Going without heating or hot water is miserable at any time and dangerous in winter. The law puts responsibility for the boiler, radiators, pipework and hot water system squarely on your landlord.
Many Haringey blocks are served by communal or district heating. When that system fails, dozens of homes can be cold for weeks. Each tenant affected has their own claim.
Signs your landlord should be dealing with
- A boiler that will not fire, loses pressure or keeps locking out
- Radiators that stay cold or only warm at the top
- No hot water, or hot water that runs out within minutes
- Communal heating that is off for days at a time
- A boiler that has been condemned and not replaced
Why it happens and who is responsible
Boilers fail through age and lack of servicing. Systems fill with sludge, pumps and valves seize, and communal plant breaks down when parts are not replaced in time.
Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires the landlord to keep in repair and proper working order the installations for space heating and heating water. Landlords must also have gas appliances checked every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer and give you a copy of the record. For social housing tenants, a total loss of heating in cold weather can be an emergency hazard under Awaab's Law, and from 30 November 2026 excess cold is one of the hazards social landlords must investigate and fix within set timescales. Handing you a small electric heater is a stop-gap, not a repair.
How it affects you
Cold homes make heart and lung conditions worse and are a serious risk to babies and older people. They also encourage condensation and mould. Tenants often face big electricity bills from running portable heaters.
Evidence that helps your claim
- A diary of the days you were without heating or hot water
- Photos of the boiler display, error codes and any warning notices
- Repair reports, engineer visit slips and missed appointments
- Energy bills showing extra costs from electric heaters
- Room temperature readings, if you have a thermometer
You can send photos and documents to us through the secure evidence upload page.
What you can claim
A successful claim for broken heating and boilers usually has two parts. First, an agreement or court order that the landlord carries out the repairs by a fixed date. Second, compensation for the period you lived with the problem after the landlord knew about it, worked out as a share of your rent, plus the cost of damaged belongings and any extra expenses. If your health has suffered, that is assessed separately. Our compensation calculator gives an illustration.
What to do next
- Report it in writing to your landlord if you have not already, and keep a copy.
- Keep recording the problem with dated photos.
- Use the complaints process if you rent from Haringey Council or a housing association. You do not have to finish it before getting legal advice.
- Ask us for a free assessment. If you have a claim, it can be run on a no win no fee basis.
Not sure whether you have a claim? It takes two minutes to find out and costs nothing.
Questions tenants ask
How long does my landlord have to fix the heating?
The law says a reasonable time, which depends on the circumstances. In winter, or where there are young children, older people or someone unwell at home, that means a day or two, not weeks. Social landlords have fixed deadlines for emergency hazards under Awaab's Law.
Can I claim back the cost of electric heaters?
Yes. Extra heating costs caused by the landlord's failure to repair can be included in your claim. Keep your bills and note which heaters you used and for how long.
I smell gas or think the boiler is unsafe. What should I do?
Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 straight away, open windows and leave the property. Do not use the appliance until a Gas Safe engineer has checked it.
