Compensation - No Hot Water

[cp33c]

Good Morning All!,

 

Basically, we've not had proper hot running water since mid December now. We've had luke warm to stone cold! Our landlord sent someone round to take a look back when it first happened in December and since then has kept to the line of 'User Error', blaiming everything from the weather outside down to us running the water too fast! We've been complaining every two weeks or so.

 

Anyway he eventually sent someone round last Thursday to service the boiler. Man turns up and says he couldn't service the boiler as its broken and needs a repair! Anyway after he left my wife went to take a shower and now we have stone cold water. Thankfully our landlord is sending someone round today to replace the broken part, so we should be back to normal today.

 

As you can imagine, I'm absolutely fuming! For the past 4 months we've been fobbed off with excuses. Our LL runs a plumbing firm so thought we'd know what he was talking about, hence the reason why we didn't take this further previously.

 

There are also some bits that haven't been fixed which I'm quite annoyed about, leaking garage (said they'd fix) and burst pipe to back garden tap (said they'd fix when the weather gets better!, back in Jan)

 

Is there anything we can do..........apart from move out.

 

Thanks

[Ed999]

The following advice is applicable to you only if the rented premises are entirely within England and Wales, and only if you were granted a shorthold tenancy (under which you [and your spouse/partner/children if any] had exclusive use of at least a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom, none of which were shared with another tenant nor with the landlord) and were over 18 years of age when the tenancy was granted.

 

 

Please read this FAQ -

 

Disrepairs in privately rented accommodation

 

 

Bear in mind that if you are a shorthold tenant, you can be evicted from the premises by simply being given 2 months notice, in writing, at any time once the tenancy has been running for 4 months. No reason has to be given. Where a dispute arises, concerning any matter, the landlord can simply end the tenancy in that way.

 

 

 

Note

 

Advice & opinions on this forum are offered informally, without any assumption of liability. Use your own judgment. Seek advice of a qualified and insured professional if you have any doubts.

 

This posting gives general guidance only. It is not an authoritative statement of the law. Consult a solicitor for specific advice before deciding on any course of action.

[cp33c]

Ok thanks.

 

So as far as I can tell. If the LL doesn't decide to grant compensation for the 4 months of warmish water and now a week of cold water, then you have to go to court which can be costly.

 

Also just to add, plumber turned up today......apparently he wasn't there to fix only to make sure its broken!!!:mad2::mad2:

[xoAmyox]

You may be entitled to compensation, but only once a court has decided so.

 

However, no hot water is what is known as a Category 1 hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). This means that should you ask your local council to inspect (they do have powers over private rentals), and they find this hazard, you landlord will be advised to fix it, and may also be fined. Should he ignore the advice, the council have the powers to have the work done and then bill the landlord.

 

Obviously this is a drastic course of action, but it does seem that you have given the LL adequate time to rectify the problem. I do echo the advice above, that you may be evicted for making this kind of complaint.