Getting boiler fixed

[Jumble Jumble]

To cut a long story short, someone needs to come and look at our boiler. The property is managed by an agent and they have an agreement with British Gas that covers it.

However, the agent refuses to send someone to let the gas man in and supervise him, insisting instead that one of us takes a day off work.

They can't do that, can they? One of their most basic obligations as agents acting on behalf of the landlord is surely to ensure that we have working heating (especially in this weather), and they can't effectively say to us "you can only have heating if you take a day (or half a day) off work".

I'm on a daily rate, so I'll have a serious loss if I miss a day because of this.

I'm thinking if they continue to insist then I'll say I'm going to invoice them for my time, and if they don't pay take them to Small Claims. If they still don't want to pay they'll have to appear in court and defend their position - or, they could just go and stand in our kitchen for 20 minutes while a gas man looks at our boiler.

Does this sound reasonable?

[rosysparkle]

It's your responsibility to be there to let British Gas in, not the agent or the landlord. If your landlord didn't have the BG cover it would be easier, to be honest, as the contractor could pick the key up from the agent's office, but BG won't do this.

[Jumble Jumble]

Oh. That's a bit rubbish. It's not my choice how the heating is run, or who fixes i, but I'm at the mercy of the inconvenient choices that have been made for me, costing me hundreds of pounds. Seems unfair.

I wouldn't want BG in my flat on their own anyway.

[Joa]

interesting one.....as the landlord is responsible for this repair and you have not contributed to the breakdown of the boiler, why should you suffer financial loss....on the other hand, l/lord is fulfilling his responsibility the best way he can....plus he is paying a fair whack to the agents for managment of the property....on the other hand (ok, I am multi-handed deity...lol), you don't want to sour your relationship with the l/lord and you want the boiler fixed a.s.a.p
Personally I think the agent would be the most obvious choice. Find out to which professional organisation they belong (ARLA, NAEA, UKALA) and call them for guidance.

Your legal action would only be reasonable if your landlord pays them to manage the property, not just find the tenant.

Did you discuss your proble with the landlord?