Tenant got a heat pump installed without consent

[Kimmers4334]

I am in two minds about this because it’s an upgrade to the property, but it’s a pretty significant and permanent thing that I’m now responsible for.

So as not to dripfeed, the tenant asked if they could have an appointment to see if the property would qualify for any upgrades. I agreed but was very clear that I’d want to see plans/recommendations before I agreed to having anything installed. I heard nothing further and then the letting agent sent me a certificate for work I know nothing about. There is a good chance I would’ve agreed to the heat pump, but that would depend on me having all the information. On principle I am pretty annoyed that the tenant, letting agent and installation company didn’t actually seek permission to go ahead at any point.
What would you do in this situation, complain to someone (letting agent? Installation company?), see it as breach of contract by the tenant, or just let it go as it does benefit the property?

You might need to update both your house insurance and your mortgage lender of the installation.

And in the absence of any certification to say so, make sure that the house is currently safe. There will have been modifications to the electrics and possible removal of gas appliances. Insist on the certificates as a matter of urgency. There should be an up-to-date paper-trail. If not get the checks done again.

Again, tell your house insurers what has happened. Make sure you are still covered. If you have landlord insurance, have a similar conversation with them as well. Use their legal cover if you can, at least to start with.

Get a lawyer.

[Sorry cross posted with @herbetta ]

Solar panels as well??? Are there batteries as well- if so, where are they? How old is the hot water tank- we replaced ours when we put in the ASHP as it was over 25 years old and we had had a minor overflow issue. I am genuinely gobsmacked. How did they get funding agreed without your written consent? Its serious money.
My son has a late 1920's early 1930's house- its single brick , no cavity wall, completely unsuitable for a ASHP as the insulation isn't good enough. What does the EPC say? Who checked the roof!!!
I agree with PP who suggested the CE of the Energy Company to investigate. The Managing Agents need to look very hard at their procedures.
I think I am going to check my Landlord's insurance- this is seriously scary.

All this.

The gas safey certicate is a legal requirement on landlords - so what been done with old boiler and has the gas supply been capped properly - what are you liablities here.

I don’t understand who is responsible for paying the balance? Yes, there is a grant, but it doesn’t cover the full cost (by a lot). Will the companies be coming after you as the owner?

And if (unlikely) the tenants are intending to pay the balance, what happens when they move on? They can hardly take it with them...

Bad tenant. Bad agent. Evict without hesitation. And yes, I believe this would qualify for eviction. Utterly unbelievable. If you want to mess about with property renovations move somewhere where you can buy your own.

I'm frankly astounded at the number of people on this thread who've advised to "let it go" or "just tell them not to do it again."

This is a serious tenancy breach, get all the details first, who installed it, how did they get your signature (which would have been required), has a government grant been provided, in whose name is the grant, has the HP got building regs approval, is any money owing for the installation!! Get on top if this asap, it may turn out not to be a big issue…. But it could be fraud and your name has been used. Also yes it’s an upgrade, but with higher running costs it could put off future tenants especially if the property is not very well insulated. I’m a landlord and this would really concern me, u need a meeting at the agents office with the tenant and they need to provide all the paperwork for review.

I know right?!

I came back hoping to see some solicitor involvement. Or at least threatened with it and at the very very least a visit to the property and do some shit in person.. Someone is answerable and it's time for big guns.

You have had a heat pump, radiators and solar panels fitted at no cost with tenants who met the criteria and suffered the disruption. You must be furious!

Clearly there is an issue of consent. The work could not be carried out without written consent. But you said earlier in the thread that you would have consented - presumably because the rating would not have allowed you to rent in future.

Were you planning to do privately funded upgrades so you could check credentials of the companies you planned to spend tens of thousands to fund a new heating system, radiators and solar panels?

I’m not sure what your long term plan was regardless of lack of written explicit consent.

It’s’ the lack of explicit written consent that’s the problem. The tenant had no right to go ahead without it. So it’s irrelevant what OP planned to do - it sets a precedent if allowed to stand.

"You have had a heat pump, radiators and solar panels fitted at no cost"

Well, we don't actually know that, do we? It's not clear if there's an outstanding amount to pay or who is liable for any such balance. And, the OP has said it's an old house so may well not be suitable for a heat pump. She hasn't visited the property in order to know what, if any, damage has been done during fitting. And further costs may well come in the future. Whose name is on the guarantee (if indeed there is one) and she won't be able to sell the house in future if there's any shadiness about all this. There will be red flags flying all over the place for conveyancing solicitors and surveyors.

I guess the OP was PLANNING to do what she wanted with her own property and not have a company she didn't know and hadn't checked out put god knows what into her property and leave her responsible for the upkeep plus any problems.

You have had a heat pump, radiators and solar panels fitted at no cost...

Whow! Its very clear when tenants and not actual LL's are posting on this thread isn't it? Absolutely no concern for the legalities, safety, insurance etc of what has been done, presumably, illegally!

Heat pumps are not designed to go on older properties - waste of space! They were the most expensive source of heating I’ve ever experienced when we had them and that was in a brand new house too with fantastic insulation

I’m not dragging my feet on the solicitor, I’ve been trying to gather some info first. Mainly what exactly has been done. I asked the agent to visit the property in person last week (I am other end of the country) but it’s only after some strong words today that she seems to be taking things seriously

Agree, completely bizarre. I had some tenants do dodgy 'improvements' on a house I used to rent out. It was in fairly poor condition, their rent was very cheap, and I wasn't bothered as it got rectified when I had some money to do it properly. But the idea of just letting this go is crazy.

Exactly, I could’ve been planning to sell ASAP but now I can’t. Or I could’ve been planning to research heat pump brands, check reviews, get quotes, decide on what’s going where and make sure it’s all done properly. Or something completely different seeing as I would’ve had time to find out heat pumps are probably pointless on this type of property. This is not necessarily amazing work done for free, it is potentially very dodgy work with big bills that I didn’t get a chance to agree to

Also I think it’s sensible to get everything in writing given that it’s a legal matter but that means waiting for replies

Heat pumps certainly can be installed at older properties and many have been, successfully. You just need to have a certain standard of insulation first.
Heat pumps do need some electricity to run, of course, but overall they save money.
Plus, they are good for the environment because they don't spew out carbon into the atmosphere (climate emergency).

All that you say maybe true but surely the property owner gets to decide?

I'm sure you realise this really, OP, but you only have to take from this thread what's useful to you.

You don't owe any of us an explanation of what you're doing. I'm sure it's stressful enough without feeling pressured by anonymous posters.

MN threads are a bit notorious for people on the other side of the screen expecting (or at least hoping) things to happen in TV time, not real time.

I would see it as a breach of contract by the tenant. Evict them and change to a different letting company.
This

Please advise on what grounds a possession order might be granted?