UK Landlord Forum / Life

On new years eve our boiler stopped working leaving me, my husband and 3 young children with out heat and hot water. My rent was due the same day so i told him when he came to collect and also told him not to worry for a couple of days with it being nye. The day after he turned up with a friend and tried taking the plug of the boiler ( rcd keeps tripping) then made a phone call and told me that I had broke it through having my heating on full all the time and wearing the pump out. My landlord said he would drop the pump off and my husband can fit it, I assured him that this was never going to happen and that I wanted a qualified plumber to have a look. This Friday just gone my landlord came for his rent, I showed him that I had it but rightly or wrongly I told him I wasn't willing to hand it over and that he could get a qualified plumber or I would. Two days later a plumber came, he opened the boiler and there was water everywhere, I don't know much but even I knew it didn't look good.Al the plumber told is that it needs a new boiler and not to let anyone touch it who isn't gas safty certified. Now I havnt heard from my landlord, he sends his young son to ask for the rent I owe ( which is 1 weeks and sat in my kitchen) its -1 outside with snow on the ground!! Is there anything that I can do?? We are close to breaking point!!

Hello kimathy,

Your landlord does not understand gas safety.  If he won't act then you can.  Put a final opportunity to sort the gas out in writing to him by a sensible deadline.  If no reply, get the work done yourselves by a propoer plumber and deduct the cost from your rent owed.