UK Landlord Forum / Life

My boiler recently broke down and, as I have a British Gas Homecare agreement, my tenant contacted them directly and arranged for their engineers to come and fix it.  He told me about this, and as the job was difficult it required four separate visits over 12 days.  He's now demanding 12 days rent discount, because of "inconvenience" and an accusation that I've failed to perform my landlord's responsibilities by not attending each of the British Gas engineer's visits myself.  Ignoring that he had full access throughout this period, does he have a leg to stand on?

Did the tenant have to take time off work? Did he inform you that he would before doing so. Has he lost income because of this? Can he prove it? Did he request/insist you turn up at the time? I had a boiler replaced but the tenant was happy to let the workmen in. We did discuss it first.

Yes, he took time off work but without any loss of income.  He works nearby and often works from home.  He did tell me that he was going to attend the visits, and asked if someone could attend to one of them he'd already arranged.  At short notice (a day) I told him it wasn't possible, but he then changed them and arranged his own visits directly.  There was never a request of discussion about compensation, just a demand after everything had been repaired.

Now I am no expert, hell its why i have just joined this site for help but I would say he took the reins here and took it upon himself to arrange all this therefore it was his decision. He removed you as the middle man from this situation to get the job done quickly, therefore at his convenience. Had he not done so, you would still have had all the works done it is just it may not have been as convenient for him. He still worked from home and earnt his crust. I would suggest a letter thanking him for his effort in this matter (mentioning how fortunate it was that he was able to have the flexibility in his work) attached to a big tin of quality street. (that way you cannot be accused of being anything but a nice bloke!)

Had you not taken it upon yourself to take out this policy and called in various knuckle dragging idiots the whole situation could have been far worse for him. Had he been the property owner he would have had the same situation and inconvenience but also had to pay for it too. This has cost him nothing and that is worthy of note