Landlord problems

[Jollygoodride]

Our heating system has broken down. Rang landlord who has agreed to sort it as they should. Just wondering who is responsible for arranging temporary heating e.g., small electric heater etc?

Also, the boiler has not been serviced since we moved in i.e., over a year now and I have only realised that this is a legal requirement. Will I be unreasonable to report them and how do I go about doing that?

Thanks

Yes your landlord should provide you with alternative forms of heating at this time of year.
A gas boiler and any gas using fittings such as cookers should be checked by a gas safe engineer once a year and a gas safety certificate issued, which you have the right to see.
Is the rental managed by an agent or the landlord? I’d try asking them for the most recent certificate in the first instance.

I'm not sure whether a boiler service as such is a legal requirement, but the gas safety check is. You should be given a copy of the current and all future annual gas safety checks. The landlord should get you an electric heater, but depending on where they live and/or how responsive your letting agent is, it might well be that you are better off grabbing one yourself and presenting them with the bill later. Just get something reasonably cheap that they might have picked themselves.

Boilers do break down and the landlord is at the mercy of the engineer that will come and fix it as much as you are. These things do happen, but yes, meantime, you need a little heater.

A service is not a legal requirement but when gas safety engineers come to check the boiler they usually do a service too. They are primarily checking that it is safe to us eg not exceeding safe limits for carbon monoxide emissions.

You should have an up to date has safety certificate, an electrical certificate (required by law as of April 2021) plus you should have had a How to rent handbook. Did you pay a deposit? If so this must have been registered with one of 3 tenancy deposit schemes within 30 days and you should have a copy of the tenancy deposit registration.

Ask the landlord or letting agent for a copy of the most recent gas safety certificate, if this was not given to you. By law, you should have been given this at the start of the tenancy. The certification needs to be done every 12 months.

If it is unavailable, your LL is in deep doodoo.... and you should talk to the company that holds your deposit.

Thank you all. We have decided to get the heater ourselves as it's just easier.

@flowerarranger, can I report them when we move out, or will that be too late?
I'm sure they won't have it as no one has come for any inspection since we moved in. I'm also annoyed as thinking back they've taken our calmness for granted and not done repairs they promised and that we asked for. This has tipped me off. Sorry I'm jusr ranting now.

Why are you so intent on reporting them? Ask them if you can have a copy of the latest gas safety cert, that will prompt them if they've forgotten, as will the engineer that comes out to remedy the fault.

Because they have left us at risk and are likely to do that to others. It is a legal requirement for a requirement.
And frankly, they have not bothered with the house, repairs that were promised to be done have not been done since we moved in and we're talking over 4 years. I've just had enough. The least they could do is fulfil their legal obligations @CorrBlimeyGG

It is a legal requirement for a reason

@Jollygoodride - I suggest that you talk to your letting agent, if there is one, as well as the company that holds your deposit, but also call Shelter for advice.

If they have not followed the laws regarding gas, electricity and EPC certificates, and haven't provided you with the How to Rent guide, you are in a strong position because they'd have broken the law.

Ultimately, though, you may just want to move. Bad LLs are unlikely ever to mend their ways and it'll just turn into a never-ending battle to try and get them to fulfil their responsibilities.

Have you been there a year or 4 years? Being slightly over the year is very different to 4 years with no safety check. Do you have a letting agent?

I should just move if you're not happy there and feel at risk

Communication is key. If you have concerns or want something….then ask.

It is not a requirement to have a boiler service. A yearly Gas inspection and Cert is a requirement.

If you’d like the LL to provide you with temporary radiators….just ask. It could be they already have some and could let you have them in a few hours. Or it could be they say they will get some and you’ll have them within a couple of days. Who knows if you don’t ask.

Likesiwse, if there are things that you think need attention and work at the property…tell them. Communication is key and no-one is a mind reader and shouldn’t be making complaints about things they haven’t even mentioned.

Some LLs are not helpful when tennants raise concerns. Others are on it immediately.

It works both ways….LLs complain about tenants who didn’t tell them about maintenance issues with the property, which then got worse and cost more to fix. You’re the one in the property, so it’s you that knows what’s happening. Things like little leaks or fences leaning heavily….if they are mentioned, the6 can be repaired before getting really bad and causing serious damage. Lots of tenants don’t mention them though.

Just communicate!

How magnanimous of you to assume that I haven't communicated. Clearly I won't be complaining if I haven't as they couldn't have known there's a problem would they. You shouldn't go on blogs speaking to adults like they are children! @WombatChocolate

I was trying not to be too specific with the date @scissorsorknife but thanks all, noted all the different points.