Husband refuses to let workmen in to fix the central heating

[user1476041120]

Does anyone know legally what I can do here. My boiler broke in Sept 23. My husband tried to install a brand new boiler but did not complete the job at all.
Result - I have had NO central heating or hotwater all winter. Just a log burner was lit at night . I got a Corgi Regd plumber to come and quote to put it all right . But my husband has said he will not let him in to do the work !!!

I cant let the plumber turn up and be confronted with an angry husband but I am desperate to get the heating system put back in safely. I have tried to google for answers but cant seem to find any that don't want to charge me £50 / month Anyone got any ideas ?

If your boiler is Gas your husband is breaking the law by trying to fix it. As for selling the house if you divorce, he doesn't get a choice, it will be split 50/50, as will any savings etc.
Don't let this man steal what is left of your life.

Do you have children OP? If so, could they be present when the gas engineer visits?

You absolutely can leave him & can force a sale of the house with legal help (although as others have indicated, the boiler issue would need to be sorted first - or removed & the gas supply capped).

Where we live there are some nice, affordable, small properties for the over 60s, in what is otherwise a very expensive area. You might well find your 50% equity can get you a nice little place with money left for a rainy day.

What an odd thread.
I bet you there will be drip feed.
Until I've got more of the story, I'll refrain from trying to help

Thos saying is "husband an ex" etc, etc - why are you saying that as OP has not indicated that and also OP indicating that DH won't let in the gas safe engineer means he must be living there

It doesn’t, but the pp is correct that it needs to be a qualified person, now a gas safe engineer.

They have to have eligible Care and Support needs under the Care Act 2014 though to be eligible for support with this from a social worker under s.42 of the Care Act.

Being in your 70s isn't enough to meet the eligibility criteria for Adult Safeguarding.

being controlled and coerced happens to people of all ages but it becomes a s.42 safeguarding adults issue only when the person meets the three eligibility criteria:

You have to have Eligible Care and Support needs

AND

Be at risk of abuse or neglect

AND

Be unable to take action to protect yourself from harm because of your eligible care and support needs.

People without Eligible Care and Support needs, whatever their age will be signposted by adult social care to universally available domestic abuse services.

And no I'm not thr OPs husband, I'm a senior social worker who regularly chairs s.42 safeguarding meetings on behalf of the local authority

If he isn't Gas Safe registered he was breaking the law trying to install a new gas boiler. Perhaps can use the threat of reporting him as leverage?

But seriously, what is WRONG with him??

Is your husband corgi registered?
Illegal to fit a boiler otherwise.

Yes gas safe.
Have you got a friend or family member you could move in with op?

@user1476041120 " cant let the plumber turn up and be confronted with an angry husband " - Well I think you could but I don't know your husband so don't know how angry, angry is , but I would just book the proper engineer to fix the boiler - if I have understood you correctly you don't need to take out the monthly maintenace thing.

OP has had some good advice on previous threads where the husband is a hoarder. Mainly to divorce him!

You can force him to sell the house. Divorce him. Speak to a solicitor.

A boiler can be replaced in less than a day. It normally takes little more than an hour. I've had a few new boilers fitted. Even when we had all the radiators replaced it still only took an afternoon.

I would call the police and report him for controlling and coercive behaviour. Then women's aid for support.

You're not legally allowed to fit gas boilers yourself unless you're a qualified AND GAS-SAFE registered.

Contact the older persons team, at your local council, and explain the problem.

Contact adult social services. You can’t live like this.

why is he refusing? It’s very odd behaviour. Is he maybe got neurological issues?

This!

You need to get legal advice!
You need it soon.
Phone some local firms after Easter and ask about half hour free legal advice surgeries. Lots of them do it.

He will have to do what the courts tell him to do.

Just because you are a senior citizen doesn’t mean you should be prevented from living a warm and comfy life. What a prat.
Your husband could be starting some kind of dementia?
Time for your big girl knickers and stand up for yourself. Come on missus, you can do it.

You might not be able to 'force' him to sell but legally he owes you your half so he either pays you or if he can't he has to sell which will be forced by court and then pay you.

Why would you think otherwise?

Actually you can force a sale and a divorce. He can make it a pain in the arse but he can't prevent it. I'd go fucking mental and tell him he let's the workmen in with good grace or he'll be living out his final years alone because I wouldn't be wasting any more years on a man who clearly does not love or respect me. His choice but either way I'd not be living another month like it.

If previous threads have been about hoarding, and now he's refusing tradespeople to do very necessary repairs, I'd consider dementia.

Both the hoarding and not getting things fixed gave me flashbacks of how my dad was before he was formally diagnosed.

I've got no other advice but you cannot live like this.

Wishing you all the very best.

Do you have any family or friends who can help persuade your husband to let a gas fitter in op? As others have said you really do need to divorce him (I read your previous thread) and get the house sold. Having someone to support you through this would make it so much easier.

It's a bit of an odd situation. What is your husband's plan to get the new boiler commissioned? Is this because he's intending to do as much as he can himself before then getting a qualified gas tech to do complete it and sign it off, and he just hasn't got round to doing the pre work himself yet? Or is he actually intending to do the whole job including the gas fitting/commissioning himself? Presuming he's not qualified to do that, would be very dodgy. And most qualified gas people won't be comfortable signing off someone else's work. Will need a qualified gas tech to get it approved and registered with the local authority/building control, which is a legal requirement. It's quite possible that what he's done so far isn't even up to current regs, even if the old boiler installation was before. In which case it could cost as much to put right as if a qualified person did it in the first place.

Its Gas Safe now, but yes. Gas boilers must be fitted by a Gas Safe qualified engineer.

Correct.

You have to be a certified GAS SAFE (formerly CORGI) engineer.

Doing your own work on any gas equipment is illegal.

OP, you are in danger. Not just of an explosion, but of dying of carbon monoxide poisoning at any time.

Get out of the house ASAP. Leave him, and go to a woman's refuge.