We are housing association tenants and are concerned about our central heating. It’s oil-fired, which suits the property but we have been told that if the boiler breaks down we must switch to an electric system that we don’t want. Do we have a choice?
The housing association should consult and involve you in decisions that affect you but this doesn’t necessarily mean that it has to act on your wishes. There may be a tenants’ committee you could join: ask the housing association for more information and how final decisions are made, and also consult your tenancy agreement and tenants’ handbook. If you can show that your present system is more efficient you may be able to convince the association to keep your present arrangement under the Decent Homes Standard, which requires social housing to have efficient heating.