landlord / heating?

Question

if your heating broke down and your landlord called someone to fix it two days later, yet that person didnt arrive for another week and you had to buy a small electric heater for yourself.
what would your thoughts / reactions be?
given its winter and cold.

Answer 1

I'd be upset but not overreact.

Maybe phone a plumber and see what the waiting list would be if it was your house ?

Landlords cannot perform miricles and if the plumbers are busy because everyone has tried thier heating and its broken then there will be a wait.

1 week is not unreasonable.

I own houses and am often quoted 4-6 weeks for someone to come out and do non service affecting repairs, or 1 week for service affecting. I can't "create" plumbers or electricians for my tenents.

Sure, i could find someone at short notice. But you have to ask yourself why they are available and the other plumbers are not ?
If I got an uknown person to come and do the job quicker, i'd be moaned at for sending a shoddy workman around. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

You have to wait for the good ones, fact of life.

Ebo definately has the wrong idea. If you pay late you are immediately in breach of contrct and the landlord can terminate your contract without notice. Thats not a situation you, or a decent landlord, wants to be in.

Answer 2

If the boiler belongs to the landlord and you pay for the heating, then it is his duty to have the boiler repaired. From what you say he arranged for this to be done in 24hrs. It was not his fault that the engineer did not turn up. What you should have done is to have reported back to him when the repair man did not arrive, he then had the chance to `chase up` the engineer or ask another to do the job.If he did not do this, then you would be in your right to engage an engineer yourself, and have him send the account to the landlord. The fact that you decided to buy yourself a heater instead was your decision and you cannot expect to be compensated for it, if you were, the heater would then be the landlords` property. If your boiler is gas, and was properly serviced every year ( as it must be by law and you should be given a duplicate certificate.) Then I am surprised that you had to wait so long for the repair man, usually they `rush` around to jobs where they know they have a regular fee coming each year. I think the problem is that you don`t seem to have this sort of event written in your rental contract, it is so much simpler if all these things are sorted out before you move in. I don`t think it is worth falling out with your landlord over, you want to keep on the right side of him! All appliances belonging to the landlord must be tested annually to ensure they are safe.

Answer 3

I had the same problem, and with young children I had to beg & borrow heaters. And I had no hot water. My landlord was being funny with me telling me HIS own heating was on the blink. Like I was interested!!!!

I told him, nicely, that I was perfectly within my rights to withold my rent as the boiler in my house, which he owned was defective. Or I could do the legwork for him and find a repair man, British Gas by the way. (Imagine the cost) The landlord sent a Corgi Registered repair man the next day.

My rent only covered the house, not heating, but as a landlord he was responsible for his gas appliances.

Answer 4

If your tenancy agreement says that the rent includes heating then you can ask for payment for the cost of running the heater and you could try the cost of buying it as well. If you pay for the heating then you could ask for the cost of the heater but you may have to give it up when the heating is fixed. If you can show that it has cost you more than normal you could probably as for the difference.

Answer 5

Well first of all if it is cold where you are from the landlord as 24 hours to get heat to you if you have kids it is sooner. However since the person or company he hired couldn't get to you sooner it is still the responsibility of your landlord to provide you with heat . Deduct it from the rent , if the heater cause your bill to go up and you can prove it deduct it .

Answer 6

Move out.....

Landlords have a responsibility to have apartments and homes in working livable order. Check your phone book for a Landlords and Tennants Bureau. Report him. They often have you pay them your rent until such times as the landlord makes his repairs. The Bureau then gives the rent to the landlord once his repairs have been approved and met all requirements, less a fee.

Answer 7

Try to negotiate with your landlord for a disc. on your rent. Otherwise your on your own and the landlord is under no obligation to compensate you.
If the land lord is a real jerk then it could not hurt to at least make a complaint to your local housing authority.

Answer 8

you will could desire to ask the owner! each so often instruments could have separate thermostats to regulate the various zones in a construction. make certain you make sparkling this earlier signing a employ or you chilly be caught in an uncomfortable subject. stable success

Answer 9

Maybe you should have checked your lease. I would probably have called someone myself after the first day and sent him the bill, especially if you have small children, I would have nagged him everyday to get someone to repair it.

Answer 10

i would be livid! I would contact the landlord and ask him/her to reimburse you for the heater and ask him to sort a repair asap! x