What Should I Do If I Have No Heating in My London Property?
Heating off or radiators cold? Share the symptoms and your postcode. Your enquiry may be passed to an independent heating professional, who can confirm coverage and availability.
Get Help with No Heating
If you have no heating, immediately check three basic points: verify your prepayment meter credit, test room thermostat batteries, and inspect the boiler pressure gauge for at least 1.0 bar. If these are normal and the boiler will not fire, a failed PCB, seized pump, or ignition fault requires professional attention. If you rent, report the loss of heating to your landlord or agent promptly and keep a record. Repair obligations and timescales depend on your circumstances; see the links below for housing guidance.
What Preliminary Checks Should I Run When My Heating Stops Working?
Before calling an engineer, run through these quick preliminary checks to assist in diagnosing your boiler breakdown:
1. Boiler Display & Fault Codes
Look for blinking red lights or codes (e.g. F22, F28, EA, E119, F1) that indicate specific component lockouts.
2. Water Pressure Gauge
Ensure the dial is in the green zone (1.0 to 1.5 bar). Below 0.8 bar prevents the boiler firing up safely.
3. Thermostat Calling For Heat
Turn room thermostat up 5°C above current temperature; listen for an audible click from the receiver relay.
4. Test Hot Water Tap
If hot water flows but radiators remain freezing, the fault is likely a motorized diverter valve or circulation pump.
5. External Condensate Pipe
In freezing winter weather, the external plastic condensation discharge pipe may be frozen solid, choking the boiler.
6. Power & Fused Spur
Check the mains fuse board to ensure the heating circuit breaker hasn't tripped due to an electrical surge.
Frequently Asked Questions When You Have No Heating in London
How long does a London landlord have to fix a broken boiler in winter?
For many tenancies in England, landlords have repairing responsibilities for heating and hot-water installations. There is no universal 24-hour deadline for every boiler breakdown. Report the issue promptly and seek housing advice for your circumstances. See section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and Shelter's repair guidance.
Why has my boiler stopped working if my prepayment meter has credit?
Even with credit, your boiler will shut down if system water pressure drops below 0.8 bar, if an external condensate pipe freezes, or if room thermostat batteries have died.
Can I hire an emergency heating engineer myself if my landlord doesn't respond?
If you rent, tell your landlord or agent about the loss of heating as soon as possible and keep a record. Repair times depend on the circumstances; get independent housing advice before arranging work or withholding rent. See Shelter's repair guidance.
What is the most common reason for total heating loss in London flats?
The two most frequent causes are sudden pressure loss (below 0.8 bar) from micro-leaks in radiator valves, and motorized diverter valve failure, where the boiler provides hot water but fails to open the central heating port.
How quickly can an independent engineer attend a no-heating emergency?
London Heat does not guarantee an attendance time. If an independent professional contacts you, confirm whether they cover your postcode and when they can attend.
No Heating Call-Outs by London Borough
We currently prioritise enquiries in these London boroughs. Confirm coverage and availability with the professional directly:
Related Emergency Services
Emergency Heating
Guidance for heating breakdowns and boiler lockouts.
Heating Repair
General central heating, radiator and valve diagnosis across London.
Emergency Heating Engineer
Send an enquiry and confirm availability directly with the professional.