No Portable night storage heaters?

[CrazyInWeston]

I live in a flat thats Electric only and There are only 3 night storage heaters but only 1 of them works. My concract was "as seen/as in situ" with what everything was when I moved in, so my landlord essentially has no obligation to fix because I moved in WITH the problem. I moved in 2014 and electric back then was cheap enough for me to run a 425 wattage panel heater 24/7 during the winter and it kept my front room warm. But now It is 2024 and my while my monthly rent is still only £400, the cost of electric has sky rocketed, I know many ppl are struggling.

Are there any portable ones to buy? I do a search but they all seem fixed to a wall.

Should I get an electrician in to fix the broken ones?

What are the rules here? Is it me or landlord.

 

[Andy™]

you would be best getting legal advice. most likely landlords problem to fix

 

[Geoff1946]

Are you using the one storage heater which works? If so have you checked how much it's costing you? I suspect that, whilst you may be more comfortable, running the storage heaters would cost more than your portable heater.
It would be worth having an electrician look at the faulty heaters. It could be a minor issue if a thermal fuse has failed or similar. They are normally quite robust appliances. I do tend to agree this should be your landlord's responsibility, but if you have made some other agreement then at least establish if it's a minor issue.

 

[Murdoch]

Have you been given a copy of a satisfactory EICR for the flat in the last 4 years?

 

[ProDave]

Get the storage heaters fixed. Worst case some new heating elements and a new thermostat. An hours labour per heater.

 

[CrazyInWeston]

Have you been given a copy of a satisfactory EICR for the flat in the last 4 years?

Never had one in the 10yrs I have lived here.

Get the storage heaters fixed. Worst case some new heating elements and a new thermostat. An hours labour per heater.

Thanks, I'll just look into it.

Are you using the one storage heater which works? If so have you checked how much it's costing you? I suspect that, whilst you may be more comfortable, running the storage heaters would cost more than your portable heater.
It would be worth having an electrician look at the faulty heaters. It could be a minor issue if a thermal fuse has failed or similar. They are normally quite robust appliances. I do tend to agree this should be your landlord's responsibility, but if you have made some other agreement then at least establish if it's a minor issue.

Cheaper to run a storage heater as it gives heat through most of the day without additional electric. I'm on E7. Using the one costs me less than £1 a night and gives steady heat through the day vs space heaters that constantly need to be on.

 

[Murdoch]

Never had one in the 10yrs I have lived here.

So that sounds like your LL is operating outside the law …..

 

[ProDave]

So that sounds like your LL is operating outside the law …..

Yes, but reporting the LL and forcing them to be squeaky clean would at least result in the OP paying market rent not the discounted rent, at worst would leave him looking for somewhere new.

Some battles are not worth fighting?

 

[Murdoch]

Yes, but reporting the LL and forcing them to be squeaky clean would at least result in the OP paying market rent not the discounted rent, at worst would leave him looking for somewhere new.

Some battles are not worth fighting?

Quite so but it does make you wonder how many tenants in the uk are also in this terrible position

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

I live in a flat thats Electric only and There are only 3 night storage heaters but only 1 of them works. My concract was "as seen/as in situ" with what everything was when I moved in, so my landlord essentially has no obligation to fix because I moved in WITH the problem. I moved in 2014 and electric back then was cheap enough for me to run a 425 wattage panel heater 24/7 during the winter and it kept my front room warm. But now It is 2024 and my while my monthly rent is still only £400, the cost of electric has sky rocketed, I know many ppl are struggling.

Are there any portable ones to buy? I do a search but they all seem fixed to a wall.

Should I get an electrician in to fix the broken ones?

What are the rules here? Is it me or landlord.

To think that your landlord has no obligations is complete and utter tosh!!!!

If you viewed a dwelling that had night storage heaters as the only source of heating, you would assume they were working.
You would NOT assume they were faulty.. { Quite a few years ago one of my daughters moved into a rented apartment, where the bathroom extractor fan was not working from Day 1, landlord had to fix it end of! }

It is Unreasonable to assume that tenants will thoroughly test every fixed appliance or accessory in a property they are unfamiliar with, and only had a brief time to view..

BUT it is reasonable to assume that a landlord should have checked every fixed appliance and accessory in a property they have a full working knowledge of, are ALL working correctly before they hand over the keys to a new tenant!!

Government guidance states:-

Maintenance​

The landlord or letting agent should maintain any appliances and furniture they have supplied.

The above quote is from the Gov.Uk website..

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...responsibilities-in-the-private-rented-sector

So... If they supplied the night storage heaters.. They MUST maintain them!!

All landlords have a responsibility to ensure that all key services, fixtures and fittings, especially those that are a fixed part of the dwelling, are working to provide a safe humane habitable environment. e.g. water, heating, sanitation, ventilation etc..

You have the right to take your Landlord to court under the Homes (Fitness for human habitation) Act 2018, if it is to cold..

e.g. have a read of point 2 from this Gov.Uk link:-
https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...s-homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018

(I have copied and pasted it fore you here )

2. About the Homes Act: what does it mean for me?​

What should my landlord be doing?​

Your landlord must make sure that your home is ’fit for human habitation’, which means that it’s safe, healthy and free from things that could cause you or anyone else in your household serious harm. For example, if your house or flat is too cold and you can’t heat it, this can affect your health.

If you are a private tenant, you can find more information on your landlord’s other duties and responsibilities by having a look at our How to rent’ guide. Your landlord or letting agent should have given this to you when you moved in.

I am no expert..
But as I read it, I think your first step should be to get in touch with the relevant local council dept, or maybe Citizens advice.. saying you think your landlord is not adhering to their legal duties to provide a safe and humane dwelling environment..

But whatever you do...
Do NOT start spending your money to fix problems that are their responsibility!!



Or.. just a random thought I have had..

Send a 'registered'/'signed for'/'tracked' hard copy printed/hand-written letter to your landlord, that you can have evidence of the date they received it.. saying something like..

{ Landlords Address }

Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms {Landlords name}

From my previous contact with you I think you may be in breach of the "Homes fit for habitation act 2018" regarding the faulty night storage heaters that you supplied as part of my tenancy agreement. I assume you are well aware that you have a legal obligation to ensure there are suitable means to heat all habitable rooms in your property that I am renting from you, But as I have previously reported to you, Two of your Three supplied storage heaters do not work!!!

As a quick bit of searching on the Gov.UK website highlights numerous useful and relevant documents regarding landlords and tenants legal responsibilities and duties! I consider it perfectly reasonable for you to be able to arrange for a suitable competent person to either repair or replace the Two faulty heaters within 10 working days of receiving this letter... ( All competent landlords should have access to relevant contractors to undertake any and all types of essential urgent maintenance work if required, so I am sure you do also? )

If I have not heard back from you, or had the heaters fixed within 10 working days, I will assume that you are happy for me to resolve this problem, on your behalf, saving you the time contacting suitable electricians..?

And that you are happy for any expenses that I incur fixing your problems of not providing suitable heating can be deducted from my rental fees due to you, until I have been fully refunded for fixing faults at your property that are actually your legal responsibility?

As I am not normally in contact with various trades persons, it will probably take me longer to locate a suitable competent person to fix your heating problem.. Also as I lack suitable technical knowledge of typical repair costs for storage heaters, I would just search for an electrician who can replace the complete units with an equivalent item rather than attempt a repair that may fail again!

I will endeavour to fix the problem on your behalf within two months of you receiving this letter, if I have not heard back from you within 10 working days..

My legal & technical advisors suggest that like-for-like maintenance replacements do not actually require any form of electrical certificate.. But I should still have some form of printed invoice / receipt detailing works undertaken, From which I will be calculating my rental cost reductions..

Regards
Mr/Mrs/Ms unhappy tenant..

 

[7029 Dave]

LL are a rule to their own. When I was metering had a job to install pre payment meters in 3 flats all owned by the same landlord.
He had £1 coin meters fitted to each flat anyway by the CU it was the crudest of installs.
I fitted the energy supplies PPM at the cutout/ meter position.
So basically the tenant was paying twice. I cant go into it but basically it was down to a shortfall in monies regarding the electrical usage and he also wanted them out.
Sorry to go off topic but yes good idea to seek legal advise.

 

[mainline]

£400 seems cheap, what's the average rent for your sort of place in the area ?

You could buy a heater for £20 ish.

 

[CrazyInWeston]

£400 seems cheap, what's the average rent for your sort of place in the area ?

You could buy a heater for £20 ish.

A 1 bed flat goes for around £750/850 PCM where I am.

Yes I could buy a heater for £20 but using said heater would drain my PAYG electric due to high daylight running costs. A storage heater runs during the cheaper night cost, storing up the heat and is then off for the rest of the day, yet still giving off a steady flow of heat.

I wasn't sure if me or LL to fix the broken ones as they were broken when I moved in, as I said in situ. Hence also asking if there are any portable night storage heaters out there you could just buy?

 

[Geoff1946]

Hence also asking if there are any portable night storage heaters out there you could just buy?

No, I don't think so. Note definitions; Portable, to an electrician, is an item with a plug, to be connected by the user. The common use of portable is something designed to be easily moved around, which precludes storage heaters, tending to be big chunks of concrete or similar.
You could buy a storage heater but it would have to be installed by an electrician and would be wired in and become part of the property. Modern ones tend to need an additional daytime supply as well as off peak, so that's a further complication.
In your position, repairing the existing unit(s), if feasible, will be by far the easiest and most economic solution.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

LL are a rule to their own. When I was metering had a job to install pre payment meters in 3 flats all owned by the same landlord.
He had £1 coin meters fitted to each flat anyway by the CU it was the crudest of installs.
I fitted the energy supplies PPM at the cutout/ meter position.
So basically the tenant was paying twice. I cant go into it but basically it was down to a shortfall in monies regarding the electrical usage and he also wanted them out.
Sorry to go off topic but yes good idea to seek legal advise.

When I was a student, back in the 90's, we had an appalling landlord. We couldn't get hold of him for any repairs. He was horrible to the woman students, and would come and go into our house as he pleased. Obviously it wasn't me )), but one of the students figured out how to get the £1 coins back out of the utility pre pay meter. We had half price leccy and stayed there as long as we could

 

[HappyHippyDad]

A 1 bed flat goes for around £750/850 PCM where I am.

Yes I could buy a heater for £20 but using said heater would drain my PAYG electric due to high daylight running costs. A storage heater runs during the cheaper night cost, storing up the heat and is then off for the rest of the day, yet still giving off a steady flow of heat.

I wasn't sure if me or LL to fix the broken ones as they were broken when I moved in, as I said in situ. Hence also asking if there are any portable night storage heaters out there you could just buy?

Hi.
It sounds like you would be uncomfortable asking your land lord to do it for the reasons you have stated. However, if you feel you can at least ask him without repercussion then that makes sense, doesn't it? You have nothing to loose. Failing that,

You are saving £350 - £450 off the normal rent price. You have also stated that the NSH are far, far cheaper to run. It does seem to make sense, given the facts to at least get an electrician in to look at them and see if it is an easy fix. They may have both fixed within an hour (£50 - £100).

 

[ProDave]

So you have a very good deal £400 rent for a property that would be double that at market rate if properly repaired.

Don't upset the apple cart. Use some of your £400 you are saving each month to pay an electrician to come and have a look at the non working storage heaters and see if they can be repaired.

 

[Alarmist]

I live in a flat thats Electric only and There are only 3 night storage heaters but only 1 of them works. My concract was "as seen/as in situ" with what everything was when I moved in, so my landlord essentially has no obligation to fix because I moved in WITH the problem. I moved in 2014 and electric back then was cheap enough for me to run a 425 wattage panel heater 24/7 during the winter and it kept my front room warm. But now It is 2024 and my while my monthly rent is still only £400, the cost of electric has sky rocketed, I know many ppl are struggling.

Are there any portable ones to buy? I do a search but they all seem fixed to a wall.

Should I get an electrician in to fix the broken ones?

What are the rules here? Is it me or landlord.

I think it's the landlords responsibility.
Under section 11 of Landlord and tenant act 1985, landlord has a statutory obligation to repair the heaters. He cannot avoid his obligation ( from my lawyer sister with experience in housing matters).

 

[Apache]

What make are the storage heaters? Can you see a model number?

(about once every 2 or 3 years one of mine stops working, I isolate, take cover off, hoover out the accumulated dust and click the thermal reset button. Takes 5 mins)

 

[CrazyInWeston]

What make are the storage heaters? Can you see a model number?

(about once every 2 or 3 years one of mine stops working, I isolate, take cover off, hoover out the accumulated dust and click the thermal reset button. Takes 5 mins)

All I know from this one in the lounge, is a Sunhouse. Cant see model number anywhere though.