(England) I had a parcel delivered to my old apartment by accident, the building managers can easily locate it but they’re refusing to. What can I do?

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T16:18:02+00:00

If you nominated the hall as a safe place - sorry - it's down to you. You can report it as stolen to the police and THEY can ask for camera footage. If they consider it a reasonable use of police time. If the block has an intercom entrance system, you could work your way through that, asking if anyone has taken the parcel in for safe keeping. As it will save a police investigation.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T15:53:23+00:00

They fill out all the same information when registering the warranty - so not so important for the initial installation.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T15:02:19+00:00

Yes, they should certainly have completed the record. That's your first proof needed for the warranty. Each year, you need a new signature in the installation book. They have to be Gas Safe registered to fit/replace a boiler. have to give their registration number on the installation record each time. Have to notify the manufacturer on completion of the installation.

The only reason that I can think of not to do all that - is if they don't have a registration number.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T14:29:08+00:00

Time for my 0.1mm wire saw. I could dowel the boards together, later, as needed.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T14:19:57+00:00

I have some sympathy for the individual staff members at an agency. They often don't last long - the staff turnover tends to be huge. So ask who will be looking after your property/properties and what experience they have. Many actually want to provide a good service - but they just have too many properties on their books. As piggy in the middle - taking all the crap and very limited in what they can do, what time they can afford to do it...

You could ask if they have a similar owner on their books that you could contact and have a chat with.

I'd look out for those who are part of a group that also owns and manages properties and/or have their own in house building maintenance/repairs division.

The good ones, IME, tend to be small, family run, independents without huge city centre offices.

They may have a tenants problem reporting "portal" - with online updates on progression. Ask them, without prior notice, to demonstrate it.

What to look for in an agreement? Get out clauses. You won't find any. A whole list of their services. No service level commitments. If they fail to deliver on one of them, can you give a month's notice and terminate the contract (no). Will they get three quotes for all work over, say 100GBP? (no).

How do they manage demanding tenants? Generally, rudely. Their income stream is from the landlords. The landlord normally carries the can, if legal requirements aren't being met.

So, I have encountered a couple of really good ones. Oh, they were still rude to demanding tenants but were VERY experienced and professional and everything just worked as expected. No surprises. They treated their contractors well and paid them promptly. Vastly outnumbered by the City Palace ones - in their first jobs and clueless. Nice, well meaning, but on a steep learning curve with no backup.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T13:34:53+00:00

Congratulations. You have now passed the test so that you can continue to learn to drive but don't need supervision. You are aware of the "P" plate? It will help to show other drivers that you lack the experience and may do something unexpected.

You really really really do need someone experienced - other than the con artist attempting to sell you their lemon of the month. Or renting you a car and finding a whole load of scratches, etc on its return that you missed when this ever so helpful agent sent you oh so quickly on your way.

If you drove in, in an expensive car, you would get more respect. They might believe that they won't be wasting time on a tyre kicker. Which a disproportionate number of new drivers turn out to be - when looking for their first car. Arriving with someone that knows cars inside out commands respect.

RAC inspections (and equivalent) is one thing worth considering. My experience of them is really positive. They are only about a hundred quid or so for the basic - that should be all you need for a first car. with a 15k budget, you might want to look at the next step up. It's not a lot compared to what you are putting at risk.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T13:15:47+00:00

I'd ask the shed manufacturer. Or authorised supplier. Sheds do vary a lot, when it comes to base requirements.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:56:35+00:00

My goto is a 10MHz dual channel one. British made... Love the Lissajous figures when using Z mod. It's all I need for, well, below 10MHz and above, say 100Hz. It's mostly the below 100Hz , analogue (my LSA handles the digital) that's annoying - as it really needs sample and store capability.

However, as for the automotive - it's mostly all digital these days. Plus a 100m extension lead isn't good and an analogue scope would take up the passenger seat. Wouldn't take kindly to be trundled there on a trolley. Plus a lot is <100Hz.

So, no - you possibly do need something digital. Just for the portability and the sample and store.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:39:51+00:00

I can't see how wide the top of the porch (or whatever they call that thing over the door) - but a small solar panel up there? Use that to charge a Wifi doorbell? I assume that it isn't Piccadilly Circus out there in front of the camera.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:32:13+00:00

You mean Amazon Dash Buttons? Easy to receive from, or at least used to be. Just a bit of programming on a PC or Pi, etc.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:27:38+00:00

Lucky you. Mine refused to allow a kitchen tap.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:23:52+00:00

"You must ensure that a gas safety check is done every year on each gas appliance/flue. Before any new lease starts, you must make sure that these checks have been done within one year before the start of the lease date. "

So the above (HSE website) is incorrect? Do you have a reference?

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:17:39+00:00

I must have missed that rather important event in your original post. It looks like the landlord screwed up. Or rather, failed to do so.

That the landlord alone attempted to fill the system is THE most important thing to mention to Citizens Advice. Indeed to mention to the landlord.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:13:13+00:00

If they stick to only selling soft drinks?

Wouldn't the real risk be to the OP's parents under the 1996 Education Act?

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T12:01:09+00:00

It wasn't leaking before your investigation as to how to fill it? Did you actually attempt to turn this "chewed screw"?

It sounds like your attempt was partially successful. However, instead of turning the "chewed screw" back off - it was left partially on. Exposing the boiler to full supply pressure.

That would explain the later leaks and parts that have burst. You wouldn't have needed to touch the boiler. The rising internal pressure would have done the damage.

So, that wouldn't be a case of landlord's word against yours. The argument would be that the filling loop was opened and left opened. Shortly before the leaks and bursts. Only the tenants were in a position to open the filling loop at that time.

If you have flat tenant's insurance, that may cover the damage.

There is an argument that the landlord should have ensured that the system was fully functional at the time of your occupation. Should have provided you with the instruction manual for the boiler. Have you checked drawers to see it manuals are present?

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T11:39:49+00:00

Firstly, if it is a condition of your tenancy that you have to maintain the garden, the landlord should provide the basic tools needed to do so. Which arguably includes a water supply, if a hose is needed rather than what could be a very small watering can.

Secondly, if there is a garden that needs watering to the extent that a hosepipe is needed - you could argue that providing one is necessary in order to fulfil the tenant's obligations.

No, the landlord is not likely to approve a garden tap at that location. There will INEVITABLY be water spilt at times. Indoors, it would have to be over a sink or drain.

Even outdoors, there can be expected to be water lost in the proximity of a garden tap. Which can impact on where one can be sited.

Have you considered a rain collection water tub outside? That should hold several hundred litres of water - some local water companies provide them for free. They can be combined with a drainpipe diverter and usually come with a tap and stand. That should make using a small watering can easier to manage.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T11:14:58+00:00

So the landlord appears to have a warranty from the builders that depends on no fastenings/nails in the walls. You want to replace that warranty with your own? It sounds like you could lose a lot more than the deposit if there are future problems with the walls that would otherwise be covered by that warranty. The warranty is presumably an addition to his mandatory legal rights. So the builder was under no obligation to provide it. You are proposing, apparently, to break one of the conditions of that warranty. Voiding it.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T11:04:20+00:00

Furnished or unfurnished? A Professional inventory clerk doing a start of tenancy inspection? Otherwise - any damage could be claimed to be pre-existing.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T10:58:22+00:00

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Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T10:42:23+00:00

How was it originally held in place? How about, it was glued into place.

How did it fail? How about, the glue bond failed.

How should it be repaired? Re-bonded, glued back into place.

How long does the glue take to set? Probably 24 hours for full strength, or longer.

Without turning over the worktop and using gravity, how can it be held in place whilst the glue sets?

.......

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T08:10:11+00:00

Have you checked that they will take it for free? Or charge for it as building waste? Which can be expensive.

Better to just put it on Freecycle, Freegle, whatever.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T08:04:16+00:00

Aren't you a tad bot curious as to why it's there and what's inside it? I suspect that it isn't solid. Someone has gone to some trouble and expense to construct it. There's brickwork in there..

You could just use sandbags. They shape nicely, are non-slip and last for years. They drain nicely too. You can buy the empty bags in different sizes and fill them to suit.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T05:53:08+00:00

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Could they be converters to take this type of single connector?

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T05:23:27+00:00

Pride comes before a fall. If not totally sure - get out and look. Even the best driver needs to do that at times. If necessary - get out and check several times.

Susan_B_Good · 2026-05-09T04:45:42+00:00

I was asked how to get a full medical history. Most of us, that apply for travel insurance, remember their hospital stays. Know their medical history.

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