Landlord been using NON 'corgi registered' engineer been without heating and hotwater

[mommyinthemiddle]

Ok story so far.
We rent our property through an agent but landlord deals with any maintenance etc.

Problems with boiler losing pressure, Landlord has been sending out his father and another Asian guy who to me have just made he problem worse. We had no heating or hotwater for 5 days last week. They supposedly came out and temporarily fixed it whilst waiting for part. This fixing it meant taping up water tank as it was leaking, however not fully and left it leaking down the back of the boiler and the back of my washing machine! Kept telling me had ordered the part and obviously hadn't. First reported the problem will be 2 weeks tomorrow.
I started questioning the plumbers experience and began asking for corgi reg number, which i never got, my answer was he would give me safety papers once had had completed the job.
After discusses with the agent and them aparently checking out plumbers details he was registered apparently. i was still saying i was not happy and wanted to see details when he next arrived.
So yesterday LL came again with the part and two new guys who had corgi id card! They fitted the part but bigger job than expected as had to remove boiler totally from wall to change part. When they went to put boiler back they couldn't find the gas seal/washer, thought they had dropped it upon removal then heard saying must've of been one on there in the first place! They went out with LL father to purchase new said part. Couldn't find it as specialist part and has to be ordered. So have said it is unsafe to use, obviously if no seal on the pipe, and haven't switched it back on.
So once again we have no heating and hot water for the unknown future.
LL has said they will order the part tomorrow monday and should only take a couple of days. That takes us to at least Thursday. So another at least 6 days with no heating or hotwater. Then how do i/they know once they have switched it back on it will work, they haven't dealt with it initially just been asked to fit part!
So unsure if no washer on whole time we have been in house or whether the dodgy plumber had messed with it! Have we slowly been gassed
What would of happened if i hadn't questioned first plumber? What kind of mess would we be in now?
I have two young children 4 and 2, i am 7.5 months pregnant, we have no hot water or heating, plus i can't do any washing as machine requires hot water.
This problem could of been resolves over a week ago if they got a professional out as soon as first reported. I am getting angrier and just want to kill someone as the hour passes that i have to sit in this cold house! My blood pressure must be through the roof.
What rights do i have or what should i do apart from scream
I am usually quite a calm rational person and understand parts take time to order however it really feel this is taking the piss and if the weren't trying to cut corners my family wouldn't be suffering.

Look at your tenancy agreement. Speak to your estate agent.

It sounds very urgent to me: I would tell the landlord that AT THE VERY LEAST you will need a Corgi registered contractor to inspect the works and issue a safety certificate.

As to no heating and hot water for two weeks: do check your rights, because landlords shouldn't be allowed to get away with this crap. I know, I am one.

Without hot water is it officially habitable with children? I really don't think it is. I am sure you have some entitlements but your tenancy agreement and estate agent's lawyer should be able to help you out further.

Well we do have an electric shower, which we have to fight with the DD's to get to use, so can actually shower then get out and freeze to death! Will check out tenancy agreement thanks, sure it says will be fixed within reasonable timeframe. Well what is reasonable to me obviously isn't reasonable to them!

Try Shelter, they are very good at advising tenants of their rights. There's a web site with all the info on it somewhere on the web.

I do know that Landlords are required by law to have gas safety certificates for all appliances, including boilers. Do you have a copy of one because you should.

Yes we had the gas safety inspection completed in January and i have a copy of certificate. I actually told the guy then that the boiler was losing pressure but it was only happening very 2-3 weeks then and he said he couldn't find anything wrong. That was a different asian guy who came out with the LL father. I9 have checked the details on the certificate on corgis site and that all seems to check out.

Maybe you should stop pointing out that the men coming to look at the boiler are Asian. It reads rather oddly and might put people off replying!

We had a dodgy boiler that the outgoing tenant told us about. We raised the issues and were told she overreacted and it was fine. we moved in no hot water and the heating only worked on full. weeks went by with wrangling from the agent/landlord and I was 7 months prgt at the time and unable to bend over to wash hair with jugs of hot water etc. We also had leaks through the dinning room ceiling and other associated problems. Had to wash at my father's. Eventually we'd had enough and went to environmental health dept at the local council. He was shocked and talked to the agent (who was furious with us I might add) but things got fixed very soon after! (Not allowed to without hot water for a certain amount of days landlord HAS to fix) We also withheld rent (which is illegal btw but they didn't challenge us) but offered to pay it to a 3rd party ie solicitor so as not to be seen as dodging rent in anyway.

Also found out that the barn at the back had been converted without any planning permission and the electrics were shocking but that's a different matter...

Keep a record of all telephone calls/visits by landlord + tradespersons. (and also corgi numbers on ID cards!) This helps with evidence of what the problem is, how long it's been going on and what, if anything, has been done to fix it.

Hope you get it fixed soon.

Sorry wasn't meant to offend, just all this going around my head. Not meant in a racist way. When i first reported that i felt the first plumber was inexperienced to agents the LL told them that it was the guy who did the gas safety certificate. Yes they were both asian but not the same person, i was here on both occasions.
Really sorry again if offended anyone.

thanks muppetgirl

Husband checked the guys corgi id card on Saturday and didn't take down number but definately checked it.
Whether they would say we are not going without hot water as we have electric shower!
Have found a little information on the internet and have some people to call tomorrow including gas safety advice line, and the local council. I also found information that LL must provide emergency heating if switched off, but then we still have a gas fire.

Hoping it will be fixed this week. Crazy thing is we move out in 4 weeks, so this is why i think they are dragging there feet.

get in contact with the Health + Safety Executive