New (rented) home - what are my rights?

Chessala

Heya,

My friend and me moved into a new house last weekend. Due to difficult circumstances (LL scammed us) we had to find pretty much in a hurry.
We haven't signed the contract for the new place yet (will on Thursday) but after moving in we found out some things we aren't too happy about. We knew the house needs fixing up and that's no problem, the real issue is the heating system.

The boiler is located in the detached garage, which in itself is great imo. Anyway, the boiler seems to be falling apart and spews fumes all-over the garage. Also, it has absolutely no way to regulate temperature or time its running, requiring us to go to the garage every time we want it on or off. This could get pretty nasty in winter and I think it's a bit too much to expect us to go over the whole property to the garage and switch the heating on or off. Having it constantly on would bleed us dry due to the oil usage so that's not really an option.

Do we have the right to request a new boiler before signing the contract? Or at least get this one fixed and a timer attacked to it? We have searched all-over the house and there is NO way to regulate it. Also the sockets it's connected to seem to be broken and it's quite a hassle to switch it on at all.

Thanks in advance!

odds_on

The standards for rented houses states:
7. Heating Facilities

7. (1) Every room used, or intended for use, by the tenant of the house as a habitable room shall contain:
(a) a permanently fixed appliance or appliances capable of providing effective heating,
(b) suitable and adequate facilities for the safe and effective removal of fumes and other products of combustion to the external air.
(2) The operation of any appliance referred to in sub-article (1)(a) shall be capable of being independently manageable by the tenant.

If the boiler is in such a bad condition, it is liable to pack up during the winter.
If you have paid any rent then you have an agreement with the landlord (regardless if you have not signed anything). However, certainly try to get something done before signing the lease. I once rented a house with the boiler housed outside in a shed and it cost a fortune to run; it was great at heating the ground between the shed and the house!
Good luck in your efforts.

antoinolachtnai

Remote control socket might solve your problem easiest. This sort of thing.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Remote-Control-Mains-Plug-Sockets-Transmitter-Wireles-/230624738482?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item35b24e3cb2#ht_598wt_883

You are not entitled to have a new boiler installed. If the boiler stops functioning, then you are entitled to have it repaired. The landlord doesn't have to relocate the controls. If you really aren't happy with the heating, move out. Do you really know enough about boilers to say if there is anything really wrong with the boiler? The boiler itself is basically a pretty inert object. It's the burner that does all the work. What may appear to be smoke may just be steam.

not even wrong

Chessala wrote: »

Do we have the right to request a new boiler before signing the contract?

You have the right to request it, your landlord has the right to say no.

If you're really not happy with it and the landlord refuses to do anything, don't sign the lease and start looking for a new place, without a lease you can move out at 28 days notice during the first six months of your tenancy.