A landlord is seeking advice on whether to offer compensation to two tenants who were without hot water for approximately six weeks. The issue arose after both elements in the hot tank of their all-electric property failed.
The landlord, identified as Mike, stated that attempts to fix the problem by changing thermostats and resetting the thermal element were unsuccessful. The total repair time was about six weeks, attributed in part to contractor availability and the tenant's unwillingness for the landlord to accompany a contractor.
During the outage, the tenants were provided with an urn for washing up, and the property maintained an electric shower and heating. One tenant reportedly has autistic issues and the other has various health issues, with one tenant expressing minor complaints via WhatsApp messages.
The landlord is considering a goodwill payment, noting uncertainty about any tenant recourse under their tenancy agreement or the new Renters’ Rights Act.