No heat or hot water in rented flat with children

[Throwaway1999]

Hi, heat and hot water have been off since Thursday. Landlord came yesterday and couldn't fix it, then plumber came today and said he needs to order boiler parts but everything's shut and we will have to wait until Monday or Tuesday.

Is this true, do we definitely need to wait until then? This will be 5-6 days of no heat or water. It is literally freezing and we can't have baths, kids are wearing their winter coats and just lying in bed.

Tell him you will be letting the local news for BBC and ITV as it will be the sad story at the end. No landlord would want the adverse publicity

You really didn't think this sentence through did you 😂

The landlord isn't a business with a brand or reputation to worry about fgs...why would he care? And, obviously, this isn't news anyway.

You do still have hot water, you'll just have to boil it yourself in the kettle or on the hob.

A 2-3 working day timescale to fix a boiler is not unreasonable.

It's not freezing conditions at the moment.

This is annoying, yes, but not a devastating hardship.

If you can’t stay elsewhere, can you go on Amazon and get a couple of electric heaters, they’d be here tomorrow. Or post on your social media, seeing if anyone can lend you some? Agree with others, what would you do if you owned the house yourself? The landlord had done what you would do if you were the owner. These things happen. No one’s fault. Obviously if you can find a tradesman who has got the parts and can do the worker sooner by all means ask your landlord if okay to use them instead? I’d ignore the person who suggested going to the press, not sure what planet they are on. You have to take a bit of responsibility yourself like someone else said and be prepared for these sorts of things.

This sounds like a reasonable time scale I’m afraid. The landlord has ordered the parts.

YABU

Also if you have an electric shower that will still give hot water because it heats the water separately from a cold feed.

This isn't the Antarctic. Get an electric heater from the LL if you can't afford to buy yourself.

Have strip washes at sink, wash hair over bath using bowl and jug.

@Throwaway1999 we own several properties and in this scenario we would
be providing heaters for several rooms and electric blankets etc as well as provisions towards the cost of running them at this time of year.

We would have proper licensed plumbers out on an emergency call. Plumbers merchants are open all weekend around the country.

we aim to have heating back on within 48 hours maximum. Hot water - depends on if you have an electric shower - if our tenants don’t have access to any hot water for cleaning or bathing and the heating is being a pain we do consider getting them a hotel or something for a few days. I’d rather have happy long term tenants than be taking shortcuts and getting into legal bother.

Landlords have insurance options for a reason.

heres shelters advice - england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/housing_conditions/responsibility_for_repairs/heating_hot_water_and_power_problems

This! This is what a proper landlord does.

Most landlords will know trusted trades they use. An “emergency plumber” is not somone any different. Any plumber still needs to source parts that are only available in suppliers open 9-5, probably less at weekend, and some might need ordering in from the manufacturer. That’s how it is. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like an issue they could fix there and then. Your LL sounds very responsive. Not sure what you are wanting? You aren’t in a hotel, wether rented/owned solution is the same - seek temporary measures till sorted.

You sound amazing!

That's the thing, I know there are emergency plumbers merchants that work 24/7. I am debating whether I should contact them myself as it's an emergency

I think legally the landlord has to provide heaters.

If you can afford it though, we got a couple of £20-30 heaters from Argos (the very basic ones) a few years ago, and they're well worth the investment.
We went without a boiler for a week earlier this month and they're perfect to move around the house to heat up to room we're in. Light and easy to store too.

Otherwise we just skipped bath for a few days (did basic wash with a glove) and just did a couple boiling water on the stove/kettle.

That's the thing @Throwaway1999 , we all know you can call out a same day plumber and parts can be sourced and repairs done quickly

You need to answer the heater question. Has your landlord offered or delivered electric heaters for the interim?

All else is conjecture and isn't helping you cope

If he has not then tell him you need them today, Black Friday deals are still available. That isn't unreasonable and would keep him within even the most stringent interpretation of the regulations

No

Do we? My boiler packed up last winter and it took 5 days to get a part even with an emergency call out.

We dont know if the landlord is slacking, he may have delivered heaters

Local council round here would be the same timeline. Emergency plug in heaters are loaned to households. If you don't have an electric shower it would be worth asking landlord if they could fit one then least you would have warm shower even when boiler is off

Then contact him and/or the letting agent, if there is one, and ask for them to be delivered today

Many agents keep some to hand and your landlord can hit any supermarket

Then contact him and/or the letting agent, if there is one, and ask for them to be delivered today

Many agents keep some to hand and your landlord can hit any supermarket2

This isn't true. It depends on the repair. Our was fixed by the manufacturer and even they had to wait a few days for the part.

Plumbers merchants don't carry all parts for all boilers. Many will have to be ordered from wholesalers or manufacturers. This seems to be getting dealt with really promptly.

Get an electric shower fitted by Monday? That's hardly likely to happen.

I think you are maybe panicking a little. You've been given lots of advice on how to manage for a few days.

Ask the landlord for a couple of electric heaters or get some yourself?

Take the kids out for a walk? To the library? Organise a couple of play dates elsewhere? Visit family? Friends? Do some Joe Wicks in the living room?

Boil kettle for washing. Children will not suffer from not showering for a few days.

Where are you that it is “literally freezing” inside your home? Canada?

If you think you can source the parts and get it fixed faster, you can suggest to your landlord that you do that and send them the bill for it?

I do think you'll find it harder than you think. Every time we have had a boiler repair that needed parts, it has taken 2-3 days. It's just not as easy as all that.

Obviously not by Monday. In the longer run