Landlord & WarmFront Grant

[kezzy400]

Hiya..
Im hoping someone out there can give me a little advice on what step to take next regarding our landlord and a grant we've been awarded with Warmfront for central heating. Basically we moved into our house in March and the only heating that was there was the gas fire, electric wall mounted radiator and storage heater in the living area. There are two gas heaters (old) in the hall (one at the top of the stairs) and no heating in the bedrooms. The hot water comes from switching the cylindor (sp?) on and we were told we had a back boiler too. Since moving in we've found the storage heater doesnt work, the old gas heaters (one doesnt work anyway!) have not been tested (just the gas fire) and there is no back boiler at all! Because of this (and because we have a little one under two) we were told we could apply for the grant which we did and were accepted on the condition that the landlord gave permission (obviously!) for the central heating to go in. This has been going on for six months..Warmfront telling us the landlord hasnt given permission yet, then they tell us she wants to know what they are going to put in and where..but they cant do that until she gives them permission to do a survey of the house. We keep ringing the estate agent she goes through to ask if she has given permission and every time they say shes sent it off in the post, but Warmfront never receive it!

I know we moved in knowing there was no central heating, but as we are only left with a gas fire and an expensive radiator for heating is there anything we can say to the landlord/estate agent to push for this central heating to be put in? As the house has no central heating our housing benefit was cut because the Fair Rent said she was charging too much for a house with no heating.
Is it really too scary for landlords to accept these grants! If any landlords are out there can you please offer some advice!! Thanks Kerry (sorry for whinging on!!)

[Jaz1]

Hi Kezzy,

I'm sorry to hear you're having these problems, however i'm playing devils advocate and just to let you know that warmfront aren't exactly easy to deal with, as a home owner the quote they sent me did not tell me of what work was being done and what they were fitting, i can only presume that your landlord is having the same problem as i am in getting that infromation from them. Maybe you should ask warmfront what they are installing and feed that back to the agent, thereby giving the landlord the information they need to decide wether to continue the work, chances are that he/she may have been asked to contribute towards the cost, as i have.

Anyone else out there who has any experiences with warmfront? I'm struggling to get the situation resolved and any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[MrShed]

I agree with Jaz totally. I doubt that once the information is there for the landlord he will have any objection, as it will increase the value of the property!

[Jaz1]

Correct! However i seem to be stuck with exorbitant costs warmfront are quoting for the replacement of a combi boiler, thermostat and flushing out radiators, so sadly i'm none the wiser about my own situation!

Thanks for the vote of confidence though MrShed, very kind of you.