UK Landlord Forum / Life

Just wondering if anyone can help me. 

My tenant has gone to the council to say that they cant afford to put the heating on as it costs approximately £3 per hour to run.  My plumber has been around and it has passed the necessary gas tests and he has confirmed that it is inefficient to run.  I have looked into getting a new boiler and we could get it on a scheme but because it is the replacement of a back boiler a company have quoted a minimum of £600 but will not give me a breakdown of this cost or a fixed price.  Anyway, they are not heating the house apart from a Calor gas heater in the front bedroom so there is mold on the wall and also around the seal of the bedroom window.  The bedroom window was replace last year with a new double glazed unit.

Can anyone give me some advice please. Many thanks Tracy

I wouldn't worry too much.

Look at green deal solutions if they are on benefits. Otherwise really what can you do?

The £3 an hour really only applies from a standing start, once the place is warm it will be allot less, but really you cant prioritize your tenants spending.

A bit of diluted bleach will get rid of mould in an instant.

Getting yourself a nice new boiler / central heating system could be beneficial for you and your Tenants. I had a complete combi replacement earlier in the year (along with a wireless thermostat, magnetic filter and TRVs added to radiators) and it cost around £1,500. It's A-rated, has a 7 year warranty and I got the first and second year GSC thrown-in by the installer. The Tenants took time to tell me on my last visit that the heating is a changed situation and the shower is both hotter and more powerful than before. They seem very pleased. Try to think of it as an investment in an asset you have... you could increase the rent to offset the expense over time... £20 extra per month would mean you've paid back its expense while it's still in warranty. As a business case, that's a pretty good one...

Take advantage of the deals on offer at the moment as everyone including your house will benefit.
I'll point out that any use of a calor gas heater is not allowed in any of my properties due to the condensation issue with them.  Total ban and always written in without exception.  I forget the statistic about how much water they put out but I do know that it's a huge amount which is always bad news.
If your tenants are in receipt of any benefits then the whole thing could be subsidised, ring your council and check it out.