[jambutty]

It’s all very well paying for the repair yourself and then billing the landlord Ianto.W. but if he won’t mend the boiler he is unlikely to pay the bill. The thing is he will claim that what you paid is far above what he would have paid and thus starts another argument. So what are you going to do then? Small claims court I guess. Even if you win you still haven’t got your money if he still won’t pay up and it will cost you even more money to go back to court and eventually get the Bailiffs in.

If you do go to such lengths and get full satisfaction you have made an enemy of your landlord and he WILL find ways of making your life miserable and eventually kicking you out into the street.

If you try withholding your rent that could get you kicked out. But that would depend on the terms of the rent agreement.

With a child in the house I would contact Social Services or Health and Safety.

If you don’t fancy doing that because once again you are making an enemy of your landlord you are left with one option. Stick it out. But in the meantime try and borrow a Calor gas heater or an electric fire and just heat one room, where the telly is. Even if you have double-glazing keep your curtains drawn. The oven on the cooker is a good source of heat with the door open and if your kitchen is adjacent to your living room it could supply some warmth.

Don’t forget that those of us who lived through the 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and even 60’s only had one fire for the whole house and we survived.