help! - how is my tenant making my boiler go onto lockout

[Katy]

We have an ongoing problem with a tenant who is in a downstairs flat in a house converted into two flats. Over many months she has been reporting electrical problems, tripping, thermostat randomly resetting, programmer moving etc. etc. She would trip the electrics then leave the house for the evening, leaving the upstairs tenant with no electric, heating etc.

After spending a lot of money getting electricians and heating engineers round, she was basically caught red handed at the circuit board. (There were also no problems whilst she was away recently). We locked the circuit board cupboard a week ago and then she only tampered with the programmer. We locked that 6 days ago and now only the thermostat is changing settings (which is okay because the upstairs tenant can reset it when he walks in) but also she is making the boiler (potterton suprima) go onto lockout leaving the upstairs tenant with no heating or hot water.

(She has also been turning the thermostat down to minimum on the actual boiler).

Please can anyone help - how is she making it go onto lockout?! Does she have to have access to the actual boiler controls or can she be tampering with something else? She only now has access to the Horstmann DRT2 thermostat programmable digital room thermostat and the boiler.

I would be really grateful for any comments.

Thank you.

 

[Katy]

Get rid of your tenant ?

I intend to - but in the meantime any ideas on what she is tampering with?

 

[sprocketflup]

Get rid of your tenant ?

There it is, best answer already lol

 

[Katy]

There it is, best answer already lol

Yes but I can't legally get her out until after 14th April - so in the meantime - any ideas - can she only get it onto lockout by accessing the potterton?

 

[Rob_the_rich]

Create two totally separate flats, with 2 boilers, 2 thermostats and 2 programmers, etc etc etc.

The easiest way to make a boiler go to lockout is usually to turn off the gas to it.

I take it the tenants don't get on.

 

[sprocketflup]

You may need the services of a GoPro.

She sounds utterly delightful. Sounds like she been tampering with the laudanum

 

[Katy]

You could also move Steptoe in as a Sub-Tenant- The your tenant will either leave very quickly or disappear 

If the boiler has valves on it then they could be playing with them, it depends what you men by lockout - lockout is normally a gas lockout (in my opinion) - 

the potterton is flashing red lights - which means lockout.

so, do you reckon the only way of her making it do that that she is taking the front off the boiler?   - I wouldn't put it past her by the way.... thanks

 

[Katy]

Create two totally separate flats, with 2 boilers, 2 thermostats and 2 programmers, etc etc etc.

The easiest way to make a boiler go to lockout is usually to turn off the gas to it.

I take it the tenants don't get on.

Thank you - yes, we could create two totally separate flats, but the set up has worked perfectly for 15 years - I think she just doesn't want anyone in the upstairs flat - she seems to want the whole place to herself! 

The upstairs tenant ended up moving out last year because of all the "non-existent" electrical problems that she was creating - she was only caught last week - the new chap has only been there two weeks - he knows what the score is though.

I think I need to take action to prevent her from access the front of the boiler - thank you

 

[Andy™]

it will also lockout if something is put over the flue

 

[Katy]

no as said above, the valves - gas, flow etc - could all force a lockout and most valves are under the boiler or outside, most don't need covers taking off

thank you - I think preventing her from accessing the circuit board cupboard and programmer wasn't enough, we now need to prevent her accessing the boiler! Thank you

it will also lockout if something is put over the flue

thank you - I did notice the wheelie bin outside had a dent on the top of it the other day! - I will bear that in mind too - many thanks.

 

[Rob_the_rich]

Turning off the gas meter might do it too. But please do not even think of restricting access to the gas meter and its emergency shut off valve.

 

[Katy]

Turning off the gas meter might do it too. But please do not even think of restricting access to the gas meter and its emergency shut off valve.

I won't thank you

 

[steptoe]

I could pay her a visit,

with some of my play rope and chains,

I feel lonely since SSS left,,,,,   :|

 

[Andy™]

I could pay her a visit,

with some of my play rope and chains,

I feel lonely since SSS left,,,,,   :|

off you go. I'll order the new patio materials to be delivered tomorrow afternoon

 

[steptoe]

Or simply move in for a week, 

If you are supplying the beer,

You could coat the gas valve with that stuff that marks your skin under ultra violet - like they do with money......

But best to evict her......

Or,

What about that sticky stuff for mice,?

 

[Katy]

Superglue ? You'll find her glued to the valves - caught red handed ?

Now that is a good idea!

off you go. I'll order the new patio materials to be delivered tomorrow afternoon

Ha Ha!

 

[Katy]

I could pay her a visit,

with some of my play rope and chains,

I feel lonely since SSS left,,,,,   :|

I may be back in touch with you!

Or simply move in for a week, 

If you are supplying the beer,

I don't think she drinks - she's very religious!

 

[Rob_the_rich]

I won't thank you

Go on, you know you want to. :Blushing

Edit; thank me that is, not padlock the gas meter.

 

[Katy]

Go on, you know you want to. :Blushing

I am a respectable mother of three young children..........well not that respectable, but I am a mother and I have got three children.......of course I wouldn't want to....would I?

 

[steptoe]

I may be back in touch with you!

I don't think she drinks - she's very religious!

Then,

You have your answer,

Have a scruffy alcoholic (as someone once called me, ok, as most people have called me) move in,,! :|