How Long Can a Landlord Leave You Without Heating in the UK?

If you are a tenant in the UK and facing heating or hot water issues in the rented property. Meanwhile, your landlord left you without the heating system and did not fix the issues. Then, you are eligible to make the broken heating system claims. 

This blog will explain the landlord’s responsibility for a faulty heating system. Furthermore, how long can the landlord leave you without the heating services?

Types of Heating or Hot Water Issues

Here are some common types of heating or hot water problems:

1. Abnormal Water Temperatures: This may occur due to broken thermostats, faulty heating elements, or other issues.
2. Delayed Heating: Insufficient heating elements or problems with the gas supply. 
3. Not Enough Hot Water: This usually occurs from a small heater, but can also be faulty valves.
4. Water Heater Mishaps: Problems caused by water that is too hot or too cold.
5. Broken Pipe: Lime buildup in the water heater.

Prevention of these issues can be done by timely repairs and proper maintenance of the devices. 

 

Tenant Rights

In the UK, tenants have the right to get heating and hot water services in rented property. They have the right to live in a safe and habitable atmosphere. So that it is the legal duty of the landlords to maintain the heating systems, especially in the winter season, so the tenants can get these facilities. The duty includes the maintenance of boilers, central heating systems, water and gas pipes, radiators, gas fires, and electrical heaters. This is all covered under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.

If a tenant has any issues with these systems, they should immediately inform the landlord, preferably through written messages. Landlords usually take care of the heating and hot water systems problems immediately especially in winter months. All of these services are needed to help a livable environment.

Touch our experts at +4402030264595, our team will explain the tenant rights in detail.

 

What If Your Landlord Refuses to Fix the Heating?

If your landlord refuses to fix the heating, take these steps: 

1. Inform the Landlord About the Issue in Writing. Explain the problem along with when it first occurred. It is important to take this step because it will prevent the heating problem from being neglected any longer. 
2. Give a Specific Amount of Time: Provide a deadline by which the landlord is to ensure that the issue has been resolved. For most maintenance issues, a 24-hour deadline is more than reasonable. 
3. Send a Subsequent Follow-up Letter: It includes another written request so if a response does not come, then this letter helps keep track of what has been said in all communications.
4. Consult Us: Look for a housing disrepair team that can help you at +4402030264595.
5. Consider Claiming: Keep track of your costs and expenses, and prepare to file a claim.

What to Do When There’s No Hot Water? 

When faced with the lack of hot water at your rental property, the first step is to seek the assistance of a professional or plumber. Report the issue to the relevant authority such as the landlord personally. This needs to be done immediately to ensure disrepair issues. 

The landlord is accountable for maintaining the property in a safe and livable condition. It includes providing hot water as an essential service. He is expected to act within 24 hours during emergency situations where the heating or hot water supply isn’t working. In such cases, he should either arrange for necessary repairs or offer a temporary solution by providing electric heaters.

 

How to Make a Broken Heating System Claim Against a Landlord?

If the heating system is not working in the rented property, there are certain procedures that need to be followed before making a claim against the landlord. Let’s follow below steps: 

1. Understand Rights: Under the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985, every landlord has a duty to maintain the heating facilities of the rented property in the proper working condition.
2. Take Photographic Evidence: Document everything relating to repair and capture evidence of the heater being out of order. It includes photographs and recorded videos of the broken pieces. 
3. Notice the Landlord: Send a written notice detailing the issue to the landlord.
4. Allow the Required Time to Fix the Problem: If there are any heating issues, they should be fixed as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours for places that do not have hot water. 
5. Look For Expert: If the landlord ignores your request to look for a solution for the heating problem. Then, it is time to approach a Housing Disrepair Team. 

These steps enable the landlord to take action on the heating systems issue along with the compensation that tenants face.

 

Heating Standards in Private Rented Housing

Some observations on heating standards in the UK are as follows:

1. Temperature: When the outside temperature is -1°C, rental properties must ensure that the bedrooms are kept at a minimum of 18°C and 21°C in living rooms.
2. Maintenance of Heating Systems: Maintaining and repairing the water heating equipment of the property is the obligation of the landlords.
3. Legal Requirements: Heating systems should be in good order within the property as per the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. In addition, hot water must be available to the tenant all the time.
4. Tenant’s Duty: Tenants have the duty to report every issue concerning the heating appliances to their landlords promptly.

 

How Long Can a Landlord Leave You Without Heating in the UK?

Although UK law does not provide a specific timeline, landlords are expected to attend to any heating repairs in a reasonable timeframe. In winter, however, landlords are expected to fix the problem within a day. Not resolving the issue can result in a violation of the tenancy agreement. Then, tenants need to make a formal complaint by contacting our team at  +4402030264595 and take advice if required.

 

Conclusion

In the UK, your landlord can leave you without the heating system for about 24 hours. However, the time frame is not specifically defined in any UK law. Your landlord is responsible to fix the heating system as soon as possible. 

Fill out the Claim Form to know what further steps to take for the amount of compensation for broken heating system claims.