Boiler-gate

[Carpetburns]

So we have a strange set-up regarding our oil supply where we live. We are very rural so there is no gas in our village. We live on a development of 18 houses who all use a shared oil pump (the oil is then metered as it comes into your house).

Never been an issue up until now, but I had been told of issues 6+years ago. We got a new boiler last year and went for a combi.

One house (who wished to remain anonymous) wanted their oil supply re-routed which meant that all 18 houses had to turn off their boilers today while work was carried out.

Well, something has gone wrong which meant the oil supply has had to be cut off and they are hoping to have it repaired "hopefully early next week".

We don't have an immersion heater so is it reasonable to expect us to be without hot water for 4 days minimum?

I know some residents do have immersion heaters as that was the original set up in each house- not such a problem for them.

Is there anything that can be done? Should this be treated as an emergency or am i overreacting? Would you stay elsewhere?

Crikey have they not offered you a back up option? Seems odd to me and no I don't thinK YABU for that length of time with no guarantee. Have you young kids or older peeps living with you? Usually they are seen as priority in these scenarios.

Yes, we have two DCs, aged 2 and 4. I just don't think sorry is good enough.

Who informed you of the need to turn the boilers off - just an anonymous note through the door?

No, we are all part of a resident's association (we have to pay into it each year for maintenance of shared oil pump etc) so the Director emailed us all.
Annoyingly, she has had that the malfunction has had nothing to do with today's work, just a mere coincidence..
(It wasn't her having work done BTW- I saw which house it was).
Surely our fees must also pay for insurance for this?

She has said *

Yes, I’d suggest it is up the the Residents Association to arrange an urgent response / rectifying measure, including details on the error and cause. If needed that may mean claiming on the insurance of the house in question.

Agree sorry isn't good enough. Kick up a stink with 2 such young children xx

If it works like a standard metred estate you also may have a route with your (collective) supplier to remedy.

It's not great but it's not the end of the world. We had no heating or hot water for 9 months last year. We boiled lots of water in the kettle.

No hot water is not considered an emergency by Councils and landlords. You are expected to boil water, especially to bathe the children.

If it was winter, no heating and no hot water would be considered much more urgent but you're not expected to need your heating at this time of year.

But do point out to all that this malfunction has deprived you and your kids of heating and hot water and that you want the repairs undertaken as speedily as possible as you have no back up immersion tank.

Ask specifically for confirmation that all involved, repair men also, know of your situation. Push home the fact that you are asking for the works to be expedited because of your situation.

Just be a little bit difficult, so the person responsible knows you are nto a push over - just in case something else comes up! Some people have little thought or empathy for others, so make enough fuss to rouse them but not enough to mar all neighbourly connections.

Quite possible that the work being done has found another (unrelated) issue that needs sorting. Happens a lot, you do one thing and then discover something else that needs doing too. In a strange way this might is a good thing as the 'new' thing might have completely failed in the middle of winter instead.

Thank you for all of your responses. I will compose an email to include some of your suggestions. I absolutely agree that it would have been worse had it have been the bleak mid winter. We can go and stay at my Mum's over the weekend. I just fear this is going to take longer than suggested. And I'm kicking myself for opting for a combi boiler- I hadn't anticipated this ever happening.

@KnifeAngel- 9 months?! Oh gosh that sounds truly awful. Makes my situation very trivia...kettle it is!

@CuriousaboutSamphire
Thank you- I will be using your wording in my email.

@Ncforever12345
Interesting. But we own our house,as opposed to renting. Whose decision is it to suggest that it would be ok to be without hot water/heating for any length of time?
It's situations like these that make me regret buying this house with its quirky set up.