Hot water gone but radiators still warm? It is usually a diverter valve or cylinder fault. Your landlord must fix it. Here is what to do.
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Direct answer
If the radiators warm up but no hot water comes out of the tap, the boiler itself is still working. Something between the boiler and your taps has failed. The two usual culprits are the diverter valve inside a combi boiler, or, if you have a hot-water cylinder, the cylinder's heating coil or its immersion. Either way it is your landlord's job to fix, and going without hot water for days counts as serious disrepair.
Key facts
- The 2024 to 2025 English Housing Survey found about 2% of homes in England had excess cold as a category 1 (most serious) hazard, rising to 3% of privately rented homes. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
- The same survey found about 9% of homes in England, around 2.3 million, had a category 1 (most serious) hazard under the HHSRS. In the private rented sector the figure was 10%. English Housing Survey 2024-25, GOV.UK
Why this happens
- Combi boiler, diverter valve stuck. This valve switches the boiler between hot water and heating. When it sticks, heating wins and hot water loses.
- Hot-water cylinder, broken thermostat or coil. The boiler heats the cylinder through a coil, then the cylinder feeds your taps. If the coil or thermostat fails, the water in the cylinder stays cold.
- Frozen condensate or boiler timer set wrong. Rarer, but worth checking the timer is on "constant" or "boost" before you call.
You do not need to know which one it is. You only need to report what you can see: "Heating works, no hot water from any tap."
Your landlord's duty
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, hot water is a basic installation your landlord must keep working. Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, a home without hot water is not fit to live in. If you are a social tenant, Awaab's Law also applies, see what is Awaab's Law in plain English.
What to do
- Report it in writing the same day. Keep the message.
- Use the words "no hot water" and say how many days it has been.
- Mention babies, older people, or anyone unwell at home.
- Ask for a Gas Safe engineer, not a handyman.
- If you are paying for boiled-kettle washes or have gone to a relative's house, keep notes and receipts.
How long is too long
There is no single statutory deadline for a private tenant, but courts treat hot water as essential. For social tenants, Awaab's Law from October 2025 sets a 24-hour deadline to make the hazard safe and a longer fix window after. See how long does a landlord have to fix a leaking roof for how courts size repair times.
A few days without hot water in winter, or with a baby in the home, is almost always too long.
When the council can step in
If your landlord stalls and you are private rented, your council's environmental health team can inspect under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). They can issue a notice that forces repair. See how to request an HHSRS inspection.
How we can help
If you have been left without hot water repeatedly, or for weeks, that is usually a strong claim. We arrange a free inspection and pass strong cases to a housing-disrepair solicitor. Call us free on 0800 030 4669.
Free call: 0800 030 4669 | Start your claim
Sources
- Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, Section 11 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Awaab's Law: guidance for social landlords (GOV.UK)
We review every guide at least twice a year and update it when the law changes. If you spot something out of date or wrong, email help@supportfortenants.co.uk.
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 28 May 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.
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Still stuck?
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