To think we need compensation

[Rayshine13]

I will try not to drip feed. We live in a rented property that has the traditional boiler system. The boiler has stopped working since last week. So no heating in the house since then.To be honest since we moved in last September the boiler had issues multiple times and I think in the past 6 months it’s been repaired at-least 3 times . In the beginning it took 4 to 6 hours for us to get hot water and we repeatedly complained until something was done. Now when every time the plumber comes , he tells the same thing it’s a very old boiler and even if we temporarily fix it, it’s bound to have issues again . He is right as we keep getting issues time to time ,so he recommended to our LL to install a new combi boiler every single time, but LL doesn’t want to spend money. So every time they wait for the boiler to get fixed we go days without heating. This time it’s been a week already and now because of lockdown they are not able to get what they need to fix it. So landlord offered to get a portable heater to use until lockdown ( which may be months). We have a 4 month old DC at home who woke up multiple times at night because of this. We do understand the lockdown issue etc but we are so annoyed as this is the 4th time in 6 months this is happening because LL doesn’t want to install a new boiler. Would it be unreasonable to expect some compensation in terms of deducting from rent etc?!

I would withhold rent until he fixes it. Not like he can kick you out anyway and the stingy prick won't pay for something that you need. Stop paying for something you aren't getting.

Don't unilaterally decide not to pay rent. It causes you much bigger problems further down the line.

Speak to Citizens Advice or Shelter

It is going to be difficult to get someone out to fix it now. You need to pay your rent if you don’t want to be evicted later.

This sounds really stressful and miserable.

For the baby, I'd put an electric heater in your room (make sure you have a smoke alarm and thermometer in your room)

4 month olds often start to wake a lot anyway so it might not be to do with the cold!

I'd do as others have said and contact CAB or Shelter. Hope you get some action.

Agree he's unreasonable
Agree you should get compensation
Don't agree baby or you need heating on at night

Do not withhold rent, silly and reckless advise which will also see you homeless and in trouble legally.

Yanbu, has service is an essential service, irregardless of the lockdown, what part is it that the boiler needs? Have a google/local gas parts in your area.

There is absolutely no need for you to be without heat and hot water, especially with a baby in the property.

You can request that the landlord seeks to repair the boiler under the right to repair act and also housing disrepair act.

*gas service

I would withhold rent until he fixes it. Not like he can kick you out anyway and the stingy prick won't pay for something that you need. Stop paying for something you aren't getting.*

Idiotic advise and you don’t pay your rent to get repairs done (separate issue and also separate legal issue) you may your rent to have a roof over your head OP.

Please don’t take heed of this irresponsible and wrong “advise”

YANBU. You agreed a rent on the basis the home has central heating. A home without central heating would command a lower rent.

You need heating and the landlord needs to sort this but, unless you live somewhere frigid, why do you have heating on at night? Baby sleeping bags are useful to keep them warm.

What I meant was to pay rent but to deduct some amount from it .

You can't deduct money from the rent. It will come back to bite you OP.

This covid thing won't last forever, then once it's over, the LL will evict you for non payment of rent and the court won't care about the bad boiler because he's always had it repaired.

And I'm a renter not a Landlord.

Assuming your rent doesn't include bills, you should certainly expect a rent reduction as heating a house using plug in heaters will cost you a lot more in your utility bills, to say nothing of the inconvenience of freestanding heaters to trip over and keep a toddler away from. A 20% reduction in rent until such time as you have a functioning heating system seems appropriate. Put this in writing, as a statement not a request. The rentable value of a property without central heating is much lower than the value of a property with central heating. Do you have hot water?

You deserve compensation OP, however in order to get the compensation you’ll have to go down the correct legal routes, honestly you with holding rent will get you served a section 21 (notice to leave home)

Some very bad advice here. Do not withold rent you put yourself in the wrong. I am a landlord and we replace boilers as soon as they go wrong. If your landlord will not do this do you really think he will give you a rent rebate? Luckily it is getting warmer. Your baby should not be having heating on at night and neither should you. Very unhealthy.
I dont think you have a very good landlord. It may well be difficult getting a relacement while we are supposed to be socially distancing. You should concentrate on what is best for your family which may be managing without the boiler in the short term. When it dies he should replace it

Unless you want to risk an eviction and have bad references and the council more unwilling to help you, do not withhold rent, do not deduct any money from your rent. You can ask the landlord if they would be willing to reduce the rent to reflect the issues you’ve been having, and a good landlord would be willing to negotiate, but you don’t get to just decide how much and how long for by yourself.

Report him to HMRC! You can do it anonymously online.

See what legal advice you can get.

Yes I was going to ask my landlord for a reasonable deduction as this is happening again and again . Also we have been using the emergency electric thing for hot water which costed a lot in the past and not to mention the portable heater as well.

For anyone who th

For anyone who thinks it's unnecessary to have heating on at night: you know nothing about the OPs housing. OP says it was cold last night. Don't assume that just because you are well and live in an insulated house that the same applies to the OP and her baby.

Where I live in the South of England it was 1 degree C last night. We used to live in a single glazed, single skin property. That needed heating at night in such weather otherwise it was extremely uncomfortable getting up to tend to the baby.

Dont stop paying your rent, ever. You will find it nigh on impossible to get another rental

in normal times:

do not withhold rent
contact council environmental health who can enforce useless landlords to take action

now
do not withhold rent (even though everyone is protected from eviction at the moment, this WILL come back to bite you)
England? no need for heating at night. Put more covers on baby.
there ARE gas people working and there ARE parts available. Take the portable heater for now but keep pushing the landlord.

when times get better, move. Don't rent dumps from crooks.