Our landlord is trying to kill us

[Isilarma]

So I've just found out that the house I've been living in for the past four weeks has a boiler that could have killed us at any minute. Not only that, but our landlord has been receiving letters from the gas company since June saying that there was a problem. They didn't want to spend money, and so we nearly got carbon monoxide poisoning.

Any ideas on how we should handle this?

[Kitty279]

Not sure about the way to go in your country, but here, I'd probably consider to call the police. First, there's that poisoning, and second, what if that thing just explodes? That could destroy the house and kill people, too. Or can the gas company do something? Maybe you could call them and ask them what to do?

Of course, when there's no legal way to force that idiot into action, here people often go to the newspaper. When things are published and the newspaper calls to demand details, that gets reluctant companies and landlords to act pretty fast.

In any case, stay safe!!!

[Isilarma]

We're going to talk to the letting agency about it and see what they recommend, but all our parents are furious too. Thing is, people from the gas company have been coming round for the past couple of weeks to sort stuff, and it was only yesterday that one thought that they should check the actual boiler, so we're a bit annoyed at them too.

We've also been told that because the boiler is so old (28 years) they don't have the parts to fix it, and so the whole thing is going to have to be replaced, which will probably take at least a week depending on how fast the landlord sorts it out. I'm not feeling very optimistic. So no hot water for a while :/

Thanks Kitty It's annoying, but at least we're not going to die now.

[Kitty279]

Oh man, they only checked the boiler now? There I had thought they wrote these letters because a check had proven it unsafe!

That thing sounds like it should be in a museum (or even better, a junk yard), not used in a house! Glad you are at least warned now and know not to use that thing. The cold water will not be fun, but still better than the boiler causing someone harm. In any case, I'll keep my fingers crossed that this mess will be cleared up soon and you get something new and safe! Please keep us updated, will you? *is still a bit worried*

[Isilarma]

Haha, the first thing the engineer said when she saw it was that it should be in a gas museum. She wasn't impressed that it hadn't been looked at before either. The letters said they thought it might need work because it was so old, but it doesn't look like anything happened. At least they have to get a new one now. We're going to go in tomorrow and pester them.

I will do, thanks She disconnected it and everything so it should be fine, but I'll check back in tomorrow just in case.

[19811945]

Do you have central heating in the house, if so, is the boiler connected to it? They might need a check when the new boiler is installed to see if they running correctly with the boiler. Weather wise, how is it in your country?

In the UK, the law says that boilers needs to get checked every 12 months to see if they are working correctly.

[Isilarma]

We didn't have the heating on because we're trying to save money, but we wouldn't have been able to use it if we had. The weather's been all right, but it turned chilly this morning which is a bit of a pain. Still, at least it didn't happen later in the year.

Yeah, I have no idea when this one was last checked, but I think it was more than a year. The woman knew something was wrong as soon as she opened it, so I think it's been a while.

On the plus side, the letting agency talked to the landlord, and we're getting a new boiler tomorrow! Which I am absolutely over the moon about because the estimate was for late next week. There's also some talk of compensation, but I don't know if that'll actually happen. Right now, I'm just glad we're not going to get poisoned or freeze.

[Kitty279]

Oh, I am glad to hear they are replacing that old thing, and so soon! Yay! That way you will be safe again, and you can turn on the heating when it is getting really cold. When it's just a bit chilly, you can always put on a thicker sweater (or second one) and warm socks and the like, but there's a limit when that helps. Having to go without heating in the middle of winter would really be a nightmare, so I am glad it happened now.

Compensation would be nice, if it's happening that is. You can always use a few dollars (or whatever) extra, right?

[Isilarma]

So, surprise surprise, the boiler people didn't show up yesterday. They say they're going to do it tomorrow, but we'll see. They've also been nice and specific and told us they'll be here between 7am and 9pm.

Yeah, we decided not to turn the heating on until November, but it's starting to get chilly now. I don't deal well with the cold anyway, so having no heating later than that would be unbearable.

Haha, compensation would be very nice indeed. I don't know if it'll happen, but considering the danger, the letting people think we've got a fair chance, so that's something.

[Kitty279]

Nice and specific, indeed!
9pm? Really? Would any workers come at that time at all over there? I know here the chances would be slim that they come much later than 4pm.

You need a place like mine. Due to construction oddities, it is always too warm, in summer I have the windows open all the time, and in winter I barely turn the heating on. Once we had for weeks about -10 degrees Celsius, and I went away for two weeks and left the heating turned off. When I got back, it was still 19 degrees inside ...

Keeping my fingers crossed that they actually turn up today and that you get that compensation!

[Isilarma]

Thanks Kitty. Well, a man turned up, looked at the boiler, agreed that it needed replacing and went away again. Turns out the landlady wanted to make sure there was an actual problem before doing anything, which is ridiculous considering that the orginal engineer phoned her with the details, and left several sheets saying 'Immediate risk to life and property' with us. I really don't understand, did she think we were lying? It's driving me mad.

Fortunately, since she's now breaching her contract by not providing us with heating or hot water, the letting people are very firmly on our side. We're hoping they'll have a bit more luck getting the message across. Compensation is looking a bit more likely too.

Kitty, your place sounds pretty much perfect. Heat I can handle, but constant cold... Absolutely hate it.

[Kitty279]

That's really unbelievable - how much proof does that landlord need?? One could think she wants something to happen! Some people really rather risk an accident than spend some money.

Yeah, here you could reduce the rent until the landlord finally replaces that boiler. In your case, it obviously works a bit differently.

Oh, it's nice, save at the height of summer. When it is already 30+ degrees outside, I don't need the apartment getting even more warm from the inside! It makes sleeping difficult when it is too warm. But during the winter, it has its advantages.

Anyway, thanks for keeping me updated! And good luck that now actually something is done!

[19811945]

Your landlady is actually wasting more money this way. If there was an accident now but no life lost, it seems you can get a lot of money through compensation - loss of items, homeless and the letting agency can get compensation from the landlady for not doing her job.

There must be a law somewhere in your country that states anything that needs to be fixed which can cause life or death situations needed to be sorted out immediately.

I like my temperature around the low 20's centigrade. Not too warm and not too cold neither. At the moment, the temperature where I live its around 8C with rain expected. Both hands are cold enough, but at times the finger tips underneath nails can go slightly purple. I tend to sit on both my hands to get the warmth back in them.

[Kitty279]

There shouldn't even a law be necessary, any common sense should tell her to act immediately!

Yeah, low 20's is what I prefer, too. Sadly, lately we had way too much humidity even with that temperature. Weather really is going nuts!

[19811945]

For us, it's been raining. Just odd days where it's been dry. UK currently have a tropical storm moving through!

[Isilarma]

Sorry about the late reply guys, the past few days have been... let's go with interesting.

Good news though, the landlady finally got the message and we now have a working boiler! It's all shiny and new and not going to kill us. The first hot shower felt very nice indeed And we may be getting some rent for that week back too, which is very nice.

They sorted it just in time too; the weather's really getting cold now. The only good thing is that it's hardly rained at all, so it's not completely dismal. It is a good excuse to stay inside and write though

Anyway, thanks for all your support guys, I really appreciate it. Hopefully that'll be it for household drama this year.

...I just jinxed that, didn't I?

[Kitty279]

YAY! Glad to hear you have your shiny, new boiler and are safe now! So happy for you! And considering the date, it was about time, or that lady would have to pay the doctor and medicine when you got a cold, too