How long does it take to replace a boiler?

[Tellytibby]

Is it OK for a landlord to leave someone for over a week without a working boiler or is this typically how long it might take to get a new one fitted? I have a 4 year old and no friends or family close enough to just nip in and use theirs so not sure what I'm going to do for baths and showers. Feeling quite stressed!

We had a new one installed a day - and the other companies who quoted said similar. Only confirmed model a few days before too so over a week seems long. Is it possible your landlord is waiting for pay day / end of month rent to cash flow? I had similar experience with a washing machine. Chased repeatedly for a week then is magically showed up on the 2nd!

Fitting it doesn't take long but it can be hard to get reliable tradespeople so that might be the hold up.

We put an immersion in our rental for this reason.

I have no idea. I'm desperate for a bath and have just washed in the sink today. Flannel wash for 4yo but his nails are gross. Wondering how many kettles it'll take to fill a huge bath.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/housing_conditions/responsibility_for_repairs/heating_hot_water_and_power_problems
Any decent plumber would prioritise a boiler replacement over other work at this time of year.

You could do a shallow bath with about 6 kettles/pans of boiling water topped up with cold, but I'd just stick to a sink wash for a few days or take him swimming and use the showers afterwards.

We had a new one fitted recently and it took 1 day.

One of my rentals boilers broke. I was on a cruise in Italy, and on an excursion. Notwithstanding that I got a quote from BOXT, got my tenant to take all the photos needed, booked it in for tenants convenience 48 hours later.
Its all very easy if the landlord wants to do it !

I had to wait nearly a week. Just ran a quarter of a bath of cold then went and boiled 4 large saucepans of water and a kettle, tipped them all in and it was lukewarm enough to have a good wash and wash hair.

We had a new one fitted this month. We had to wait a couple of weeks from buying it to fitting with British Gas.

We can't really do swimming after school as we don't have time, but will try and work out if there's anywhere else we can go to shower.

Just few hours

depending where you are at though it might take a while to find someone to do the job

what’s your landlords excuse ?

can you use the immersion heater temporarily on the tank?

This is a tough time of year because there will be lots of demand for what you want. Unless you know a good tradesman already then I would be looking at British Gas who can do it within in a week or so.

I wouldn't even know how to do this

When ours broke last time the earliest we could get someone out was 5 days. I phones all round and that was the best offer.
If the boiler needs replacing I'd have thought it could be longer, because they may need to get stuff in etc. This is the point of the year when everyone puts their boilers on for the first time and discovers they're not working and needs repairs too. I found it was quicker in the summer.

If it’s a combi boiler (no water tank, instantly heats hot water) then you won’t have an immersion. I think you’re probably quite lucky to get an appointment within a week at this time of year! You can use the showers at our local leisure centre for £2 so might be worth checking locally.

Yes it is a combi boiler.

This time of year is busy for plumbers as so many people turn their heating on and discover problems.

The job itself will take the best part of a day but finding someone who can do it anytime soon will be the challenge.

Fair enough. I won't push for it to be done faster then. I'm just grumpy and cold.

Yes could easily take a week, especially when it’s a cold part of the year as it gets busier

Going swimming to use the showers after is a good idea. Can you go over the weekend?

The four year old might fit in the kitchen sink? It will take much fewer kettle fulls. Or if you get a nail brush that should sort his nails out.

When HA -

not working to first visit (standards said 4 hours as it was mid January). 4 Days.
'you need a new one' to booking next visit. 18 days.
Booked next visit to actually arriving. 9 days. With 3 claimed appointments that weren't kept in that time.
Gas turned off and old boiler taken out. 2 hours.
Delivery of new boiler. 7 days.
Booked day of installation. 10 days.
Actually turned up. 3 days after 10 days. (good going there)
Installation of boiler. 4 hours.
Remembering it needs a thermostat and controller to booking visit. 8 days.
Turning up to install thermostat and boiler after cancelling 8 day appt. 2 days. Also got a free bit of old conti board to cover hole left from removal of old boiler and a permanently damaged worktop as they cut it instead of lifting it up (never been fixed down so the pipes could be accessed).
From installation to safety check inspector. 2 weeks.
Safety check inspector to actually turning the fucking gas back on again. 10 more days.
Removal of solar preheating system that was rendered useless/disconnected as a result. About 12 years and still counting.

Never let it be said that social housing tenants have it easy.

When our boiler broke the soonest we could get anyone to replace it was 2 weeks. It was at Christmas and absolutely freezing. Top to toe washes at the sink and maybe a trip to a local pool with showers?

6 week wait for our heating engineer at the moment to fit a very big boiler.

When our tenants combi broke down (was condemned unsafe for use) it took a couple of weeks to get quotes and get it booked in to be fitted, even though they expedited it due to young children. It was the middle of winter so understandably lots of demand. We arranged an extra plug in heater for them (they already had an electric heater in the living room) and my sister offered them the use of her bathroom while they waited (they chose not to take up the offer).

We spent four days getting quotes then had to wait two weeks for the person we chose to come and fit it - he has a very good reputation and that was the next available slot in his diary.

Have you asked your LL if they have booked someone and what the date is?