A landlord’s hot water responsibilities

If you’ve ever experienced not having hot water, especially in the winter months, then you’ll know how uncomfortable it can be. As a landlord, your hot water responsibilities should always be at the forefront of your mind. 

If your tenant contacts you to tell you that they don’t have hot water, it is classed as an emergency; ensuring hot water in your rental is a legal requirement. This includes issues such as boiler issues and emergency repairs. So, preventing a ‘no hot water’ situation is one of your many landlord responsibilities. 

Legal responsibilities for providing hot water

There are a few legal frameworks that you can refer to as a landlord that will help you understand your responsibilities when it comes to tenants having no hot water. Here’s a breakdown of what each legal framework requires from a landlord:  

• Landlord and Tenant Act 1985: states that landlords should maintain the structure and exterior of the property, which includes the water heating system.
• Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018: states that landlords are legally required to ensure that the property remains safe and habitable, including having access to hot water. It also states that failing to provide hot water makes a property legally uninhabitable. 

So, landlords are required to provide hot water and failing to do so means that they can face legal action, fines being issued or, in worst case scenarios, enforcement by local authorities. 

So, what happens if a hot water system fails?

As we mentioned earlier, hot water failures should be treated as an urgent repair. Landlords also need to ensure that this needs to be done within a reasonable timeframe to mitigate tenant complaints or any legal repercussions. It is your duty as a landlord to act promptly.  

But, what is considered a reasonable timeframe? Any issues with hot water should be repaired within 24-48 hours; this is the most you’re able to leave your tenants without hot water. But, this really does depend on the circumstances, for example, if it is extremely cold, you should strive to repair the hot water issue within one working day. 

There are also temporary solutions that you can offer your tenants should repairs be delayed for any reason. You could offer portable heaters or financial assistance for short-term fixes to make sure that your tenants have access to some form of heat whilst waiting for the hot water to be tended to. 

Best practices for a landlord’s hot water responsibilities

As with most landlord responsibilities, there are preventative measures that can be put in place to make sure that there is hot water in your rental. For example: 

Conduct regular inspections and maintenance

By inspecting your property on a regular basis, you’ll be able to quickly pick up on any issues with the boiler and hot water. Also, make sure that you conduct annual boiler servicing by a qualified engineer. 

Another preventative measure that can be put in place is monitoring the water pressure and heating efficiency to prevent breakdowns that could lead to having no hot water in your rental.  

Ensure clear communication with tenants

Being able to maintain clear communication with tenants will be a lot easier if you have some sort of report with your tenants. Respond to tenants as soon as you possibly can and be as transparent as possible, too. 

As well as responding effectively, you can set up a simple reporting process whereby tenants can notify you as soon as they start experiencing issues with the hot water or heating system. 

Schedule professional servicing

As mentioned above, it is important to arrange for qualified heating engineers to inspect your hot water system regularly.  Further to this, you could keep a service contract for emergency call-outs to prevent any delays with repairs. 

Document everything

Make sure that you always keep all records of repairs and servicing. You can do this by keeping a log of any maintenance work (to prove your compliance with legal obligations), and by keeping receipts and service reports (in case of any disputes). 

Update the tenancy agreement

Ensure that your tenancy agreements outline the procedure for reporting hot water issues and expected response times.

By implementing these best practices, you’ll be able to prevent extreme issues with hot water and make sure that your tenants are comfortable in your property. 

What are the tenant’s responsibilities with hot water?

We now know what your landlord hot water responsibilities are, but what is required from a tenant? 

While landlords are legally responsible for ensuring the hot water system is in good working order, tenants also have certain responsibilities to help maintain it. Tenants should use the system properly, following any provided instructions for the boiler or water heater to prevent unnecessary damage. 

They are also responsible for reporting any issues, such as a loss of hot water, leaks, or unusual noises from the boiler as soon as possible to you, as the landlord. Delaying a report could lead to further damage, potentially making the tenant liable for avoidable repairs. 

Additionally, tenants should keep heating controls and thermostats set at reasonable levels during colder months to prevent pipes from freezing and causing damage. Regularly checking pressure levels (if the boiler manual allows) and keeping the area around the boiler accessible for maintenance are also good practices to help ensure the system runs smoothly.

If you are new to this landlord gig, you’ll probably be looking for the best landlord insurance quotes. Landlord insurance ensures that your property is safeguarded against any damages and is kept in the best condition. 

Make sure that you take care of your property by investing in landlord insurance today! At CIA Landlords, we have the expertise to find the best landlord insurance deals that are suitable for your needs as a landlord. Contact us today on 01788 818 670.