More boiler problems - now it's worse - what should the compensation be?

Lysander

Lysander

Lysander

Capodecina
Soldato
Joined
1 Aug 2005
Posts
20,005
Location
Flatland
A few months ago I wrote here about how the landlord had kindly installed a new boiler for us, a combi one. Following this there were two issues when an untightened nut caused a flood in the hall, and next an imporperly-wired connected caused one of the sockets to start burning.

That events were noted here:

https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...ipe-nut-work-itself-loose-over-time.18923103/

Now the issues have continued. Bear in mind this was a NEW BOILER only installed earlier this year.

On Thursday last week I was doing a Twitch stream and then the computer power shut off, I was like "what the hell?" and I found out that the RCD had tripped. OK, weird. We reset it but couldn't work out what had happened.

Next day in the evening, we find out that there was no hot water. The 'repair man' hired by the landlord [I use quotes because he 'fixes' something then causes another issue] came round and couldn't work out the problem. He came back again the next day, on Monday, and concluded that a fault in the boiler had caused the RCD to trip. This is now the third time there's been an issue with this new boiler.

Since then, it has been a comedy of errors, with this repairman and his colleagues showing up late and not being able to diagnose the fault. The bottom line is that it won't be fixed till at least Monday now and we have not had hot water for a week so far.

The landlord wrote to us this morning to say he would contact us after it had been fixed to give us his proposal for compensation. What would it be in this case? Repayment of rent for each day inconvenienced?
 
My vote goes for wait until it has been fixed and he contacts you to give his proposal for compensation.
 
"The landlord wrote to us this morning to say he would contact us after it had been fixed to give us his proposal for compensation."

I imagine your landlord has a better idea than me :D
 
dLockers said:
My vote goes for wait until it has been fixed and he contacts you to give his proposal for compensation.
Click to expand...

I can, at least, say what I would consider fair.

Something in the region of 50% of the rent for each day of no hot water.

So [[monthly rent x 12] / 365] x [<number of days with no hot water> / 2]

I think repaying a whole day's rent is a bit much, since we still have a flat with working electrics etc. But I think half is fair.
 
I was going to follow-up and say don't expect the earth. I would say what you're proposing is fair.

I tried to get a discount on my rent when the landlord changed all the windows, and it was met with a blunt "no hecking way". I guess they don't want to set precedent.
 
dLockers said:
I was going to follow-up and say don't expect the earth. I would say what you're proposing is fair.

I tried to get a discount on my rent when the landlord changed all the windows, and it was met with a blunt "no hecking way". I guess they don't want to set precedent.
Click to expand...
What did you want discount for? Surely ew windows is a good thing.
 
I'm quite sure that the landlord has to provide facilities for hot water and heating, particularly if the house has young children. I would research and take advice before doing this, but I think you're within your rights to get your own plumber out to fix the problem and subtract the costs from your rent
 
I would take it as a positive that your landlord has proactively come out and said you'll be getting compensated. I imagine there will be a lot of landlords out there who would tell you where to stick it.
 
If you don't get any joy from the landlord or his repair guy, then bypass them both and go straight to the manufacturer of the boiler. The boiler is under warranty and the manufacturer takes care of any faults not the installer.
 
FlyingFish said:
If you don't get any joy from the landlord or his repair guy, then bypass them both and go straight to the manufacturer of the boiler. The boiler is under warranty and the manufacturer takes care of any faults not the installer.
Click to expand...

Yes, if it has been installed correctly in the first place..
 
200sols said:
Yes, if it has been installed correctly in the first place..
Click to expand...
There is that, and the fact that the installation might not even be registered with the manufacturer or gas safe.
But in my experience the major boiler manufacturers will still come out and have a look for such a new appliance. It would also be a good way of finding out how good the installation is!
 
FlyingFish said:
There is that, and the fact that the installation might not even be registered with the manufacturer or gas safe.
But in my experience the major boiler manufacturers will still come out and have a look for such a new appliance. It would also be a good way of finding out how good the installation is!
Click to expand...
The manufacturer isn't going to take care of anything other than the boiler itself, and if they find it's been installed incorrectly it'll be void anyway.
 
Exactly.
If the boiler is installed correctly then it's all good and peace of mind for the tenant.
If its not fitted correctly, then it's not being 'covered up' by the landlord and his side kick, because the manufacturer has correctly inspected it.

If the installer has messed up, then the tenant can inform gas safe to get the installation inspected to force the landlord to comply correctly.

So its the best way to get the job done right.
 
Update from today.

The element was removed from the boiler and...

it is CAKED in limescale. Looks like cornflakes. This boiler is only five months old.

Should not the installers have put on a filter? We are in London, a hard water area, is this not a basic error?
 
depends if the landlord asked for it? if he was told boiler is x amount and we strongly suggest fitting this filter at another x amount, then he probably cheaped out. his problem not yours.
has he given you an idea of what compensation?.

some years ago son had similar problem with heating not working and was advised by a friend to kick up a fuss with his landlord.....the fault was cured and he got a couple of hundred in compo. but the rub was 3 months later the landlord decided to redo all his buildings and served notice on my son .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom