rented house - boiler failiure - how long is reasonable

[anonymous-user]

hi all,

I'm just out for some ideas on how long it is reasonable to wait before arranging my own repair of the boiler in my rented accommodation, and billing the letting agency. Does the present cold weather affect what would be considered a reasonable amount of time?

Thanks.

[paintman]

When did it break down, when did you tell the landlord/letting agency, what have they done about it?

[ATG]

Same day, but I'd offer to sort it out myself when I spoke to the agency.

[anonymous-user]

i am tempted to do this, they have boiler type, error code, details of problem... etc... landlord is uncontactable...

[ATG]

Dangerous2 said:

i am tempted to do this, they have boiler type, error code, details of problem... etc... landlord is uncontactable...

If you can't get hold of him after a couple of hours of trying, I'd get on with it myself. To show you made an effort to act in the landlord's best interest, you might either try to get a few quotes (at least for call-out cost, but the error code might mean you can price even more of the job up) or maybe see if you can use the same repairman as the landlord has used previously? Maybe on the gas safety certificate?

I've been lucky to always have good a relationship with landlords where we trusted each other, so this kind of thing was never a big problem. In fact on one occasion, the landlord's plumber came back with a ridiculous quote for same basic work, so I fixed it myself. Thereafter it was always "you and me against the world!" as far as the landlord was concerned.

[Jasandjules]

Dangerous2 said:

hi all,

I'm just out for some ideas on how long it is reasonable to wait before arranging my own repair of the boiler in my rented accommodation, and billing the letting agency. Does the present cold weather affect what would be considered a reasonable amount of time?

Thanks.

Yes the weather will affect it as the house will I suspect become uninhabitable without heating and hot water.

When did it go wrong? When did you notify them? What did they say?

Are you qualified to fix a boiler?

[rewc]

Dangerous2 said:

hi all,

I'm just out for some ideas on how long it is reasonable to wait before arranging my own repair of the boiler in my rented accommodation, and billing the letting agency. Does the present cold weather affect what would be considered a reasonable amount of time?

Thanks.

A local Mobile Home Park owner has just been fined a considerable amount of money because there was a power supply problem at his park. The court decided he took too long, 10 hours, in informing the supply authority.

[uuf361]

Depends on a number of factors........e.g. how long it had been not working before you contacted the landlord (none of that time would count imo), and whether you have any other forms of heating/hot water, e.g. immersion, fires etc.....

And the current weather will also prevent some tradespeople from getting out so you'd need to be practical about it, but shouldn't have to wait more than 24 hours before someone came out imo.

[Wings]

uuf361 said:

Depends on a number of factors........e.g. how long it had been not working before you contacted the landlord (none of that time would count imo), and whether you have any other forms of heating/hot water, e.g. immersion, fires etc.....

And the current weather will also prevent some tradespeople from getting out so you'd need to be practical about it, but shouldn't have to wait more than 24 hours before someone came out imo.

Agree, had two engineers pull ot of doing boiler serving due to pressure of work.As a LL myself i try to get repairs carried out within 7 days, alhough 48 hours is not unusual. I expect the LA looks after lots of properties, so the boiler engineer they use is working flat out dealing with similar boiler problems.

[jagracer]

OP, By doing it yourself or getting someone in could save your landlord a fortune as pipes could freeze if it's left untended.

[Who me ?]

There is a "right to repair" system for LA housing . If you can make sense of it ,it might give you an idea. It helps with those landlords that try to use the excuse that their regular firm is snowed under by giving you the right to demand that another firm(s) be contacted if the delay might be too long .
Also, you might find that your local council can offer advice on getting repairs to private rented accommodation.

[Gareth79]

Jasandjules said:

Yes the weather will affect it as the house will I suspect become uninhabitable without heating and hot water.

Only if the landlord doesn't supply alternative methods, eg. a couple of electric heaters and a kettle.

Heating engineers are busy at this time of year so that affects the time for tradespeople. According to a thread on MSE a week or two is reasonable for it to be fixed so long as alternative heating methods are in place.

[mph1977]

Gareth79 said:

Jasandjules said:

Yes the weather will affect it as the house will I suspect become uninhabitable without heating and hot water.

Only if the landlord doesn't supply alternative methods, eg. a couple of electric heaters and a kettle.

Heating engineers are busy at this time of year so that affects the time for tradespeople. According to a thread on MSE a week or two is reasonable for it to be fixed so long as alternative heating methods are in place.

how many hot water tanks have an immersion fitted even if it;s not used ... i know ours does and it;s all wired up etc ..

[shuvitupya]

I know someone whose landlord took nearly one year to fix the boiler.

This was someone that had no money of their own to get it fixed themselves.

[BBYeah]

I am so lucky with my landlord. Texted him to say the boiler was only providing hottish water (not scalding like the gf wants for her showers), even though heating was still fine.

He turned up within a couple of hours to have a look. Agreed something wasn't right and had his plumber mate around a few hours later. This guy called the boiler service centre and some other guys he knew were around later that night. Fitted a new PCB to the boiler and it's all sorted.

So I think that's the good end of the spectrum.

[Jasandjules]

Gareth79 said:

Only if the landlord doesn't supply alternative methods, eg. a couple of electric heaters and a kettle.

Agreed, but the OP hasn't answered the questions in respect of this so we don't know what is going on. Hopefully he hasn't frozen to death

[anonymous-user]

Ha, no alternative heating supplied. Pretty cold in here now. Main inconvenience is the lack of hot water.

[Jasandjules]

Dangerous2 said:

Ha, no alternative heating supplied. Pretty cold in here now. Main inconvenience is the lack of hot water.

When did you notify the Landlord? When did they say they'd get it fixed by?

With no alternative heating then I'd be getting it fixed now and tell them they will get the bill, or if they prefer you will go to a hotel and charge them the costs..

[JonRB]

When I was a landlord I had a contract with British Gas that cost me around £35pcm but meant they would sort out any problems immediately - gas, electricity, plumbing, drains, everything. The Landlord's annual Gas Safety Certificate was even included.

Was nice to know that any problems were one phonecall away from not being my problem.

[Deva Link]

Jasandjules said:

Dangerous2 said:

Ha, no alternative heating supplied. Pretty cold in here now. Main inconvenience is the lack of hot water.

When did you notify the Landlord? When did they say they'd get it fixed by?

With no alternative heating then I'd be getting it fixed now and tell them they will get the bill, or if they prefer you will go to a hotel and charge them the costs..

That's what I'd do.

Isn't there a legal environmental health requirement for thre landlord to provide heating and hot water?