Landlord charge for no fault call out

[HughiusMaximus]

Evening all,

I moved in to a new house around a month ago, and after a few days the heating wouldnt come on even if I turned the thermostat on the wall up to full.
Its a combi boiler unit, and was continuing to heat water, just wouldnt heat the radiators.
I rang the estate agents the next day explaining the above, and theg said tgey would send someone round.

Called them later in the day and they said they said there was no fault, gave some vague answer about the thermostat on the radiators needing to be turned up.
A few days later I got a letter saying as there was no fault found I had to settle the call out charge.

So I guess my question is whether this is based in law or not?
My counter would be that there was no induction of how things worked in the property (I found instructions for the boiler after wards) and no advice was given when I reported the issue.
I think that the issue was a dial on the combi boiler which turned up the heating outside of the thermostat - again which was not suggested when I called.

So should I pay up and consider it a tax for being dumb, or tell them to shove it?

I have been waiting since I moved in (over 5 weeks) for them to fix the gas fire, so im tempted to say that while not admitting fault il pay if thd gas fire is fixed this week.

They have mentioned debt collection agencies so im not sure its worth the fight for £50...

Any advice welcome...

[lbc]

I would say it's user error, so the landlord would be entitled to charge for the callout.

[Du1point8]

What do you want them to do, send someone round in case you have not tried everything and then not charge because you didn't try X, Y or Z?

You come on here to complain if they are in their rights to do this, but did you come on here to ask how the boiler worked?

If no... then I think you have got your answer.

Its not like you have not asked for advice before, so a little bemused as to why not this time? The home and garden section would have gone through everything with you and helped find the issue or suggest you call someone out.

[dudleybloke]

Ask for a rent reduction for the broken fire.

[Jasandjules]

Did they tell you about the cost for no fault up front? Ask them where it is in the lease. If it is there, pay up.

Also advise them in writing about the fire.

[TooMany2cvs]

You've never come across the concept of thermostatic radiator valves before, and it's the landlord's fault?

[WinstonWolf]

HughiusMaximus said:

Evening all,

I moved in to a new house around a month ago, and after a few days the heating wouldnt come on even if I turned the thermostat on the wall up to full.
Its a combi boiler unit, and was continuing to heat water, just wouldnt heat the radiators.
I rang the estate agents the next day explaining the above, and theg said tgey would send someone round.

Called them later in the day and they said they said there was no fault, gave some vague answer about the thermostat on the radiators needing to be turned up.
A few days later I got a letter saying as there was no fault found I had to settle the call out charge.

So I guess my question is whether this is based in law or not?
My counter would be that there was no induction of how things worked in the property (I found instructions for the boiler after wards) and no advice was given when I reported the issue.
I think that the issue was a dial on the combi boiler which turned up the heating outside of the thermostat - again which was not suggested when I called.

So should I pay up and consider it a tax for being dumb, or tell them to shove it?

I have been waiting since I moved in (over 5 weeks) for them to fix the gas fire, so im tempted to say that while not admitting fault il pay if thd gas fire is fixed this week.

They have mentioned debt collection agencies so im not sure its worth the fight for £50...

Any advice welcome...

So the instructions that were not in the property, where did you find them afterwards?

[H.....]

WinstonWolf said:

HughiusMaximus said:

My counter would be that there was no induction of how things worked in the property (I found instructions for the boiler after wards)

So the instructions that were not in the property, where did you find them afterwards?

You're confusing induction and instructions.

[WinstonWolf]

H..... said:

WinstonWolf said:

HughiusMaximus said:

My counter would be that there was no induction of how things worked in the property (I found instructions for the boiler after wards)

So the instructions that were not in the property, where did you find them afterwards?

You're confusing induction and instructions.

I'm not confused at all, I'm just surprised anyone needs instructions on how thermostats work...

[H.....]

WinstonWolf said:

H..... said:

WinstonWolf said:

HughiusMaximus said:

My counter would be that there was no induction of how things worked in the property (I found instructions for the boiler after wards)

So the instructions that were not in the property, where did you find them afterwards?

You're confusing induction and instructions.

I'm not confused at all, I'm just surprised anyone needs instructions on how thermostats work...

Of course

[Du1point8]

WinstonWolf said:

H..... said:

WinstonWolf said:

HughiusMaximus said:

My counter would be that there was no induction of how things worked in the property (I found instructions for the boiler after wards)

So the instructions that were not in the property, where did you find them afterwards?

You're confusing induction and instructions.

I'm not confused at all, I'm just surprised anyone needs instructions on how thermostats work...

Well either that or the fact that combi boilers are the most complicated things in the world and most only have a few dials or if digital , then even less.

If the hot water is on and the heating is not... first thing, look at boiler and see what is up, if can't find out what is up, go google it or ask a forum.

Or get the plumber out and then complain?

[HughiusMaximus]

WinstonWolf said:

I'm not confused at all, I'm just surprised anyone needs instructions on how thermostats work...

Morning,

I had turned up the wall thermostat, and the radiator valves were fully open.

It was only afterwards that I discovered that there is a removable panel on the boiler that allows access to additional setting on the boiler itself that must have been causing the issue.

So I put my hands up and admit that I didn't cover myself in glory in this but would still ask the question (more of the estate agents than the landlord) as to whether there should have been an induction at move in which would have prevented this situation.

So in a nutshell does their lazy handover partially offset my stupidity?

[Du1point8]

HughiusMaximus said:

WinstonWolf said:

I'm not confused at all, I'm just surprised anyone needs instructions on how thermostats work...

Morning,

I had turned up the wall thermostat, and the radiator valves were fully open.

It was only afterwards that I discovered that there is a removable panel on the boiler that allows access to additional setting on the boiler itself that must have been causing the issue.

So I put my hands up and admit that I didn't cover myself in glory in this but would still ask the question (more of the estate agents than the landlord) as to whether there should have been an induction at move in which would have prevented this situation.

So in a nutshell does their lazy handover partially offset my stupidity?

How about taking some responsibility for yourself rather than try and blame someone else for not telling you how to turn the heating on?

You have asked in the past on PH for advice about things, now this time you don't and want full sympathy for not being able to see that it has a removable panel, most with a removable panel will have nothing more than a gauge or power switch, so you must have wondered how something like the water gets warm?

Thats not on the thermostat?

---

Edit -----

Lets put it car format... You lease a car, you can't work out how to put oil in it... the mechanic charges you £50 to teach you... are you going to go after the lease company if the handbook was not clear or available?

Edited by Du1point8 on Monday 22 February 09:37

[anonymous-user]

Du1point8 said:

How about taking some responsibility for yourself rather than try and blame someone else for not telling you how to turn the heating on?

Going for the recently-abdicated BV/Loon crown for grumpiness? At least they did it with a modicum of humour...

[surveyor]

Perhaps a polite letter back, thanking them for your time, but politely pointing out that you were not aware of the hidden (I hope properly hidden although I fear just a cover flap) controls that brought heat back into play.

Ask them nicely to review the decision, or perhaps in the spirit of lack of instructions etc. splitting the cost 50/50

Don't go all uppity as you are in the wrong in terms of fairness.

Having said that what does your tenancy agreement say? If it's silent then they should not be able to recharge- but good luck getting good service any time soon if you force this through.

[essayer]

I don't see why you should pay any charge you didn't agree to.
Surely instruction on the heating and hot water was part of the handover?

[WinstonWolf]

essayer said:

I don't see why you should pay any charge you didn't agree to.
Surely instruction on the heating and hot water was part of the handover?

Is it mentioned in the contract. If you're using that approach I would expect it to be included and specifically mentioned.

The frustration for me is people appear to have stopped using their brains

[HughiusMaximus]

OpulentBob said:

Going for the recently-abdicated BV/Loon crown for grumpiness? At least they did it with a modicum of humour...

I just tend to focus on the people who give reasonable advice....

[HughiusMaximus]

surveyor said:

Perhaps a polite letter back, thanking them for your time, but politely pointing out that you were not aware of the hidden (I hope properly hidden although I fear just a cover flap) controls that brought heat back into play.

Ask them nicely to review the decision, or perhaps in the spirit of lack of instructions etc. splitting the cost 50/50

Don't go all uppity as you are in the wrong in terms of fairness.

Having said that what does your tenancy agreement say? If it's silent then they should not be able to recharge- but good luck getting good service any time soon if you force this through.

Just checked, no mention of recovery of 'no fault' fees in the tenancy agreement.

Your suggestion above sounds reasonable so I'll probably see what they say to that.

[HughiusMaximus]

essayer said:

I don't see why you should pay any charge you didn't agree to.
Surely instruction on the heating and hot water was part of the handover?

Handover of keys was at the estate agents office which basically consisted of signing of Inventory and Statement of Condition, and handing over of keys.

No instruction on any aspect of the property was given.