Client’s boiler broken down? Got worried tenants calling every hour for updates? Panic stations!
No, just kidding – although it can feel like you’ve got quite a situation on your hands when a tenant is left without any heating or hot water.
As a letting agent, you’re often piggy in the middle between landlords and tenants – it also means you get to deal with all the really fun stuff, like broken down boilers.
I’ve helped many letting agents figure out what to do in these scenarios over the years, so below I thought I’d highlight some of my tips for letting agents when dealing with a broken down boiler.
Your first steps
Most letting agents will have a quick set of guidance notes they’ve put together about each boiler and things to check should there be any problems. This can often save time as money, as it could turn out to be something very simple.
These steps should include things such as:
- Check there’s money in the pre-paid gas meter
- Check there’s power to the boiler
- Check the boiler pressure
- Check the thermostat and contols
- Check the boiler clock
- See if the boiler simply needs reset
These are the basic steps either you or the landlord should talk through with the tenants. If you don’t have boiler notes for a particular property, contact the landlord who should be able to provide them.
Call in the professionals
None of the easy fixes seem to have worked? In that case, it’s time to call a heating engineer and get a quote.
Now, in some cases where the boiler is under contract, it’s not unheard of for the tenant to be told to contact the heating engineer directly. However, in all other cases, you should have a heating engineer that you prefer to call for this type of work.
If you’re yet to find one, or for any reason you need to contact a new heating engineer for the job, it’s best to check they are a) properly qualified for the type of work you need b) can provide a fixed price quote and c) can provide a CP12 gas safety certificate.
It’s also worth taking a note of the companies that are quickest to respond, and who offer up fairly reasonable quotes (although you only need to supply one). You should then check with the landlord to see if they’re happy to go ahead with the work.
Found a company you like? Then let’s skip quickly to my next point.
Build a relationship
In my experience, most letting agents tend to find a heating engineer they can build up a trusting relationship with, who will be there to help them out with a quick response whatever the problem.
If you can find an engineer you’re happy with, building up this relationship can equally beneficial to both parties, as you’ll find the engineer will also really appreciate the extra work; it goes both ways.
So, especially if an engineer is quick to get the job done for a reasonable amount of money, and is easy to get a hold of, keep in touch with them – they may just save your bacon later.
TIP: I’d recommend having at least two or three engineers on your books, just in case one of them is unable to respond straight away.
Conclusion
As a letting agent, it’s usually your responsibility to manage the utilities in a property – which isn’t always the most fun when the boiler breaks down and tenants are on your case about it. If you’re ever stuck with what to do next, check my handy guide above.
In a lot of cases, it could be something as simple as the boiler clock resetting, or having to repressurise the boiler. However, if none of the above checks seem to work, it could be time to call in a heating engineer. I’d recommend finding two or three engineers who can carry out a good job at a reasonable price, and build lasting relationships.
Do you have a heating engineer you can depend on?
