What private tenants and landlords can do if it is too cold due to either inadequate heating, draughts, disrepair or dampness.
What Private Tenants Can Do
There are some simple things you can do yourself:
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Have door draught excluders (the long sausages like cushions that you put along the bottom of the door)
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Draw the curtains or blinds at night
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Fit a heavy curtain across the front door
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Know how to use the heating controls properly such as the room thermostat and the thermostatic radiator valves
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Change your duvet to a "winter duvet" with a high tog rating
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Buy a thermometer to see exactly what temperature it is
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Be realistic about heating and wear appropriate clothing – do not expect to walk around the house in a T shirt and shorts in the middle of winter and do not leave the front door open whilst you put the rubbish out – keep it closed and keep the heat in.
What Your Landlord Can Do
You should speak with your landlord about fitting draught excluders to the windows and/or fitting secondary glazing or double glazing the windows, and fitting thermostatic radiator valves where required.
Also ask your landlord if there is loft insulation and cavity wall insulation (if there is a cavity wall) in the property – the installation of these measures are easy and relatively cheap to do.
So what can you do if you rent your home and there is not any fixed heating in the property, or if the heating is broken, or if it is just too expensive to turn on, or despite the heating being on it is too draughty and cold due to disrepair or dampness?
We always recommend that you speak to your landlord or managing agent first – they can only help with a problem if they are made aware that one exists.
If the landlord/managing agent does not resolve the problem within what you would consider to be a reasonable period of time then you should contact our Private Housing Team.
