Without heating/hot water and cooker for 4 days

[Ahhh1234]

From 10.30 this morning my gas was switched off as they think I have a dodgy boiler. British gas did this. My landlords sub contractor is saying they can't fit me in until Monday. So 4 days Without! I have a 16 month old so on emergency. Where do I stand on this?

I would keep contacting them. As they gave you a date it's probable they will turn up.

When we moved into our house a few years ago, we realised that the boiler didn't work. Turned out it hadn't worked for some time and a new one was needed. We had to get the whole house replumbed at the same time and were without heating and hot water for 5 weeks, with a 3 year old and 15 month old in January. It was challenging but manageable with lots of electric heaters (oil-filled and fan). If the repairs aren't done today, I would say your landlord should provide some.

Thanks. I'm still waiting on the phone. It's been 45 mins now. I also can't cook and he has allergies so microwave meals aren't the best option.

Feel so vulnerable. Do electric heaters run you electric really high? I'm a single mum on a part time job so worried about it being a high bill

Fan heaters use a lot of electricity, but you can just put them in for a short time to heat the place up. Oil-filled radiators use little electricity and can be used to maintain the heat after you've warmed the room with a fan heater. We chose one room to warm, and the children's bedrooms just had an oil heater on low while they were sleeping.

Let's hope that they get to you soon! Aaa1234
It's really not nice managing without heat and not water, I'm feeling for you!

Now seeking legal advise to with hold rent to pay for the repair. Anyone done this before? Apparently environmental health has had a large number of complaints about this company

'Now seeking legal advise to with hold rent to pay for the repair. Anyone done this before? '

No, because it's illegal. Don't even think of it.

I contacted shelter and they advised me not to do that. Didn't know it was illegal. They still haven't turned up. I've logged formal complaints with the heating company and my housing association. I just want my boiler turned back on!

Meh. I've been stuck with absoloutely nothing in the middle of a New England winter (makes a IK winter look like summer) for four days with a 16 month old - we survived

Thanks for the helpful advice and comment winter! Just what I need

mirror *

Hello I’m a private landlord and when water had to be cut off due to a leak and it took about a week to get sorted ( in December) hence no showers I gave rent rebate for that week to all three tenants. The letting agents encouraged me to do this. Another time with different tenants the boiler packed and there was no heating for about a week and again I gave rent rebate . Also in winter.

For me the deciding factor was water/ heating are essentials in a home, there was no alternative source at the time and it endured for more than a couple of days therefore compensation was due. I could probably have brazened it out but I wanted to keep the tenants on side.

Thank you what I may contact CAB and see what they say as I haven't been able to live in the property. I've already made a formal complaint. However the housing association is large so it's little me against a big company.

Get an oil heater. They're not that expensive, and they heat rooms really nicely. They're also more energy efficient than fan heaters.

Why can't you live in the property ? Whereabouts in the country are you? I live in the North West and it's very for this time of year. I have young children but haven't needed heating.

Bloody hell. When our heating and hot water packed up the letting agents and landlord offered to put us up in hotel/b&b while waiting for it to be sorated as we had children under 5.

I'm at some of these comments. OP pays alot in rent no doubt and it is unacceptable in the UK in the 21st century to allow this to happen. There's no excuse for it whatsoever. Use another gas engineer company, pay for a b&b, provide electric heaters. How a huge housing association has found it impossible to do one of these things is disgraceful.

It might not be midwinter, but if OP has shit windows and zero insulation (like the rented place I live in) it will get mighty chilly and uncomfortable.

Hope you get it sorted asap OP.

And just because some of you live somewhere where it's still mild, or you haven't needed to use the heating yet, is completely irrelevant to the OP situations.

Mild for this time of year, I live in the North West , it's not exactly t-shirt weather!

Just checked the weather it's 9 degrees.

My landlord is similar. Last year (winter), we had no gas as there was a leak.
Our ds was 1 at the time. We were told to: use extra blanket to keep him warm, and to give him microwave meals or takeaways.
I'd speak to someone and find out where you stand.

You could post a question on the website landlordzone to find out exactly what the law is in these cases- but be warned there are some hard nosed landlords on there. I borrowed a book from the library at the time "Which? Guide to Renting and Letting". That outlines the law in these cases.
I don't think it's acceptable to say use an extra blanket. I'm pretty sure that legally there has to be at least one source of functional heating and if there is none landlord has to provide a temporary one eg electric heaters (but not sure if it 's in all bedrooms plus living room ,or just bedrooms ).

I was without a boiler for three months in a new build flat once September to November.

The council did nothing even though the LL was one that they had referred me to.

Four days is nothing.

Thanks for your replies. Some of you saying 4 days is nothing etc. These are basic things your landlord should supply. They are not upholding their agreement in my opinions.

Yes I can use a microwave but my son has food allergies, skin issues and asmtha so I am not staying at the property. I'm not ok with living like that for him! It's been in the minus here and when we were waiting yesterday we were in our coats extra socks. I have vents in every room that can't be shut so they let in the cold air!

Also yesterday I spent most of the day on the phone. The engineer didn't turn up. Apparently ill but they couldn't get hold of him. I've now got to wait until Thursday, who knows if they turn up.

I've spoken to environmental health and numerous complaints have been logged about this company. Apparently they are holding an emergency meeting there about them. So it's obviously a bad situation for them to do that.

British gas were fixing our boiler earlier this year and due to needing to wait for a part (2 days I believe) and us having a baby they left us 2 x brand new electric heaters which we were ours to keep. May be worth exploring if this is an option. I believe the engineers keep them on their vans so they may be able to deliver one tomorrow.

Which housing association is it? If they have a Facebook page post on there. It will get a quicker response.