I had immense help from everyone here when I first posted about a relatively minor issue, although of course it didn't feel so at the time, so I thought I might ask again now that things have escalated.
The previous problem with the flat was that it was clearly not inspected and was released to me filthy, stinking of cigarettes (it's a non-smoking flat) and in a bad state of disrepair. I thought the problems were cosmetic and although I did go in to the letting agency to stomp my feet and make a general nuisance of myself (so that they did agree to clean the carpets) I just set in to clean the place myself. It's now in much better condition, and I can see myself living here for the rest of my 6 month tenancy, since I have to. I mention this only to give the backdrop to my relationship with the letting/management agencies.
The problem now is the immersion heater. When I arrived, the hot water was FAR too hot. I heard it actually boiling in the tank. I took a series of measurements of the water, and it was averaging 80 celsius right out of the hot water tap. At one point it measured 90c. This, by the way, is even too hot for a cup of green tea. When trying to mix it with cold water so that I could enjoy personal hygiene, I found even the cold water came out warm. I informed the management company and they fixed the 'fuzzy' pipes but ignored the immersion heater. I complained again, clearly identifying the temperatures of the water, and they sent out the same guy again (I don't know why he didn't notice the temperature when he fixed the fuzzy pipes) who did some sort of work I imagine, and insisted that he'd fixed the heater.
After repair, I still noticed the water out of the tap was 70c. I mentioned this to the contractor (importantly, alas, not the management company), saying it was still too hot. He said the temperature has to be above 60c in the tank for sanitary reasons (which is true). I felt a bit bulldozed by him so I just shut up.
I have since suffered 2nd degree burns from the hot water despite taking care to mix with the cold. I'm still under doctor's care - the blister is over 2" long (and - gross! - 2" puffy) and the doctors have told me to expect to suffer permanent scarring. Fortunately this is only on the back of my leg, so it's not a disfigurement issue, but damn
My question here is simply what I can do next. I have not yet told the LL/agency because I wanted to explore my legal options first. A non-legal person who dishes advice at a clinic says that there has been no breach of contract as the LL did try to fix the problem when I brought it to their attention - so if the LL does not let me out of the contract I am still stuck. I am considering bringing in the council to check the safety of everything else, with the suspicion that it will end up with a list of problems, but this of course still leaves me in the flat, with a permament scar.
I would welcome any advice, comments, suggestions, questions...?
Incidentally, the landlord is, technically, the Citizen's Advice Bureau, who operate their offices downstairs. So that potential route of advice closed to me :/
The previous problem with the flat was that it was clearly not inspected and was released to me filthy, stinking of cigarettes (it's a non-smoking flat) and in a bad state of disrepair. I thought the problems were cosmetic and although I did go in to the letting agency to stomp my feet and make a general nuisance of myself (so that they did agree to clean the carpets) I just set in to clean the place myself. It's now in much better condition, and I can see myself living here for the rest of my 6 month tenancy, since I have to. I mention this only to give the backdrop to my relationship with the letting/management agencies.
The problem now is the immersion heater. When I arrived, the hot water was FAR too hot. I heard it actually boiling in the tank. I took a series of measurements of the water, and it was averaging 80 celsius right out of the hot water tap. At one point it measured 90c. This, by the way, is even too hot for a cup of green tea. When trying to mix it with cold water so that I could enjoy personal hygiene, I found even the cold water came out warm. I informed the management company and they fixed the 'fuzzy' pipes but ignored the immersion heater. I complained again, clearly identifying the temperatures of the water, and they sent out the same guy again (I don't know why he didn't notice the temperature when he fixed the fuzzy pipes) who did some sort of work I imagine, and insisted that he'd fixed the heater.
After repair, I still noticed the water out of the tap was 70c. I mentioned this to the contractor (importantly, alas, not the management company), saying it was still too hot. He said the temperature has to be above 60c in the tank for sanitary reasons (which is true). I felt a bit bulldozed by him so I just shut up.
I have since suffered 2nd degree burns from the hot water despite taking care to mix with the cold. I'm still under doctor's care - the blister is over 2" long (and - gross! - 2" puffy) and the doctors have told me to expect to suffer permanent scarring. Fortunately this is only on the back of my leg, so it's not a disfigurement issue, but damn
My question here is simply what I can do next. I have not yet told the LL/agency because I wanted to explore my legal options first. A non-legal person who dishes advice at a clinic says that there has been no breach of contract as the LL did try to fix the problem when I brought it to their attention - so if the LL does not let me out of the contract I am still stuck. I am considering bringing in the council to check the safety of everything else, with the suspicion that it will end up with a list of problems, but this of course still leaves me in the flat, with a permament scar.
I would welcome any advice, comments, suggestions, questions...?
Incidentally, the landlord is, technically, the Citizen's Advice Bureau, who operate their offices downstairs. So that potential route of advice closed to me :/
.gif "(rofl)")
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