Landlord difficulties and no heating or hot water

[Macca]

Posted on behalf of a friend who is without internet access at the moment. Grateful for any help....

 

I rent a house off a land lord, well letting agency, and we had our gas safety inspection yesterday and our boiler has been condemned. They knew about it because last year it was flagged and recommended that it be replaced along with some lead piping in the basement. We are now without heating or hot water and it’s far too cold to take a cold shower!!

 

I should really tell you about the bad blood between us and letting agency which stems from my old housemate that didn’t pay rent for 3 months and moved out owing me money!

 

She went in to the letting agency when she was moving out (due to owing me a fortune and not paying any bills), and because she cried they took her side and actually told her to keep her keys until she got her deposit back??!! I changed the locks after she let herself in while the house was empty and I rang the letting agency to let my feelings be known about the situation. Their response was she was upset so I should give her something!

 

After she moved out me and tom, my new housemate, signed a new contract. Before I signed I was informed that my old housemate, who had moved out, no longer owed any money to them (just me for all the bills), but then we got a letter saying that money was still owed and myself and tom (who wasn’t even in Sheffield or on the contract at the time), were both responsible. I knew I was, as it was a joint and severely liable contract, but Tom understandably rang them up demanding his name be taken off the letter, which they refused to do?? They even sent a snotty letter explaining we were both responsible and should talk to each other before ringing them up! I had rang to arrange payment and he had rang to say its nothing to do with him.

 

This is just so you know they are being unreasonably awkward with us and break the rules constantly! Tom was even told he wouldn’t get a receipt for his deposit as they already had the money form the last tenant (and I thought deposits were non transferable). We have told them we will be moving out at the end of the current contract (4 months). They still haven’t sent us a copy.

 

Anyway back to my current problem, I know they are going to be as difficult as possible over this but I wondered what our rites are if they turn around and say it’s going to be 2 – 4 weeks for a new boiler to be fitted. Can we charge them for going somewhere else to get showers and going the laundrette to dry our clothes?

 

Does anybody know their legal responsibilities? All we want is heating and hot water I just know they are going to make us wait as long as they can! They have made us wait 2 weeks to get the hot tap in the kitchen fixed so imagine a new boiler…..