Heating and boiler problems

UK The advice on this site is written for the United Kingdom, mainly England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules — use the official guidance for the nation you live in, starting with GOV.UK.

US Tenant and landlord law varies by state, and sometimes by city. For federal housing information see HUD’s tenant rights page, then check your state attorney general or housing department for the local rules.

Australia Tenancy law varies by state and territory. Start with the official body where you live: NSW Fair Trading (NSW Government renting guidance), Consumer Affairs Victoria, Queensland’s Residential Tenancies Authority, Consumer and Business Services South Australia, or Consumer Protection Western Australia. Other territories have their own tenancy authorities.

Canada Tenancy law varies by province and territory. Start with the official guidance where you live: Renting in Ontario: your rights, British Columbia’s Residential Tenancy Branch, Québec’s Tribunal administratif du logement, or Alberta’s information for landlords and tenants. For a national overview see CMHC’s landlord and tenant responsibilities. Other provinces and territories have their own tenancy authorities.

New Zealand Tenancy rules are set nationally. Start with official Tenancy Services guidance for tenants and landlords.

Ireland Start with the official Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). Citizens Information also explains renting in Ireland in plain English.

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No heat or hot water is usually the landlord’s repair, and gas work is never a DIY job. This page is a first-aid path for private tenants in England, with official links.

Your call

Go or no?

If it is a small, safe job that is yours to do, give it a go. We’ll point you to a beginner guide and a short shopping list. If you’d rather not, or the work needs a trade, say no and we’ll help you find someone local. If the job is the landlord’s, report it to them first.

Right then. Here’s a sensible starter kit, and links to the relevant guides.

No problem. We’ll show you how to find a local tradesperson.

This is about England

Most of what follows is written for private renting in England. It is general information, not legal advice, and it is not a ruling on your tenancy. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules — use the official guidance for the nation you live in. The country notes at the top of this page point to official starting points elsewhere too.

If you smell gas

Call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999, and follow their instructions. Do not use switches or naked flames. Tell your landlord as well, once it is safe to do so, and confirm it in writing.

If the heating or hot water has failed

Report it in writing, the same day, and say who lives in the home — no heat in cold weather, or a household with a very young child or someone vulnerable, is urgent. Check the obvious only: is the thermostat on, is the prepay meter in credit, has a switch on the boiler tripped? Do not take the case off the boiler, and do not “bleed” a sealed system if you do not know what you are looking at.

A room radiator that is cold at the top, when the rest of the system is working, can be a simple bleed — see Bleed a radiator. If the whole system is down, or a boiler is showing a fault, that is a report to the landlord and a Gas Safe engineer.

Who must do the work

Gas appliances, flues and pipework must be worked on by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Your landlord should also have had an annual gas safety check, and you should have been given a copy of the record. If you have never seen one, ask for it in writing.

While you wait

Ask, in writing, what temporary help they can offer. Keep a record of cold days and any extra costs you are asked to agree in advance. If nothing happens and the home is not reasonably warm, follow the steps in If the landlord doesn’t fix it and consider contacting the council.

Official guidance

These official and specialist pages are the best place to confirm the rules for your situation. We have used them as the starting point for this article.

GOV.UK: Private renting — repairs — heating and hot water are usually the landlord’s responsibility
HSE: Gas safety for landlords — annual checks and Gas Safe work
Gas Safe Register — to confirm an engineer is registered
GOV.UK: Your landlord’s safety responsibilities — what a tenant should be given
Shelter England: Repairs advice — practical tenant advice

FAQ

The engineer the agent sent does not seem to be Gas Safe.

You can check a licence on the Gas Safe Register. Tell the landlord if you are worried, and do not accept further gas work from someone who is not registered.

I have not had a gas safety record this year.

Ask for it in writing. Landlords in England must have gas appliances checked every 12 months and give you a copy.

Can I use a portable gas heater in the meantime?

Be very careful. Many are unsuitable for small rooms and can be a safety risk. Ask the landlord about a safer temporary option, and never use a barbecue or a camping stove indoors.

DIY guide and shopping list

For small, safe jobs that are yours to do, these beginner guides will walk you through it. Do not use them for gas work, the electrical installation, or a leak that is the landlord’s to fix.

Useful starting points: Unblock a sink, Fill cracks in walls, Reseal a bath, and Hang a curtain pole.

Prices below are typical UK ranges, shown so the page can convert them for your country. Always check the live product page before you buy.

Item	Why you need it	Typical UK price
Plunger or sink unblocking tool	Clears a simple blockage you have caused.	Typically £5–£12
Ready-mixed filler and a filling knife	Fills picture-hook holes and small dents.	Typically £5–£10
Sandpaper or a sanding block	Smooths dried filler so a touch-up will sit flat.	Typically £4–£8
Kitchen-and-bathroom silicone	For a failing bead you are allowed to renew, if the agreement says you can.	Typically £6–£12

Shop this list:

Would rather not DIY? Find a local tradesperson

If the job is yours but you would rather not do it, a local handyman or plumber can often deal with a small fix. If the job is the landlord’s, report it to them first — they may already have someone they use.

We may earn from shop links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure

General guidance only. Check our disclaimer.