How long is acceptable to be left without heating?

[lostandforgotten]

Living in a housing association property and the heating has broken down this morning. I am more annoyed as it was already leaking brown fluid all over my worktops when the engineer came out to look at it and the part was supposed to have been ordered and it turns out it hasn't although I'm not sure if this part is the reason it's broken down. The lady on the phone says it will be tomorrow when someone can come out and couldn't give me a time, they've got till 4 o'clock apparently. They are also refusing to provide any temporary heaters and told me to put some more blankets on . I also have no hot water either expect the shower. It's snowing a blizzard out there aibu that this isn't acceptable and they need to do something today?

I used to work for an HA. We would aim to provide temp heaters same day but that relies on having enough heaters/staff/vans not stuck in the snow etc. Maybe ask neighbours or on your local fb page or similar.
And put in a complaint about the engineer not ordering the part when they said they would.

So, this morning your heating broke, and they have already been out, identified the issue, ordered a part and will come back tomorrow? I think you are receiving really good service.
Yes, tonight will be cold. Beg borrow or buy a heater to warm one room.

YABU, especially as you still have hot water for the shower. Everyone can't be an emergency. It's a slight inconvenience but you're not going to die. I get it's annoying, my boiler broke a few weeks ago, I had no heating or hot water for 4 days. Not even hot water shower (runs hot water from gas boiler). It was rubbish but I put on layers, heated the kettle for a wash, and got on with life until it was sorted. It's annoying yes but YABU to think that a couple of days to wait for it to be fixed are unreasonable.

Tier. No I had an issue a few weeks ago and they came out and haven't been back. This issue occurred this morning. I have no idea if the problem is connected to what they came out for before and haven't fixed.

@lost i appreciate that. Point is limited stock is limited stock. If no heaters available you can source yourself. 24 hrs is not an unreasonable time for a repair.

£500 pm could cover a multitude of things, rent, maintenance/grounds costs , buildings insurance, water rates etc. If you need heaters and none available source yourself.

@lostandforgotten

The local council have temporary heaters to give out when somebody something breaks down when somebody is living in one of their housing stock. The two people I know living in council owned accommodation have been given heaters within an hour when their heating broke down.

That's brilliant that they are able to do this . Wouldn't happen here .

@lostandforgotten

Elizabeth, if you read the thread properly it is not a council house but a housing association house, different thing. They are a business and I am paying them 500 pound a month to provide a service.

But housing associations are very similar to local authority properties . In some areas there are no new local authority properties, all social housing is provided by housing associations .

I don't know where you live but I would say £500 is a very reasonable rent. I don't live in an expensive part of the country and £500 still reasonable here .

I think yabu. 24/36hrs with no hearing isnt the end of the world. Sounds like they are doing their best

They are a business and I am paying them 500 pound a month to provide a service.

Is that on top of your rent? Or do you mean that's your rent in which case you're not paying them to provide a service, you're paying them to live there.

24 hours (or just over) is perfectly reasonable. Our boiler broke last Thursday and we couldn't get anyone out till today. We own and have a small toddler. It's not going to straight away be faster because you're renting. It takes the time it takes.

I think one night isn't unreasonable tbh. I would ask them to bring heaters with them when they come out tomorrow tho, in case it can't be fixed.

I mean, I lived without heating for 2 years once. Blankets, jumpers, hot water bottles. We survived. I don’t think a couple of days is a major issue tbh.

Extra layers, blankets, gloves, hot water bottles and ring around your friends & family to see if anyone can lend you a heater.

My boiler broke down on Christmas Eve a couple of years ago, was condemned on 27th and new one installed on NYE while sub-zero outside so I think 28 hours is pretty good.

I hope it's fixed soon.

Just had mine fix took 2 days in total no heat or hot water we lived however we did spend 25 pound on a small heater that heated the room we were all in and boiled the kettle to wash dishes and have a wash

I hate this attitude that crops up on Mumsnet frequently that if you live in any kind of social housing you should be grateful for it and not complain even if the roof was hanging off you should just be eternally grateful for any scraps they throw you because you're in a COUNCIL HOUSE don't you know . Like we are a sub species that don't deserve equal service the same as you would expect from a private landlord. I see it often on here and it's so damaging. Anyway, I didn't mean for this to descend into a social housing thread so I'll leave it here now. My friend says she has a couple of heaters that she can borrow me so I'll take the two buses across town to fetch them.

oh calm down its not a bashing thread

i own my own home didnt have heating for five days once in the winter and snow who do i moan to

It isn't a social housing thing. Even a private landlord wouldn't be expected to do it quicker.

You're exactly proving my point that wanting them to fix my heating or to provide temporary heaters is 'moaning' rather than what would be reasonably expected of a landlord who has a duty to maintain their property and arrange repairs.

does your kitchen door open into the lounge when my boiler broke down one winter i had to wait a couple of days for it to be fixed i put the oven on and opened the oven door and the connecting door not perfect but it took the chill out of the two rooms then i slept downstairs on the sofa for a coupe of nights as it was warmer downstairs

YABU Op, you are expecting your housing association to now supply you with heaters. You cannot wait 24 hrs and expect it sorted now! This is nothing to do with any type of housing and everything to do with people expecting to be spoon fed everything.

I think that's actually the point people are making op - private landlords would not be any quicker than this. Or, if you own your own home, a heating engineer or whatever wouldn't necessarily be able to do same day call out.

Jesus, calm down OP. That's not what people are saying. If they haven't got the part, they haven't got the part regardless of whether it's private, council owned or you're mortgaged.

People are pointing out that 24 hours is not a long waiting time. And it's certainly no worse than if you owned the house, in fact it's probably better. And unless the £500 a month is for extra services on top of your rent, that's totally meaningless. But carry on stamping your feet if you must.

I want to be spoon fed 😂🤣 it gets better

If you bothered to read the thread properly you would know that they haven't even been out yet to know which part it is. They came out weeks ago to a leak that is still going on and haven't been back and haven't even ordered that part yet when they said they would, but carry on.

When my boiler broke during the Beast from the East it was 3 days before I could get anyone to come out. 24 hours doesn't sound too bad.

Surely the advantage of renting over owning your home is that you are not responsible for repairs and things get fixed quickly.