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What to Do When Your Boiler Breaks Down
Your rights to heating and hot water, emergency repairs, and what's reasonable waiting time.
8 min read readLast updated: 1 March 2024
Your landlord is legally responsible for heating and hot water. A broken boiler must be repaired as an urgent priority, especially in winter.
Landlord's Legal Duty
- Under Section 11, landlords must keep heating installations in repair
- This includes boilers, radiators, and hot water systems
- They must respond within a reasonable time
- In cold weather, this means very quickly - often within 24-48 hours
If Landlord Doesn't Act
- Put the complaint in writing with a deadline
- Contact Environmental Health if no response
- They can issue an improvement notice
- Keep receipts if you need temporary heating
Official Sources
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