Hi folks. We have a clearly malfunctioning central heating system in our rented house and it's been reported and, other than visits, nothing has been done. The plumber spun us so many unbelievable lines when he visited that I can't even. We first reported it on the 29th Nov, and thus far, we've had one long visit with a promise of proposed solutions to be sent to the LL, no actual action. I asked them to fix the OH's office tomorrow or Monday as he's off work, so they can get access without it causing him a problem, and I have had nothing back. I have asked them to remedy the house before xmas. Nothing.

I can't easily get through to the council, so before I spend a load of time monitoring conditions in preparation for help, can you tell me this:

Law says occupied rooms need to be able to be heated to 21 degrees in living rooms and 18 in bedrooms at -1 temps. We can't even get them to that when it's 5, 7 degrees outside, with barely any wind.

HOWEVER.

If we crank the house thermostat up far higher than needed, it will eventually reach required temps in some of the rooms. So, if we want to reach above 19 in the lounge, we put it on at 22 degrees and within a few hours, the room will reach 21. But if we put the thermostat on lower, it won't get anywhere near them. It was set to 19 degrees last night and my bedroom didn't get past 17 at all. During a storm, it took 12 hours for the house temp to reach 20 degrees from 16.5 degrees. Two mornings this week, the OH has gone downstairs to a 14 degree office (classified as a living room) when it's been on 19 all night.

HOWEVER.

In order to achieve comfortable temps, all the rads have to be turned on max, because half don't work on 2 or 3 . Yes I know this is wrong and yes I was spun lines.

We're burning fuel at an absolutely alarming rate, one night we did 22 degrees for 4 hours during one night to get the lounge over 20, but the rest of the time had the heating on 19 degrees in all of the rooms, it cost us £160 in oil plus electricity for a WEEK. We have used 62% of our EPC's estimated usage in four months, one of which, hardly any fuel was being used. Additionally, these temps are only achievable because we have gaffa taped windows gaps closed and stuck thick builders' sheets across them, for the mo.

Are the council going to refuse to step in because we may be able to achieve desired temperatures if we, say, set our thermostat at 25 degrees to get it there?

We know our EPC cert, they have done everything contractually right, 200 yo building with no insulation, draft proofing, single pane glazing. 2 points off being an F.

LL's initial response was 'I know it's frustrating but there are two fireplaces there that people usually use.' Not doing that. They literally only heat those rooms and require £10 worth of wood to keep a room warm for a day.

Sorry for the wall of text. My google Fu is failing me and I am so, so frustrated. Tyvm in advance.

edit: have emailed or discussed with them six times since August