Boilers need annual maintenance to work perfectly. The landlord of the house sets up boiler service, even though they may not benefit from it. People renting a house often wonder who pays for boiler repair. So, your rental home’s boiler is more than a tool. It keeps tenants safe and comfortable. Because boilers are among the most expensive equipment in a buy-to-let, the landlord should know how to fix problems.
In addition to the benefits for both landlord and tenant, landlords must maintain their rental property’s boiler. The UK government also offers the free boiler grant under the ECO4 scheme to low-income families to replace older boilers with energy-efficient ones. If you’re a landlord or private tenant, you can benefit from this free scheme and save the cost of the high expenses of boiler repairs. To check your ECO4 eligibility.
Furthermore, in this article, we’ll explain landlords’ and tenants’ responsibilities regarding boiler maintenance and offer helpful tips and practical advice for managing the boiler in a rented property.
Rented Property Boiler Repair Legal Issues
Legally, landlords are responsible for repairs to heating, hot water, gas appliances, pipes, flues, ventilation, wiring, and sanitary fittings. This means you are responsible for boiler repairs and servicing.
The landlord is also legally obligated to service any gas appliances with the frequency required by the manufacturer—this is detailed in the product manual.
Regarding gas boiler service legal requirements, you must have an annual gas safety check conducted by a registered engineer. You must keep copies of these checks, which must be supplied to tenants at the beginning of each tenancy. The record of the gas safety check has to be kept for at least two years.
Moreover, as a tenant or landlord, you should know who is responsible for the boiler repair. This depends on the rental agreement and property conditions.
The below guidelines may help you determine Boiler Protection Responsibility:
Who’s Responsible for Boiler Service – Landlords or Tenants?
The landlord is responsible for servicing the boiler. The Landlord and Tenant Act (1985) requires that landlords keep in good repair and working order installations that supply water, gas, electricity, and sanitation systems. In the same way, landlords are also responsible for space heating and water heating systems.
However, tenants generally assume responsibility for daily maintenance, such as keeping the heating running when necessary and reporting problems. Some tenancy agreements also stipulate that the tenant is responsible for maintaining chimneys and flues.
The only exception to the landlord’s responsibility for boilers is when the tenant has caused damage through mistreatment.
Landlord Boiler Responsibilities
After learning about these important rules, it’s time to think about what you need to do legally to keep the boiler, heating, and hot water systems in your rental properties in good shape. Let’s break down these duties into steps that can be taken to see what needs to be done.
- Make sure that every rental property has a heating and hot water system that works properly.
- Make plans for the boiler to be repaired once a year.
- A Gas-safe registered expert should check your gas safety once a year.
- Make sure all the pipes are in good shape.
- For at least two years, keep copies of all gas safety records in a safe place.
- Give a copy of the gas safety check to every tenant within 28 days of the check being done.
- Before the new tenants move in, give them a copy of a legal gas safety check.
- Fix the boiler within 24 hours of when the problem is reported.
- Install a CO2 alarm in every room with a gas device, such as a boiler, where people can live.
- Make sure the CO2 alarm works before the tenants come in.
Tenant Boiler Responsibilities
Now that we know the responsibility of the landlord, does the tenant have to take care of the boiler?
The tenant is in charge of keeping the boiler, heating, and hot water systems running every day. This could mean setting schedules for the heating and hot water and putting the heat on and off. Tenants must use the boiler reasonably and notify the landlord immediately of any concerns. If the tenant misuses the boiler, they may be responsible for repairs. It is also the tenant’s job to quickly report any issues or concerns with the boiler. The tenant can only be made to pay for boiler repairs or maintenance if the landlord has proof that the tenant broke or damaged the boiler.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the rental agreement and property circumstances determine boiler repair responsibilities. In general, landlords must maintain the boiler, while tenants must use it reasonably and report any difficulties promptly. Moreover, in some cases, both landlord and tenant are responsible for boiler repair. For instance, the landlord may arrange annual maintenance. The tenant must pay for boiler misuse call-outs and repairs. Additionally, consult the tenancy agreement and get legal counsel if you are in doubt.