Part 0800.0005

[Ain't Nobody Here]

ES happened to mention that he can see his breath in his bedroom in his rented flat - the single radiator isn't particularly efficient. I know that the room is also very damp with condensation streaming down the (single-glazed) windows (I've just bought him a dehumidifier to help with that).

 

Do landlords have a responsibility to ensure their heating system provides a reasonable temperature in a property?

 

I had a flat in my 2nd year at Uni where there was ice on the inside of the windows on winter mornings so I know it's not the end of the world and can be character-building . I was just wondering (partly because the damp can't be doing him any good).

[Cinnamon]

I think that it is down to him,yes.

If when your son signed the agreement & you did the assessment of the property,it was said that the heating was in full working order & adequate to heat the house properly,then it must be like that.

Was there an agent involved who did the initial house inspection with you & your son?

If so I would speak to them initially.

 

We have had a similar problem with damp & I too have bought a dehumidifier,but its been made worse by my daughters housemates refusal to even have the heating on because 'its too expensive'

Naturally they all have upstairs bedrooms which keep much warmer than my daughters downstairs one,plus she has circulation problems too

[Chicken shack]

This is a tricky one. I rent out a small one bedroom house built in the 80's It has no gas so no central heating supplied and is single glazed. You do get condensation on single glazed which will cause damp if the windows are shut constantly. We are so used to central heating and double glazing that we forget how our parents would wipe the ledges and throw the windows open in the middle of winter. I am not a career land lady and once I have a good tenent in I never put the rent up. Our last tenent wanted me to fit double glazing however at the time I only lived a short distance from him and pointed out that we didn't have double glazing and his low rent reflected this. He was happy with the explanation and stayed for four years only just moved out to buy a place of his own. I would also like to add that the house is very small and only takes a few minuts to warm once the electric radiator is turned on. The windows are all solid wood and in excellent order as is the whole of the property. I will only let it if it is of a standard that I would live in. Make sure the lanlord serviced the heating when you took up the tenancy and contact the agency if you think it is not working to full capacity. It may be as simple as the radiators need bleeding. Yes I remenber the inside of the windows freezing as a child. Before we moved last year we slept in the attic with no heating and I could see my breath. We did have an elecrtic blanket though. There is an idea for a Christmas present.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

We did do an inspection with an agent but it was the middle of August so we couldn't really assess if the heating was adequate!

 

There have been a few things that the boys have complained about (no lino in the kitchen, horrendous mould in the bathroom due to a defective extractor, no lock on the bathroom!, broken dishwasher/microwave, his window painted shut) - all have been/are due to be fixed.

 

I think I'll give him a thermometer just to assess how cold it is. He's not complaining about it but if we have a winter like 2 years ago, I suspect he might start to find it difficult, especially if he's trying to study!

 

I'm starting to appreciate the simplicity of halls of residence .

[Alis girls]

Sorry to be a voice of doom but please check your teens are living in a house that hasnt got a dodgey boiler which could emit carbon monoxide. A cheap carbon monoxide alarm can be pruchased. We had some students registered with us who luckily survived a faulty heater - it could have been so much worse. I am not in this situation yet however I know in less than 2 yrs I will and am reading your posts avidly and making mental notes.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I have a feeling there may be one in the boiler cupboard but I'll get them to check. Thanks for the reminder!

[Alis girls]

ANH - sorry no expert on them - I can remember being shocked that in 2011 (it was then) this was still a problem. I used to take one away with me after 2 kids died in Greece I think it was in an apprtment. I am sure the internet would adv where to keep them etc and if they expire the signs are so often missed - headaches and tiredness put down to studying and partying part of student life . But is its only at home you get these symptons - alarm bells should ring.

[Cinnamon]

We did do an inspection with an agent but it was the middle of August so we couldn't really assess if the heating was adequate!

 

 

Well yes,but we had quite a long discussion about ours during our inspection,both with the agent & the Landlord,including all the relative paperwork,safety inspection certificates & so forth.

He (the Landlord) produced paperwork showing it had all been serviced & was generally for for purpose.

All the rads were checked while we were there too.

[Lewis]

As a student living in a cold house I can sympathize!

Last year was freezing so I bought a double duvet for single bed, some of the heat reflective sheets to put behind radiators and more hoodies.

 

There are 2 things, I think its the Landlords responsibility to have adequate facilities, however its not up to them how its used so if its there and not switched on (as in Devon's case) its up to the housemates to sort.

If the heating is on and radiators are bled (I don't know if ours are?), maybe try the reflective sheets and buy a small electric radiator, although some places don't allow them and they use a lot of electricity.

 

We had to leave our heating on low for the month that we weren't here over Christmas as he said if the pipes burst it was our responsibility to have repairs done

 

 

Some of my housemates have washing drying with their heating on and windows closed and then moan about damp.

I have massive (8x6ft?) single glazed sash windows so heat is lost straight through there and usually have condensation on the windows in the mornings but I always leave my door open (and window when have drying laundry) so never have a problem with damp in the room...

[Geoid]

Have a look at the contract, it might say something like "The landlord agrees...to keep in good repair and working order any installations provided by the landlord for space heating and sanitation and for the supply of water, gas and electricity including:... central heating installations."

Also, if it is a rented house, the landlord MUST produce gas and electrical safety certificates.

[Olly]

I don't know if it's still sold, but when I was a student (rather a lot of years ago) that temporary double glazing was an absolute godsend. You sticky-tape it to the edges of the frame, and then shrink it to fit with a hairdryer - it made a huge difference in damp, draughty houses with little or no heating.

 

Edited to add: click - this stuff!

[Purplemaniacs]

DS had some on the windows of the flat he and his girlfriend rented llast year as the windows were rather like a seive .

 

Chrissie

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Thanks for that tip, I think I'll get some for him .

[Ms Marple]

It just sounds like the sort of house I lived in as a student back in the early 80s but I thought we had moved on considerably since then! You have to check the tenancy rules etc. My son at uni in Birmingham lives in a let via an agency and so I encourage him and his flatmates to view that and then query. At the end of the day they are more than happy to hang on to the sizeable deposits that are required unless the students meet their side of the agreement. I believe in the 21st century that it should meet all standards and be fit for purpose. Hence our children should have right of appeal. SO in a nutshell, check tenancy and challenge.