Home / Things you can claim / No heating or hot water
No heating or hot water in your rented home? You may be able to claim.
A home without working heating or hot water can be miserable and unhealthy. If your landlord hasn't fixed it, you may be entitled to repairs and compensation. Answer a few quick questions and we'll check where you stand.
- No win, no fee: nothing to pay upfront
- For council, housing association and private tenants
- Our own specialist solicitors handle heating and boiler cases
Common heating and hot water faults
Broken boilers
A boiler that is out of action for weeks, or breaks down again and again, is a repair issue. Note each breakdown date and any error codes.
Radiators and pipework
Cold radiators, leaking valves, airlocks and failed pipework can leave rooms unheated even when the boiler runs.
Hot water and gas safety
No hot water, a faulty immersion heater, sooty marks or a yellow flame on a gas appliance all need prompt attention. Stop using a suspect appliance and tell your landlord.
What your landlord must do
Under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your landlord must keep in repair the installations for space heating and heating water. Homes that can't be kept warm can also fall short of the standard of being fit to live in.
Landlords must arrange a gas safety check of gas appliances every year and give you a copy of the record.
Why it matters
Cold homes make illness worse and are especially risky for babies, older people and anyone with a long-term health condition. Running electric heaters can also push up your bills.
If you smell gas, leave the property and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Your landlord can't lawfully evict you for reporting a problem or making a claim.
What to do right now
- Record the dates and length of each period without heating or hot water
- Report it in writing and chase if there's no repair
- Ask your landlord for the latest gas safety record
- Keep a temperature log with dated photos of a thermometer
- Keep energy bills and receipts for heaters or other extra costs
- See your GP if anyone's health is affected
What affects compensation
Each case is different, and we can't promise an amount. Solicitors usually look at:
- How long you went without heating or hot water
- The time of year, and how cold the home became
- Who lives there, such as children, older people or someone ill
- Extra costs and repeated failed repairs
How your claim works
Tell us the problem
Complete the short form with your landlord and the repairs needed.
We review it
We check the facts, the dates you reported the issue, and your evidence.
Our solicitors take over
If you have a claim, one of our specialist solicitors contacts you to take it forward.
Repairs and compensation
Your solicitor pursues the repairs and any compensation you're owed.
How a no heating or broken boiler claim works
1. Report it and gather evidence
Tell your landlord about the heating or hot water fault in writing and keep a copy. A log of breakdowns, energy bills and dated thermometer photos help.
2. Your solicitor writes to your landlord
Before any court case, one of our specialist solicitors sends a formal letter setting out the problem and asking your landlord to inspect, repair and respond. A Gas Safe registered engineer may inspect the boiler or heating system.
3. Repairs and compensation
Many landlords agree to carry out repairs and pay compensation without a hearing. If they don't, the claim can go to court, where a judge can order repairs and award compensation. Each case is different, and we can't promise an outcome.
Can I claim if I've already moved out?
Often yes, for the time you lived with the problem, but time limits apply, so speak to us as soon as you can.
Heating claims: your questions
My landlord lent me a heater. Is that enough?
A temporary heater can help, but it doesn't fix the problem. If the boiler stays broken, you may still have a claim.
Can I claim for higher energy bills?
Possibly, if the extra cost was caused by the problem. Keep your bills and receipts.
How long counts as too long?
There's no set number of days. It depends on the season, who lives in the home and how quickly you reported it. In winter, delays matter more.
Who pays to repair the boiler?
Normally your landlord, unless the damage was caused by you or someone you let in.
How much will it cost me?
Nothing upfront. It's no win, no fee, but some costs can still apply in certain situations. See how our fees work.
How our fees work
Disrepair Claims Hub is a trading style of Equitas Solicitors Ltd. Our own solicitors handle every claim from start to finish, and we explain our fees in writing before you sign anything. Read the full guide to our fees.
- Upfront: you pay nothing to start.
- If your claim succeeds: your landlord usually pays most of our costs. If it does not pay all of them, a success fee may apply, capped at 25% of your damages. The insurance premium, a flat £425 plus Insurance Premium Tax (£476.00 in total at the current 12% rate), is payable only if you win and comes out of your compensation. VAT [applies / does not apply] to our fees.
- If it does not succeed: you do not pay our charges, provided you have kept to your agreement with us. Your insurance is designed to cover the other side's costs and the expenses it insures. Cover can be lost in some situations, and in a few you may have to pay our charges. These are explained in the full guide.
- What's included: [list the stages covered], usually taking [X to Y months].
- Cooling-off: you have 14 days to cancel after signing without charge. If you cancel, your insurance ends too.
Complaints
We want to put things right. If you're unhappy, tell us at Enquiries@disrepairclaimshub.co.uk, on [phone] or in writing to [address]. We'll acknowledge your complaint within [X] working days and aim to reply within [Y] weeks. [Insert the steps of your procedure.]
If we can't resolve it, you can complain to the Legal Ombudsman, normally within six months of our final written response. [COLP to confirm current time limits.] You can also report concerns about our conduct to the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Privacy notice
Equitas Solicitors Ltd is the data controller. We use the details you give us to assess your enquiry, contact you and, if you instruct us, handle your claim. Our lawful bases are [list them]. We share data only with [service providers, insurers, experts, courts] and keep it for [retention period]. If you upload photos or videos, we use them only to assess your claim, and they may contain location data.
You can ask to see, correct or delete your data, restrict or object to its use, or ask for a copy. Contact Enquiries@disrepairclaimshub.co.uk. You can also complain to the Information Commissioner's Office. We only send news and offers if you tick the optional box, and you can opt out at any time. [Replace with your full UK GDPR privacy notice.]
Who we are
Disrepair Claims Hub is a trading style of Equitas Solicitors Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA number 459787. Company number 5871121. Registered office: Muirfields Buildings, 5 Fairways Office Park, Pittman Way, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 9LF.