update: Duct Heating Not Working - Rental Property

whatswrongwithya on 04/06/2024 - 11:39
Last edited 06/06/2024 - 15:49

The duct heating has stopped flowing air in the bedroom and there is a gap between the wall and wardrobe door causing cold air to flow in. We have a baby and a toddler feeling uncomfortable at night and turning on portable heaters whole night will result in huge electricity bill.

The owner inspected the issue on 27th may and has informed to come on 15th june to fix both things because they are not available to come before that.

Is this acceptable or do we a right to ask them to escalate it and treat it as priority? needing advise before we contact the agent.

Update: Agent quoting info available on consumer affairs website

"All rental properties must have a fixed heater (not portable) in good working order in the main living area." owner is meeting minimum living standards.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • payless69 on 04/06/2024 - 12:02
    +2

    Ask Whirlpool first and then come here for Oz discount legal.

  • FoxJump on 04/06/2024 - 12:11
    +8

    a few weeks to get it fixed i think is reasonable.

    • oscargamer on 04/06/2024 - 20:27
      +1

      Not in VIC for an urgent repair, which heating is

  • Porker on 04/06/2024 - 12:13

    You could ask them to treat it as priority, but at that point you'll be pleading with the landlord - agent is just the messenger.

    Appreciate that you're concerned about your kids, but then getting on the bad side of the landlord, particularly after possibly in their mind they've given you a time frame for resolution, may impact long-term relationships.

    Have you tried to temporarily blocking the gap?

    If you can demonstrate that your electricity bill went up as result of the situation, ie to keep the house warm, you could request reimbursement or rent-credit. However, I doubt 11 more nights of heater use is going to significantly spike your bill.

  • dtc on 04/06/2024 - 12:27

    try some electric blankets. Probably not for the baby but the toddler - or electric throw rugs (over the top)

    However they will probably cost more to buy than running a heater for a few nights.

    Maybe ask the landlord to provide some heaters given that the ducted isnt working or, as said, ask for a discount of $50 or $100 from rent on the basis that you had to live without heating. I think you could ask for that politely, basically that providing heating in winter is an essential requirement and you think its appropriate for there to be a discount to the rent during the period that there is no heating. It may put the landlord offside which is an issue; or the landlord might think its reasonable

  • JMosk on 04/06/2024 - 12:44
    +2

    …why is the owner inspecting the issue and not a qualified tradesperson…?

    • whatswrongwithya on 04/06/2024 - 12:46
      +1

      The owner of the house wants to see and fix the things themselves to avoid unnecessary costs.

    • SnoozeAndLose on 04/06/2024 - 14:44
      +5

      it is common if the landlord is living near by just for sure to check if it is a easy fix before spending money on the trade

    • 2esc on 05/06/2024 - 14:10

      Sometimes faults can be rather simple that dont need a qualified tradesperson.

      A prime example is a the sister in law had a psycho neighbour who kept turning the electric hot water off in the switchboard a tradesperson ended up coming just to turn a switch on and this was on a sunday as well.

      Its also beneficial to have a better idea what you may be engaging a tradespeople for.

  • Hellfire on 04/06/2024 - 13:06
    +1

    You can talk to the tenants union.

    Here is what they say about repairs https://tenantsvic.org.au/advice/common-problems/repairs/

    • oscargamer on 04/06/2024 - 20:26
      +1

      You need to read this….(from the link above)

      • All repairs are done by a ‘suitably qualified person’ [section 68] - not the owner

      • Busted heating is URGENT and they need to fix it now, not 2 weeks.

      Types of repairs – urgent and non-urgent

      The law separates repairs into two areas, urgent repairs and non-urgent repairs.

      Many renters think rental providers have 14 days to get urgent repairs done. This is not true.

      Urgent repairs need to be done as soon as possible. If they are not done urgently you can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). It will hear your application within 2 business days.

      If any repairs needed are not urgent the rental provider has 14 days to get them done.

      Urgent repairs are:

      …
      A failure or breakdown of any essential service or appliance provided for water, hot water, cooking, heating or doing laundry
      …

      • Naigrabzo on 06/06/2024 - 10:29

        These are very good in theory but the renter now has to waste time on VCAT and attend hearings etc?

        A simple phone call to landlord would solve this and give the renter more time to spend with their baby.

      • whatswrongwithya on 06/06/2024 - 15:48

        Just got a call from agent quoting consimer affairs website

        "All rental properties must have a fixed heater (not portable) in good working order in the main living area."

        • oscargamer on 06/06/2024 - 16:12

          Which is fine, but not relevant to your issue.

          Your place comes with the heating that's fitted . If it's fitted, it must work. If it breaks down, it must be fixed as an urgent repair.

  • Naigrabzo on 04/06/2024 - 13:26

    Which city?

    • whatswrongwithya on 04/06/2024 - 13:35

      Melbourne.

      • Naigrabzo on 04/06/2024 - 13:47
        +2

        3 weeks to repair heating during winter is fairly routine. Most heating companies are super busy during this time.

        Did you give them another call to discuss your concerns first?

        • whatswrongwithya on 04/06/2024 - 15:00

          Yes. Baby is unsettled and doesn't like blankets much. Toddler moveinto our bed for comfort.

          • mrkorrupt on 04/06/2024 - 18:30
            +6

            @whatswrongwithya: what is this nonsense - how did the human survive prior to electricity?

            Jumpers, blankets, quilts and covers, layering clothes etc

            this generation are so soft

            • Some Human on 04/06/2024 - 20:17
              +4

              @mrkorrupt: I agree. I spent a good part of 30 years freezing my ass off because my mum didn't want to pay the heating bill, then when I moved out, I didn't want to pay the heating bill either. So I'd layer up and be chill.

              • Naigrabzo on 05/06/2024 - 10:43

                @Some Human: BUHAHA. I still remember wearing my ski jacket, beanie, gloves, sleeping bag as my house temp was 1 degree C indoors. I was cozy under my blankies but the tip of my nose was cold due to unstoppable draft in that house.

                The goold ol days.

              • SlickMick on 05/06/2024 - 15:18

                @Some Human: We don't use heating or cooling, except ceiling fans. Granted, we're in Qld. I didn't even own a jumper as a child.
                It doesn't feel like it at the moment, but it really is great to live in the sunshine state.

                • Naigrabzo on 06/06/2024 - 10:30

                  @SlickMick: Hey Slickman, I use heating and cooling but not fans. What's your point?

                  • SlickMick on 06/06/2024 - 15:06

                    @Naigrabzo: Either I'm tougher than you, or less sooky than you, or have a better life than you, so some combination of those.

                    ps. I wasn't replying to you. But welcome to the conversation.

            • dtc on 04/06/2024 - 23:01

              @mrkorrupt:

              how did the human survive prior to electricity?

              Fires. Not exactly an option

        • oscargamer on 04/06/2024 - 20:29
          +1

          Irrelevant. OP is a tenant. Tenants have rights. A broken heater is an urgent repair and must be repaired ASAP, by a qualified person.

          https://tenantsvic.org.au/advice/common-problems/repairs/

          • larndis on 05/06/2024 - 08:08
            +1

            @oscargamer: Maybe 15 June is as soon as possible?

            • SlickMick on 05/06/2024 - 15:22

              @larndis: Urgent repairs need to be prioritised. If other customers are owner occupiers, then need to be put on a waitlist until tenants rights are met.

              I just realised that landlord-haters are actually also owner-occupier haters.

              • mattmel96 on 05/06/2024 - 21:53

                @SlickMick: @SlickMick Why would a repair company have to put an owner occupier customer on a wait list just to attend to a rental customer? The repair company has no obligation to prioritise a rental property over other work. They get to choose which order they perform work and could do even commercial repairs first if desired.

                • SlickMick on 06/06/2024 - 08:46

                  @mattmel96: It was sarcasm.

                  I thought the 2nd line explained: these landlord-haters think renters should be prioritised over everybody.

                  • mattmel96 on 07/06/2024 - 08:02

                    @SlickMick: @SlickMick my apologies, it is sometimes difficult as there are some people that actually think like that. Have a great weekend

            • oscargamer on 05/06/2024 - 19:07
              +1

              @larndis: That's for the LL to attend, not a trade. So not acceptable

          • Naigrabzo on 05/06/2024 - 10:44
            -1

            @oscargamer: yes. In that case the tenant should complain.

            If I were the land lord, I would get rid of this tenant once the heater is repaired though. Current rental market is easy to rent.

            • whatswrongwithya on 06/06/2024 - 09:03
              -1

              @Naigrabzo: and how would you get "rid" of a renter based on a request made in 8 years.

              • Naigrabzo on 06/06/2024 - 10:31
                -2

                @whatswrongwithya: Once heating is fixed. I would request that I want property back. Reason: I am moving back to property as landlord.

                Is it illegal to move back to my own property? Or does the renter have say in that too? ;)

                BTW This is only if they complain via authorities without communicating urgency etc first. Otherwise no issues. Happy to fix it.

  • FoxJump on 04/06/2024 - 14:35

    Just wait till you get a water leak from the roof during a very rainy year!

  • SnoozeAndLose on 04/06/2024 - 14:45
    -3

    I think running ducted heating may be more expensive than running portal heater

    • geekcohen on 04/06/2024 - 14:58
      +1

      In my case, it is 300w for ducted heating + gas fo the whole house vs maybe a 2000w portable heater for 1 room…… I might not be good at math, but…….

      • SnoozeAndLose on 04/06/2024 - 17:07
        -1

        ops if it is using gas then it may be cheaper, still need to pay gas cost

  • fullmetal on 04/06/2024 - 17:52
    +1

    Wait what your rental has ducted heating?

    • Cheapskate Paul on 04/06/2024 - 20:38
      +2

      Not at the moment, apparently.

    • Naigrabzo on 05/06/2024 - 10:45

      Yeah, this is the landlords fault. When I rented my house, I ripped out all amenities such as microwave, dryer which was built into that apartment. I never heard of any broken microwave or dryer ever.

  • Pedro123 on 05/06/2024 - 11:09

    Sub floor ducted heating is notorious for leaking ductwork . Bad for the occupiers wallet and waste of fuel / heat escaping into atmosphere .
    Modern systems are a little more efficient if installed well .
    And that s just the undamaged situation .
    Possums , animals , rodents can easily puncture or partially disconnect ducting .

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