My 2 hour walk cost me £194 when my tenant could not contact me?

My 2 hour walk cost me £194 when my tenant could not contact me?

8:40 AM, 12th January 2022, About 2 years ago 41

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While I was out on a walk my tenant tried to contact me to say her boiler had broken down and the emergency breakdown co I was insured with would not attend without my permission even though the tenant offered to pay the £70 call out fee.

By the time I returned after 2 hours, the tenant had ordered another company to come and fix the problem and I had to pay their £264 bill.

My insurance company pointed out that on page 17 of the T&C’s it said that only the landlord could arrange the callout.

The company has never needed my permission to attend the property to carry out boiler servicing or CP12 certificate in the past.

Should the tenant have waited longer than 2 hours before taking action?

Many thanks

Ashley


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Comments

Clint

11:06 AM, 15th January 2022, About 2 years ago

When parts are required, the emergency insurance cannot do anything about it so it has to wait. The company does not necessarily carry parts as all boilers are different. It is also often difficult to get contractors in the middle of winter.

The time taken is generally no longer than getting a repair in my own home so I consider it as just normal delays that are beyond anyone's control.

Daveknowstheregs

11:11 AM, 15th January 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Clint at 15/01/2022 - 11:02
Clint, but the tenant fixed the problem speedily, blowing your logic clean out of the water. Only relying on 1 company is a nonsense in an emergency.

Clint

11:16 AM, 15th January 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Daveknowstheregs at 15/01/2022 - 11:11
Absolute stupidity. How do you know if the tenant needed any parts and if so, whether the parts were readily available? I have used many companies and have many parts and if parts are required, they most usually don't fix it on the same day.
I don't think you have a clue on any of this and don't intend to reply to any more of your comments.

Daveknowstheregs

11:40 AM, 15th January 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Clint at 15/01/2022 - 11:16
Relying on only 1 company in an emergency, is exactly the same logic as relying on 1 specific ambulance in particular when you become ill and require an ambulance. No single company can always be available at all times, I agree with the tenant 100% to fix the problem as fast as possible, which they did.

philip allen

15:26 PM, 15th January 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by paul kaye at 12/01/2022 - 14:11
I had 5 properties covered by British Gas with their Homecare agreements. I called them out to do an annual service and certificate to one of the properties and the engineer refused to do the certificate until I had agreed to have a powerflush carried out on the system. The quote was in excess of £800. I declined and cancelled all 5 agreements. The local company I called out stated that a powerflush wasn't needed and, 12 years later, the system is still going strong. Moral of the story? Never, ever use British Gas for anything!

paul kaye

15:38 PM, 15th January 2022, About 2 years ago

All I know is if my boiler broke down
I would just have to wait while until an engineer could book me in.
Even then ,parts my be needed.
I have made sure my tenants call the company I use to cover my systems ,direct, themselves!
Most of my tenants have an emersion heater for hot water and /or an electric shower.I also offer to loan them heaters if they have no central heating.
NO WAY IN THE WORLD WILL I PAY A RIP OFF PRICE FOR A SO CALLED EMERGENCY.
HAVING SAID THIS the longest any of my tenants have waited with no central heating is 5 days while parts were obtained.
THIS IS CALLED LIFE! engineers are not sitting in a cupboard somewhere,waiting for a call out!
I am lucky to have a local company that insure my whole system for £16.50 a month plus a £25 annual fee.For this I receive call outs normally same day if contacted early am
An annual service and gas certificate.
They cover the whole system,rads,thermostat,boiler,pump etc etc

Daveknowstheregs

15:50 PM, 15th January 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by paul kaye at 15/01/2022 - 15:38
To the OP, Ashley, you are charging your tenant a premium rent, at over £1000 per month, so imho the least you can do is pay for the emergency plumber or engineer to sort problems out.

david porter

15:54 PM, 15th January 2022, About 2 years ago

You are a landlord and are politically friendless you just need to ride the punches and get on with life.

Stephen

23:18 PM, 16th January 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by david porter at 15/01/2022 - 09:07
Hi David Porter
Sorry for late reply, Yes my tenancy does have a strong clear clause BUT after 4 hours later the tenants got Impatient & went ahead
So i did pay their RIPP of bill also I believe they where not honest because they paid in CASH
Very suspicious basically not honest

I do have British Gas full cove a life savers for me .

However i tocca a view cheap rent very little hassle and bad Tim’s LONDON anyway

But will increase rents next if they move I should be able to get more tenants Or THEY renewal @ any 200 per month increase still average for area not excessive

Stephen

23:22 PM, 16th January 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by paul kaye at 15/01/2022 - 09:11
Hi Yes I was ripped off

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