with holding rent

[lotsafun]

my friend is having trouble with her landlord regarding her boiler. She has a 4 year old, 5 month old and is pregnant again and lives with her partner. Anyway she has had no heating or hot water in 3 weeks now as her boiler is gone, engineers have been out but have said it needs replacing, however her landlord is not taking to this advice and has done diddly squat about it now for 3 weeks. It has been absolutley freezing the past couple of weeks and they are pulling there hair out with frustration now. Ive suggested they go see CAB and perhaps withold rent until it is sorted, would this be concidered fair?

[jb190281]

I'd suggest she goes to the local council, they will have a Private Sector Housing team who will advise, perhaps visit the property, and can contact the landlord re what work needs to be done, how long it should take, and consequences to him if he doesn't comply.

[lotsafun]

thanks jb, i didnt realise that the council would be able to help as its a private rental house but i will definatley pass that on to her. She bought a few electric heaters but she said its costing almost £10 a day to heat the house with them.

[jb190281]

Yeah, tell her to ask specifically for someone who deals with the private sector. If, after they visit the property, it's deemed a health and safety risk/hazard, the council may (or not) offer temporary accommodation whilst it's fixed.

[dragonsfairy]

witholding rent is not a good idea, but get onto environmental health and health and safety. asap.

[themas]

Take the advice already given, but whatever she does she must NOT withhold rent. That puts her in the wrong under the terms of her tenancy agreement. There are some situations where rent can legitimately be withheld but she would have to go through a complicated process of giving notices to the landlord before doing it. If she needs to pursue this aspect, she should see her local CAB or ring the Shelter helpline.