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?

Depends if you have young children, if you do I'd say no more than 24 hours, if not then I'd say a couple of days.

I say this as a few years ago when I lived at home our boiler broke we had no heating or hot water for 10 days with similar weather conditions to what we have now! All the gas/electric company did was give us electric heaters as noone in the house was under 5.

@lostandforgotten

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.

Nobody has said you don't deserve equal service, just that you don't deserve super special exceptional better than anyone else service, that neither private renters nor homeowners would get. AS PER THE MULTIPLE EXAMPLES ON HERE it would be very very rare if you owned your house to get someone out, to identify the problem, and fix it within 24 hours and nobody would be paying for heaters for you. Same with private renting, and usually with both of these you'd be paying a lot more than £500 per month!

My friend was without any heat for over a month last winter when her heating system broke because there was one tiny part that was impossibly to source.

You asked is it unreasonable to go for 24 hours without heating, everyone has answered no, actually that's really fast, and now you've thrown a hissy fit because everyone hasn't agreed with you.

And 'your roof hanging off' is hardly the same as being a bit cold for one day, ffs. If your roof was LITERALLY hanging off yes I would expect the HA to put you up somewhere, as that is an actual emergency situation, not something that can be solved by buying a £15 heater and sticking a jumper and a hot water bottle on. You can even return the heater the next day if you need the money (not ideal but allowed).

We own, have had no central heating or hot water since Wednesday, and after someone managing to squeeze us in as an emergency callout on Friday, are paying an extortionate amount for a new boiler, which may or may not be picked up and fitted this week.

None of that can speed up the time it takes,( in the same way that your housing association can't wave a magic wand and suddenly source parts and engineers immediately either) so meanwhile we are using extra blankets, boiling kettles and pots full of water, and swapping one halogen heater between bedrooms to take the chill off. Oh and picked up a wee £20 oilfilled radiator from Asda last night for DS's room whilst he's sitting doing classes at his desk.
Shower isn't electric, we don't have the luxury of a hot shower, so you're in a better position than we are

We had a similar fiasco a number of years ago and it was over three weeks before part could be sourced and replaced, so at the moment we are being positive that it may only be a week or 10 days this time.

heat Oven and then leave door open for a wee while
boil pots of water and then leave lidded on the stovetop - they stay warm for ages and takes the chill out the air.

YABU to be so enraged about the length of time, it really isn't that long! but YANBU to be feeling cold and miserable and needing to have a wee rant.
I'll squeeze up the sofa a bit and you can come under my fleecy blanket.

Another one who thinks 24 hours is brilliant. I spent 11 days of January without heating. Not all in one go (same problem but took ages to diagnose so kept breaking down) but even with British Gas 3 star cover which I pay £30 a month for I was still waiting 4 days the first time, 2 days the second and 5 days the last so I think you are really lucky if it is only 24 hours. (And yes it was during the snow) Once you get your heater you will be fine . We lived in the one room downstairs with the heater on all the time and then just flung on all our duvets and blankets on the beds . I also had a smart plug so programmed the heater to come on an hour before we got up . The best thing is it will feel amazing when the heating is working again

OP - AIBU

EVERYONE - YES!

OP - No I'm not, you're all horrible!

Ok then. If you didn't want to be told then don't ask the question.

FWIW I agree with you. Re hot water - great for actually having a wash but what else is OP meant to do with that? Sleep in the shower? She doesn't mention children but are they also meant to just stand there or what? And why are people still suggesting buying a heater when the OP has said she can't afford to buy a heater? Not everyone has spare cash at the drop of a hat.

I was without heating and hot water for 3 weeks when my boiler broke in winter. My landlord didn't offer heaters I just went a paid for some. As soon as the part arrived it was fixed. You are being a bit precious tbh and need to accept that you will have to make do for a day or two.

I can’t remember the last time I read a Mumsnet thread where the OP comes across as so entitled and rude. Amazing.

Heaters are £10 in the supermarket.

I have read all of the OP's responses and I really don't think she's been rude. She's (predictably) been given a rough time because this place is bloody weird about any kind of social housing.
I really hope it gets sorted soon @lostandforgotten

@lostandforgotten

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

How? If you own your own home you ring the engineer and wait from them to come round. If you rent the same thing happens. Only difference is you don’t have to pay the bill.

If engineers are busy you have to wait your turn. They don’t come quicker if you rent or own.

Why not buy some heaters yourself, then you aren’t reliant on others.

Our boiler broke down in the middle of winter, when we had snow and two children under 4 in the house. I ordered electric heaters and got fh to collect them from Argos. I couldn't shower for 4 days without using water from the kettle and rhe kids were freezing. I put several layers on them and we all stayed and slept in the one room to keep warm. Not ideal but we managed until it got fixed.

If you get it fixed in 24 hours you are seriously lucky.

Similar issue in private rented a few years ago OP. We'd had ongoing issues for weeks and eventually the boiler blew up on a Sunday night with snow on the ground. We were pushed down the queue because the shower was running hot. I think it took a week or so in the end but I'm amazed any landlord provides the heaters.

It's crap - but this has to be one of the busiest times of the year for heating engineers. Plus all the issue of the pandemic which just makes things harder.

We've had no boiler for about 10 days. Luckily it's covered under house insurance cover but it takes time and we are not a priority. Fingers crossed all will be ok soon.

I was lucky to be able to buy some decent heaters. It's made me really appreciate how lucky I am to be able to get heat and to be able to not worry too much about the electricity bills. Running 2 x 2KW heaters is expensive.

I hope it gets sorted.

So it broke this morning...you reported it today they came out today they ordered the sort to fix it and will be back tomorrow to fix it....that's a pretty fast response tbh

They can't magic the part out of thin air so not sure how you expect them to respond any quicker

@mumwon

try getting British Gas servicing out! I could write a whole thread on that (but I won't!) It may be op that all their heaters are already out (because they are waiting for engineers to fix things which is complicated by either engineers isolating or being sick re covid or they can't get the b++++y parts because of brexit!) Reality check: When you own your own property & try to get things done, believe me op, you have to wait even if you are in a priority group if they don't have parts or engineers

Yep! One screw up after another here, no central heating and extortionate electricity bills since 21december!!! Me and 4yo and by some absolute miracle the hot water still works but 4th time lucky, my new boiler will be done this week! 🤞

My hearing and hot water went just before Christmas, a few years ago. I had to wait 10 days! It was just bad luck and bad timing.

Mine was also a private landlord and she did offer heaters but I already had some. I just had a shower at work.

@KindnessCrusader

I have read all of the OP's responses and I really don't think she's been rude. She's (predictably) been given a rough time because this place is bloody weird about any kind of social housing. I really hope it gets sorted soon *@lostandforgotten*

Social housing gets sorted much quicker than if you own your own home, not everyone who does is in a good financial situation. I’ve had no central heating since before Christmas, I’ve had to pay for everything myself, no one has given a fuck about the fact I’ve a 4yo. She may not have been rude but extremely entitled.

My boiler has been malfunctioning since before Christmas and will be replaced next week.

I'm facing a 4 figure bill and 4 days without heating or hot water whilst the work is being done.

It's part of life.

If you owned the house, you wouldn't get the part any faster.

I'm in private rented and it would take as long if not longer to get it sorted, obviously its not ideal as its really cold but these things can take a couple of days at least to sort. Some neighbours boiler has broken today (own property) and they have borrowed some heaters from different neighbours until they can get it looked at.

My landlady kept patching up the boiler for months even though she knew it was past it. I practically had her plumber on my favourites list. So no, private landlords are not always quicker.

Not HA but our boiler broke 11 years ago, had no heating or hot water since (thankfully electric shower) it does get mighty chilly :( Our boiler is located such it now breaks safety code so would have to relocate it and re pipe half the house, just cant afford it.

As long as the landlord is doing their best to get it fixed, I don't think there's an acceptable timeframe. The landlord doesn't have a trump card over other home owners, they probably made the first appointment that was available.

I feel for you having to put up with no heating. Look after yourself and get some heaters.