Witholding Rent

Muffin` said:
My boiler broke on the 12th Dec and I've had to seek accomodation elsewhere so I can wash and be warm, and it's still not fixed as of today, is this grounds for witholding rent or should I forget about it?
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my boiler has been broken for 2 weeks now..

but has been malfunctioning for 1 year atleast

about 20 ppl have come around to "fix it" but each one of them has just ordered a new part, the next guy always says its the wrong part..

so :(
 
Mr Jack said:
I would think that a house without heating fails to be fit for human habitation and, accordingly, it cannot be rented for profit. I would withold rent.
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This is laughable. Heating is absolutely not required for habitation. Most of the world does not live with heated housing!

Besides which, there is no reason to withhold the rent. The landlord would simply then kick the OP out and withhold the deposit.
 
Muffin` said:
My boiler broke on the 12th Dec and I've had to seek accomodation elsewhere so I can wash and be warm, and it's still not fixed as of today, is this grounds for witholding rent or should I forget about it?
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Buy a small electric fan heater to heat your room. this is far more economical than central heating and much better for the environment. Better yet, in this mild weather just wear a jump and warm socks.

Phone up the landlord to see what they have to say. Perhaps he called a guy to fix it but he still hasn't turned up. Warn him that you really need the heating fixed as soon as possible, and if that is not possible then tell him it would be appropriate to get compensation.



Morally speaking, it is not the landlords fault if it broke, so don't try to punish him. And if you had owned the property it is unlikely that you could have got it fixed immediately.
 
[TW]Fox;13141748 said:
Get a bigger duvet and stop being a wet blanket. Also, overclocking your PC more and playing more games will provide a useful auxillery heat source.
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I agree with PC heat point he made. I haven't had the rad on in my room for like 8 / 9 years.
 
If you stop paying your rent then you are in breach of contract and the landlord is well within his rights to kick you out.

It's always best to contact your LL via letter (send a duplicate to the letting agent too). Ask for a temporary rent reduction to cover any extra expenses caused. Keep an eye on rental prices too, they're dropping due to the rental market being oversubscribed. If you really want to kick the LL where it hurts then haggle for a permanent rent reduction otherwise you'll move to a cheaper property :D. Good times for tenants at the moment.

Fog
 
Freefaller said:
The landlord is contractually obliged to maintain the house - if he's in breach of contract you can get some compensation. Typically this is a percentage reduction of the rent - this is what I've had to do in the past and it works out quite well. :) However do not stop paying rent as this will cause you more trouble than it would solve.
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But I don't believe they're contractually obliged to provide heating etc....!
 
Er I think they are? Not to the limit of paying the gas bill (unless thats part of the contract), but just as if the roof was leaking, they should be fixing it.
 
Have you contacted your landlord more than once? My boiler broke 2 weeks ago and the gas fitter came around the same day half 7 at night when he heard. Tried his best to sort it, fixed 3 days later after the wrong parts arrived (not his fault!) was back today for a minor leak. Landlord phoned the gas fitter and the gas fitter gave me his number if there were any problems. Ask your landlord for his/her gas fitters number (They tend to use a mate) so you can arrange it directly.
 
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