Hi all

I'll try to keep things simple...

• We're renting through an agency
  
• We moved in July 6th 2013
  
• July 3rd 2014 someone came to do a gas safety cert and condemned the boiler as:
  
  • It was so blocked up that it was unsafe
    
  • There is no external ventilation
    

  [*]We still have no boiler

  [*]The hot water runs off an immersion heater when the boiler doesn't work

  [*]No heating (I have a medical condition that means that I've wanted the heating on for a few weeks)

  [*]No gas safety certificate for last year - we're the first tenants and without the vent, no gas safety certificate can ever have been issued

So, 4 people all using hot water and having showers that run off an electric immersion heater for 10 weeks and no boiler due to an illegal installation.

I don't think the landlord knows what's happening and I suspect the agency is lying to us. People have supposed to have been coming out, they don't turn up, I chase, the agency say they'll call back and rarely do unless I start getting the hump. This is quite a big chain as well. They begin with B and end with elvoir.

What recourse do we have? Should we get compensation for the inconvenience an increased costs for running the hot water and showers off an immersion heater?

Not really sure where to turn now as the agency just seem to be taking the mick.

Cheers all

A

Hi OldJake

Do you have a copy of the boiler being condemned?

Do you have contact details for the landlord?

Has your Deposit been Protected?

Have a read of these links: http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/faqtenant.htm

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/renting_a_property/for_tenants.aspx

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/advice/renting_a_property/for_landlords.aspx

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets

https://www.gov.uk/private-renting/your-rights-and-responsibilities

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

We have a copy of the failure certificate and a sticker on the boiler saying that we can't use it and that if we do we could be fined £5000.

No, we don't have contact details for the landlord.

Yes, the deposit is protected.

Thanks for the links. I'll check them out. I've done some digging but it's all a bit vague. Some sites say we're entitled to £10 a day up to £50. But I'm assuming that's based on the fault being fixed in a lot less than 10 weeks!

Cheers

A

If they rented you a property with no Gas Cert ..... They are in a "Sea of $h1t"

I beleive ARLA are the the people to report them to.

Also contact the Local Council and report it. They will do a lot of chasing and "investigations" for you.

You can report no Gas safe cert to the HSE on their web site.

Certainly a claim for compensation should be pursued, through agent or direct with LL.

If you are looking at financial compensation, it may be worth doing some calculations to see how much extra it's costing you to run the hot water from the immersion rather than the boiler. I know you've looked at some sites for some figures but if you have a rough figure of your own at least that is something to point out to them.

In terms of getting your boiler up and running again, did the failure notice give details of the contractor who did the failed check? They would most likely have been the contractors who would have been set to fix the boiler. Are your agency happy for you to liaise directly with the contractor in order to get your boiler sorted? It doesn't absolve them or your landlord of their responsibilities but they sometimes let tenants make their own arrangements with contractors in order to help get the work done. I would suggest advising the agency first if you plan to get in touch with the contractor though.

There are grants available for new boilers particularly if on benefits etc.