Hi just after some advice
I currently private rent a 2 bed house from a ll
The heating system is the old emersion heater type (big copper cylinder in cupboard in bedroom) on the last gas unspection they said that the boiler (which is working fine at the.min and is in a cupboard in kitchen)we have is now obsolete and should it break it would be hard if not impossible to find spares for. On the back of this we would like the heating changed to a standard combi boiler so as landlords how should I approach my ll with this (I have checked and MOST grants are available to homeowners) we would even be prepared (if we had to) to contribute some of the cost (although id rather not dosclose that unless I have to)
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Hi. A lot of providers will do a new boiler installation on a next day basis so fact existing boiler couldn’t be repaired isnt a reason to replace a working one as a new one could be installed quicker than one could be repaired.
Of course a new one would be more efficient so depends on size/heating requirements for your home as to whether it is cost effective for you to offer slightly higher rent for a new boiler.
As a LL I would not want to change something that isn’t broke. Because where does that process end? Basically you could say the same about anything in the house. The stove is working but not what you’d like to have, etc etc.
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I get that its just that as soon as the current one stops working it will need replacing would it not be prudent to do it before it needs replacing to save inconvenience to tenant and possibly high charges from maybe an unscrupulous tradesman who knows you need to fix it
Plus as i said we would if necessary pay towards the rplacement as we intend being there some time.
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Wasnt thinking of slightly higher rent was thinking of contributing towards the cost as we intend to be there a while and its for our benefit as much as the ll
I get your analogy about the stove etc but currently there is a big push for booler replacements and for ll and home owners to get grants to upgrade thats why now
A grant will probably be available for this as the boiler would be inefficient regardless of the risk of failure, providing household income is less than £31k, or if any tenant has a specific type of illness. (Can’t remember them off hand, breathing related).
I would simply pick up phone to landlord and have an informal chat.
What is the EPC rating? I bet it’s a D or E? All need to be a C within a few years and the boiler and immersion will be bringing rating down.
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I would not write to your landlord saying you want to change the boiler because it is old. He is responsible for repair.
That is very much a workmen trying to scare you and create money for himself. If that gas engineer came to my property he would never get work again. It’s a scam tactic.
My engineer lets me know that if the boiler is rusting he will say if it breaks down replace don’t repair. What he has never done is say change it because there are no parts available.
How do you know if parts are not available? If someone told me I need a new boiler I would get a second opinion. A lot of engineers don’t have the know how to repair just replace.
This mentality is I won’t go outside because I may get hit by a bus.
My mum’s ( a landlord) boiler is 40 years old with an immersion heater and it works just fine! We haven’t changed it . If it ain’t broke don’t fi it!
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No one has told us to replace it and they arent trying to scare me as i wouldnt technically be paying anyway all they have pointed out is that IF it was to break down then parts would be hard if not impossible to find for it as it is (approx) 12 years old plus
The fact you are on here proposing to ask your landlord to change your boiler and you would propose ‘ to contribute to some of the cost but I’d rather not disclose that unless I have to ‘ implies he’s got into your head.
12 years old…
I would not change a 12 year old boiler. Apart from one , which was grant funded , I’ve done all of them because they died and parts were not available. They all did c 20 years. They were changed within a week , the delay was booking a power flush not changing a boiler. My gas engineer cancels booked works if he has to prioritise a boiler change. That’s normal practice.
My mums boiler is 40 years old. If it breaks down we’ve got parts……
Firstly heating is 100% the landlords responsibility.
Secondly , I can assure you your post implies he’s in your headspace.
I have heard that pat before and it’s a scam . I rolled my eyes in the back of my head when I read that .
I was sitting through the n r l a MEES lecture whilst I responded to your post.
It is not in your landlords interest to change the boiler right now while regulations are in limbo.
If I recall correctly you struggled to find accommodation. Why rock the boat ?
Having said that , there are grants that are means tested that depend on your income. Why don’t you see what you can get and then put a positive spin on it ?
But , I would not do anything now until MEES is introduced.
£3 k is not a small payout and to change systems may cost him more so he is likely to wait till MEES is introduced.
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Good luck with that. Many Landlords wont spend a penny that they don’t have too.
Personally, I wouldn’t rent a property with an old immersion heater, and would rip it out & replace with combi as an upgrade before renting it.
Not sure why your comment targeted to Landlords! This is normal behaviour in most circumstances. People do not spend if they do not have to. I had cases where I have been told there was no solution and it had to be replaced. And then it only costed £100 to fix as opposed to £4000 new system.
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Hi I’m puzzled by your post. You say heating system is old emersion heater type do you mean Immersion? If so they are electric and do not use gas? What is an emersion heater. Other than that I agree with all the other posts. If it is not broken do not replace. I have replaced the boilers in two houses and they were replaced very quickly but with endless problems afterwards, whereas the previous boilers worked beautifully and were easy to fix until they completely broke down. Being over 70yrs old I have known many boilers, both mine family and friends and definitely old boilers work with far fewer problems than new fancy boilers even if they are nominally more efficient. Hope your old boiler continues giving good service for many years, but I sincerely recommend not replacing it until it completely dies.
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The system will be a gas boiler with a cylinder that is heated by the boiler. The electric Immersion heater is there for a standby should the boiler fail. I am an ex heating eng and now a LL. The new combis coming through will not last very long, with many complex parts failing within years. I have just had a bill for a new part on a combi that is only 5 years old. Still the bill was £500 as opposed to £2500 for a full replacement.
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In my own house the original boiler lasted over 20 years. We did an extension, got a new boiler (Worcester Bosch) it was dead in 4 years. Cheap garbage. Now got Vaillant
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It’s difficult choosing a boiler brand. I believe it’s a lot down to model rather than brand. All brands seem to have good and bad models. Worcester arnt what they used to be mind…
All our properties now have combi boilers, Despite our Plumber recommending us to keep the older type as they last years. Whoever told you if your boiler broke down you would have problems is either just after work or not fully experienced. There are very few boilers on the market you can’t get parts.for.
When replacing boilers landlords should be looking for Quality and Value with guarantees of at least 10 to 15 years. The current quality of boilers means it’s probably how long there are going to last. It doesn’t help either with the quality of water going through the heat exchanges.
Ll who buy cheap Boilers with only five year warranties are wishing they didn’t. Indeed, some of the green boiler initiatives are being replaced with cheap boilers, some have short warranties and there’s nothing Green about that when the old boiler will go on for years.
If your boiler does break down, it could just be simply changed for a modern Non-Combi very simply in a day
You would like a nice trendy combi boiler yes they’re more efficient, but the flue would need changing and they would be some upheaval. Your old boiler you probably don’t use the gas much in this summer and just heat hot water with the immersion heater or top up with the immersion heater if you happen to be using a lot of hot water. The water pressure can be enhanced on the old boilers with pumps which helps showers that need that extra pressure.
I take it in your two bedroom property you’ve one bathroom. So a combi boiler should be sufficient, But remember if it isn’t broke, why change it with something of a lesser build Quality.
As stated if people have benefits and do not earn over 30 K there are grants to help the replacement of the boiler, but these Grants do not cover any Power flushing (Giving the existing pipes a really good clean) As opposed to a chemical clean, which is just an additive to the heating water.
You may gain space where the old copper cylinder was. However, you will lose the airing cupboard. There are always round this putting a small electric heater in the cupboard , using the old immersion heater feed
and racking the cupboard to provide airing space. If the boiler is able to go into the old cupboard but higher up you may be able to rack underneath it but recommendations are there is nothing in the cupboard with the Boiler.
There may be decoration to do after the installation, but not always,
The water tanks in the loft will be removed and you will be on mains water pressure direct to the Boiler. Let’s hope your water pressure is good, it may vary when other properties are using their water too as you are losing your main water tank.
I can’t remember if you said you lived in a flat if so, the water tanks in the cupboard will be removed.
Now back to the landlord, What’s it for him or her?
Legislation has been changed and is being been changed further, the EPC is being replaced. Heat exchangers are a no no Unless you want your heating cost to go up in your property, be cold on really cold days. The efficiency drops massively when Retro fitted to 15 mm Pipe installations. And when I say your cost will go up, I mean significantly. Most of them have short warranties So back to the boilers.
If you are going to have a chat with the landlord, maybe when he or she comes round to do their inspections. Ask him if they have any plans or what plans they have to replace the boiler. Do not be surprised if they say they have none, if you are on benefits and meet the criteria for a Green grant, are able to pay the difference between the cheap boiler being installed and that of a boiler with a 10, 12, 15 year warranty. Then the landlord may consider this. Conversely, the landlord may be On a tight budget, and doesn’t really want to do anything yet because of the potential extras that may be involved with the installation, unless of course you’re going to cover those as well. Remember, mortgage rates have gone up and whilst they may come down slowly, other costs have gone up like Insurance to name but one.
Installations will take between one and three days, a good Power flush will take the best part of a day setting up running it for a good period and then packing away.
One penultimate point. If the landlord does agree and you have a new Combi installed. If you find the water pressure to your shower is less than you want and want something done about it, it’s too late. You have the pressure of the Combi boiler thats it.
Lastly, if your landlord was planning to replace the boiler work with him or her rather than complaining about all the upheaval.
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I think insisting you want a new boiler is unreasonable, as a home owner I would never put in anything new until the old appliance has failed and cannot be repaired, it’s wasteful of resources in my opinion and therefore it doesn’t really save the planet.
As to you insisting on a combi boiler, be careful what you wish for. If a combi boiler fails you will be without hot water, with a hot water cylinder, provided it has an electric immersion fitted to be used as needed, you will still have hot water. I think any decent landlord will go out of their way to look after their tenants, but whenever a boiler is exchanged it will be disruptive, it doesn’t matter if it’s changed early or if it breaks down. The important thing is to have a really good heating engineer who knows what he’s doing, plus making sure the best rated boiler, probably advised by Which is put in. Just because you use a big company with a name like British Gas etc it doesn’t mean the heating engineers are excellent. The landlord has to have a gas safety check every year and provided the boiler passes I don’t think you can expect the landlord to replace the boiler
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Best have a friendly chat with your landlord. He might be persuaded, especially if you can get a grant. He is under no obligation though and might prefer to wait.
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