and signed the contract. Turned up at the house and... the heating doesn't work! It won't go past 17degrees... they've sent a BP technician... the house is freezing! I'm wearing my winter coat indoors along with my boots and two layers underneath. So are the children 2 & almost 1.

I hate it and I want to leave... what can we do? We'll accept the loss but I can't live here. The heating has been on since 11am when we arrived and until now it hasn't turned off and the house is very cold! We can see our breath when we speak.

Get the heating fixed?

17degrees isn't ridiculous my dad likes 13, which is, and if they didn't use the heating they won't have known that.
Give it time.

@thedevilinablackdress they sent someone today and it still hasn't fixed the issue.

We've literally just signed off today.

I'm worried about next winter... this ones almost finished... but it's still cold!

17 degrees and you can see your breath? Yeah, just get it fixed. Leaving is a bit dramatic. Can you not buy some portable heaters and knock it off the rent?

Short term: electric heaters. Right now, go to your nearest Tesco/Wilko's/B&M buy 1 or 2 heaters.
Long term: badger landlord to fix heating

Just because it wasn’t fixed today doesn’t mean it won’t be by next winter!

You're worried about next winter?? Now?? You have months to get it fixed!!

Get on the LL to get the heating fixed! You said they’ve sent a technician but not what the result of that was, are they coming back, waiting for a part etc? And it’s worth asking for a discount of rent since they assured you everything was working and it clearly isn’t.

I'm worried about next winter as I have small children... 2yr old and a 1yr old.

2yr olds "room" is freezing! It's the coldest in the property.

Our glasgow flat was really cosy and warm and took no time to heat up...same gas central heating.

We moved in end of November to a house that had been empty for 6 months. The temperature outside was below freezing and had been for over a week.
We had no gas, hence heating or hot water for over a week with 3 DC aged 1,4,7.

It was cold, but we survived with an electric heater and jumpers. 17degrees sound blissful.

In case you're still worrying about next winter I can assure you it's been fine ever since that first week.

Go to the Shelter website or call their helpline.

Yes you have small children, no one has overlooked that in their responses... You're worried about something which is literally months away. Around 7 months before most people will be putting their central heating back on. Do you really think that the heating won't be repaired in 7 months? Do you think if that is the case you can't find somewhere else to live?
Get some heaters right now (most supermarkets are 24 hours these days), or a hot water bottle, or blankets and jumpers.
Or just go to a hotel until it is fixed and charge your LL.
fWIW I don't have heating in my house either, never have and I have a 1 yo.

On this very cold day what would be my daughters room has one wall streaming with water and the carpet is soaking.

The central heating is on, it doesn't get past 17degrees.

I appreciate the advice received, but I don't think I can live here.

There is also mold and damp in a closet and in the bathrooms. We asked about all this and were told there weren't any issues where that is concerned.