Heating System fitted via grant, now landlord wants to give us the boot!!

[JennaPaulandgirls]

We've had a heating system fitted to our property via a grant scheme for those on low income with a health disorder. Our landlord refused to place adequate heating so our only route was via a grant. Its only been a couple of months since the heating was fitted and now looks like the landlord wants to place the property on the market!! She is so Sly!
On our tenancy agreement which has now expired (over 6 months old) is still technically still valid in term of conditions; one of the conditions in the tenancy is that we leave the property in the same condition (with fair wear and tear) when we moved in. There is also a inventory stating items such as the old non working heater (which we still have).
Now my question - As this grant was awarded to us, do we have ownership over the heaters? Can we take the heating units with us and leave the property as we entered???

interesting one. I'd like to think that the new heaters are yours but can you actually remove them?

BTW you are now on a rolling tenancy and have to be given two months notice (you give one month). This is unaffected by the property sale. So if you aren't given notice you just get a new landlord.

what sort of "heating system?"

Its Economy 7, the type of electric heaters that charge up at night then let out heat during the day.

My tenant got a grant for a heating system, she applied for it but they contacted me and I know I had to agree/sign not to put her rent up for 2 years, not sure about serving notice as she is a great tenant. Can you check to see if there is a clause like that in the agreement?

'mmmmm

storage heaters have very little value second-hand, as they are so heavy to dismantle and carry away

if you look on ebay, near-new ones are saleable, but don't fetch much. A lot of the cost will have been on the installation and electrical work.

Grrrr how bloody annoying.
Yes you can remove storage heaters, but I'm going to guess its an electrician job.
Presumably she knew you were applying? Cheeky cow.
I'd speak to the grant people- assuming she was involved?
But in theory I agree they 'should' be removed to return it to the condition you rented it. But I'm sure she'll find something wrong somewhere else

There is nothing in the agreement saying that she cant sell within x years etc so that's a no go, she purely gave permission for the installation. The cost of the heating system exceeded 2k, my view on it is what happens if the next property we move in to has no heating, should'nt we be able to move the heating when we move, surely the grant was awarded to us not the landlord.
Not only that I want to see her face when she realises her plan just backfired, however want to make sure we aren't doing anything illegal.

It used to be that the LL couldn't sell on within a certain amount of time to stop this exact thing happening. I know this as I could have got a heating grant about 5 years ago but my LL refused to agree as they wanted to sell in the nearish future.

What was the name of the grant?

I don't want to give out the name of the grant as it quite pacific to our area (never know landlord might be tracking us...lol) but there are no ties in regards selling the property. Can you see there being any legalities here, or should i spend valuable cash on legal advice. Shelter said its a grey area, that wasn't to helpful.

She also stated a few months ago we could take £70 from the rent in order to buy some draught proofing, i have since done this over the last couple of weeks and in her last email states to hold back on draught proofing as she is thinking about it. Gets me really mad!!

I'd speak to the grant giver as its something they should tighten up on if nothing else.

I too would contact the grant givers, presumably the LL signed something giving permission, with any luck there may be an overlooked clause or some small print in there.

ok, thanks guys, I have spoken to the grant givers who said condition will be imposed in the future but this dosen't help me. Does anyone think i have any rights here, or is it more effort than its worth?

Even if you manage to take the heaters though, your new property should have functioning heating system so they wouldn't be much use. I know it must be really frustrating but if they started making it a condition that a landlord couldn't sell within x amount of time after the work being done then that might put lots of landlords off and may not agree anyway.

The grant giver needs to be more specific about this, or else you might apply to them again and again, to fit up substandard accommodation, to a series of LLs'* benefit, not yours (as it's supposed to be). That sort of thing is called a perverse incentive, or "subsidising the wrong bloody person"!

Well, you have your inventory. To be honest, I would take the heaters anyway, would not give her the pleasure of getting a fully working heating system she has not paid for.

TBH If the heaters aren't worth a great deal by themselves, i'd be careful about ripping them out.
Your LL sounds like a right crafty cow, so you may have real problems getting your deposit back especially with fixtures/ holes left in walls/ unusable electrics etc, deposit scheme or not.
What a frustrating situation!

Get on to shelter's advice line. This sort of thing makes my blood boil.

You can bet your bottom dollar that she will moan her head off about the huuuuuuge amount of tax she has to pay on her enterprise while snaffling your free, and probably state-subsidised heating installation

Contact your MP too. You never know, they might intervene, e.g. take it up with the Sec of State on your behalf.

I would be all for taking the heaters with you for max inconvenience but I suspect your LL would then have you over a barrell for causing detriment to the property. What a cow.