Can a landlord for an HMO turn off heating

[carboy2017]

A landlord I know who has multiple houses as HMO's has told his tenants that he is switching off the heating due to the energy crisis (switched off the timer) and told them to use it in short duration if they needed it as its not yet cold here ,he has done it today apparently

This an all bills paid house share ,Is this legal and can the landlord do this?

[ingenieur]

dunno about the legality of it but surely the tenants should realise if the costs for paying the bills are going up dramatically and they're bankrupting the landlord that's not viable long term! So something will have to give one way or another.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Depends on the contract, but I doubt it.

[Tribal Chestnut]

ingenieur said:

dunno about the legality of it but surely the tenants should realise if the costs for paying the bills are going up dramatically and they're bankrupting the landlord that's not viable long term! So something will have to give one way or another.

Works both ways, if the tenants can’t afford to bailout the landlord…

[dudleybloke]

The landlord will have to increase what he charges for utilities.

[Tribal Chestnut]

And you can say, with almost complete certainty, that the LL would not be giving a discount for a reduction in his costs.

[J1990]

So he's removing the schedule from the timer... But there's nothing stopping them from turning it on?

It's a ridiculous move by the landlord, you can't just turn off the heating... If the contract states all utilities are included and there isn't a clause for revising the values in the event of price rises then I'd say the landlord doesn't have a leg to stand on.

[porterpainter]

He’s not turned off the heating, just told them to use it as and when they need it.

Where I used to live there were loads of HMO’s and the folks would have their windows wide open in the depths of winter…I always assumed they didn’t pay for their own heating.

[pavarotti1980]

Legally prob not a leg to stand on but really the tenants should already only be using the heating as and when it is required otherwise they are just indiscriminately wasting energy for no good reason. Why turn the heating on it isn't needed?

[vaud]

If he switches it off, there may be grounds for local Environmental Health to intervene if it is linked to mould, health, etc

Criteria:
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repa...

[BoRED S2upid]

porterpainter said:

He’s not turned off the heating, just told them to use it as and when they need it.

Where I used to live there were loads of HMO’s and the folks would have their windows wide open in the depths of winter…I always assumed they didn’t pay for their own heating.

Lol so they say yeah sure we will. And then ignore him until the eviction notice arrives.

[Chozza]

carboy2017 said:

(switched off the timer) and told them to use it in short duration if they needed it as its not yet cold here ,

He (The landlord) needs to buy a thermostat

The tenants need to buy electric/oil filled radiators

Problem solved... till he increases prices or bankrupts himself

[Draxindustries1]

We've not had our heating on at all since March,Is it really that cold ATM to have to have the heating on??

[ingenieur]

Tribal Chestnut said:

ingenieur said:

dunno about the legality of it but surely the tenants should realise if the costs for paying the bills are going up dramatically and they're bankrupting the landlord that's not viable long term! So something will have to give one way or another.

Works both ways, if the tenants can’t afford to bailout the landlord…

Precisely.

[ingenieur]

Draxindustries1 said:

We've not had our heating on at all since March,Is it really that cold ATM to have to have the heating on??

We're keeping ours off for the moment. I've run it up a couple of times for testing purposes but generally it's off. November the 1st we will move to a limited schedule but with the thermostat in charge. If it gets properly cold we'll override the timer ad-hoc as and when. Our house was built long before central heating was even an idea. Sure, it's a bit 'fresh' at this time of year... but I'm not paying hundreds of pounds to heat it when it's not even that cold.

[Granadier]

I can see more battles like this happening. It has to be said some tenants whose rent includes utilities don't care about how much energy they use, and in fairness no doubt some landlords are penny-pinching when it's not their comfort at stake.
I once rented a place in a house that had been converted into four studio flats. Landlord was not on site. I had to keep my window open much of the time because one of the tenants insisted on having the central heating on 24/7.

[vaud]

I work from home and it's set to 14c... a minor blip to 18c for getting up in the morning.

I grew up in a draughty Victorian single glazed house where it was common to wake up with ice on the inside of the windows, so a modern house with 14c is positive luxury.

#cue4yorkshiremensketch

[mattyprice4004]

Draxindustries1 said:

We've not had our heating on at all since March,Is it really that cold ATM to have to have the heating on??

Yes, not all of us live on the South coast in well-insulated houses.

Our house has averaged 14 degrees over the last week (away on holiday) which isn’t a fun temperature to live in.

[vaud]

mattyprice4004 said:

Yes, not all of us live on the South coast in well-insulated houses.

Our house has averaged 14 degrees over the last week (away on holiday) which isn’t a fun temperature to live in.

Meh. Man up. I'm in Yorkshire and 14c is standard.

[Insert Coin]

The local authority will have a set of regulations (amenity standards) that the LL will have to follow.

For example, BCP where I live - https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/Business/Licences-an...