Landlord's responsibility?
21 November 2016, 09:46 AM
#1
Landlord's responsibility?
My lad is in his final year at uni.
Last week on Monday he reported a boiler flue leak to his landlords, who inspected, declared it needing repair and turned the heating off.
By today they have still not given him a date for the repair, (it apparently needs a new boiler), and have further failed to supply alternative heating, despite promises. Nor did they "get back to him" on friday when he again complained about cold in the flat.
What are his rights, please?
He spent most of the weekend trying to work on his dissertation wrapped in a quilt, being able to see his breath in his room. No hot water to wash hand or wash up either, but an electric shower in the bathroom, which is also perishing cold inside.
Last week on Monday he reported a boiler flue leak to his landlords, who inspected, declared it needing repair and turned the heating off.
By today they have still not given him a date for the repair, (it apparently needs a new boiler), and have further failed to supply alternative heating, despite promises. Nor did they "get back to him" on friday when he again complained about cold in the flat.
What are his rights, please?
He spent most of the weekend trying to work on his dissertation wrapped in a quilt, being able to see his breath in his room. No hot water to wash hand or wash up either, but an electric shower in the bathroom, which is also perishing cold inside.
21 November 2016, 09:55 AM
#2
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What does the contract say? Is there an agent involved or someone between the landlord and your lad? Get someone at the uni to make a fuss. Buy your lad an oil filled electric heater. dl
Last edited by David Lock; 21 November 2016 at 10:07 AM.
21 November 2016, 11:34 AM
#3
Yeah, agents.
They are poor.
He told them Friday that the maintenance guys said they no longer do heaters because of h and s, she promised to get back to him and didn't.
I've told her I'll buy heaters and knock it off their rent.
Up to them
They are poor.
He told them Friday that the maintenance guys said they no longer do heaters because of h and s, she promised to get back to him and didn't.
I've told her I'll buy heaters and knock it off their rent.
Up to them
21 November 2016, 01:10 PM
#7
Did he take out insurance and will this cover it?
The students Union can also help if he is a member - they should have a 'welfare' officer who should take on the problem. We had something similar and i think the union paid for the repair to be done straight away and then chased it up from the landlord later.
The students Union can also help if he is a member - they should have a 'welfare' officer who should take on the problem. We had something similar and i think the union paid for the repair to be done straight away and then chased it up from the landlord later.
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21 November 2016, 01:37 PM
#8
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Does he have house mates to kick off for his support, or other mates he can go to, while the house is cold and freezing? Buy him a heater/oil filled radiator, as David suggests, but until that happens, he can doss with one of his mates and carry on with his homework, I suppose?
21 November 2016, 02:13 PM
#9
Speaking as a landlord, and one that has dealt with this very situation, however I do look after my tenants they have a reasonable amount of time to resolve. This gets them out of lots of situations and puts me in bad light, I got a new boiler fitted and working within three days, iirc I had a week to resolve for this kind of issue.
Itmt a temporary solution like heaters would be appropriate
Itmt a temporary solution like heaters would be appropriate
21 November 2016, 04:13 PM
#10
After much nagging and them being told we are knocking off one week's rent as the place was/is uninhabitable, they have promised heaters by 5.30, but the boiler can't be done until 07 Dec. They have had to get the Landlord to sign off on it, they are agents for the property, not owners.
They have also promised compensation for the lack of hot water, other than the electric shower.
We shall see
They have also promised compensation for the lack of hot water, other than the electric shower.
We shall see
22 November 2016, 06:26 PM
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22 November 2016, 08:36 PM
#16
I've never had a problem with a boiler in summer, they always **** up just when you start using them again/ really need them, trying to find a plumber / heating engineer at the begining of winter is like trying to find a white tiger in a snow storm.
23 November 2016, 09:52 AM
#17
Yep, I reckon that's it.
I shouldn't have had to get involved but he's in his final year and working very hard, so did it for him. The lass who is manager now knows she was unacceptably late in doing anything.
Let's hope she learns from it.
Now...do I knock them a week off this month's rent, or the final month?
And what do we hold out for as comp for having no hot water for a month?
I shouldn't have had to get involved but he's in his final year and working very hard, so did it for him. The lass who is manager now knows she was unacceptably late in doing anything.
Let's hope she learns from it.
Now...do I knock them a week off this month's rent, or the final month?
And what do we hold out for as comp for having no hot water for a month?
23 November 2016, 10:41 AM
#18
Fire up the boiler once a week in summer so it doesn't **** itself in winter when it gets turned on for the first time in months to have to work hard.
23 November 2016, 07:40 PM
#19
so it's always doing something, shame as I prefered the old baxi which wasn't actually that old, and immersion.