Does the boiler have a balanced twin-wall flue to draw its air from outdoors, most do now?

If so the vents are there to protect the landlord against complaints about damp or mould if the tenant makes the house too humid.

In our rental place there were wall vents to supply a 1960s open fireplace, we blocked the fireplace with a chimney balloon and the wall vents with balls of bubble wrap. We were careful to ventilate enough to avoid damp using humidity meters and generally to take good care of the place. The landlord either didn't notice or didn't mind, he could probably have evicted us if he felt we were damaging the place.

Thanks both. Good suggestions re moisture and CO2 meter and the bubble wrap. Yes its a balanced Flue boiler and Worcester confirmed no vents needed. Perhaps the Landlord is trying to diplomatically say building regs. rather than saying he doesn't trust my nephew with ventilation. I was confused by this as there are some new building regs (Doc F?) that specify bigger vents calculated on a room by room basis but I don't think they have come in yet. (see attachment re Doc F from an article). Someone on the screwfix forum pointed out that Bld Regs are not retrospective so shouldn't apply here anyway.

There is an open fireplace but it cant be used apparently as an old back boiler is in place. I had already suggested a chimney balloon thank you. The vents don't have sliders so would either need taping off or the covers changing for sliders, both a bit tricky if the landlord comes round. If he gets a moisture meter though that will show responsibility to the Landlord hopefully.

Posted By: zak99The room vents are large

How big are they? What diameter if circular or X-Y if rectangular?

Good suggestions re moisture and CO2 meter

Note that a CO2 meter is a different beast to the CO meter that was suggested. CO is dangerous and can be produced by any appliance that burns something. CO2 is a lot less dangerous but can produce headaches etc.

Which nation is the property in, BTW; regulations differ.

The Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 may also be relevant as well as the Building Regs.

Posted By: ArtiglioI’d hazard a guess that the old back boiler draws its air from the room

This was the case in our house prior to upgrading. Double brick vents everywhere to allow air in for the gas cooker, gas oven, gas fire and back boiler, as required by BR. During windy weeks like the one we just had (have?) it would have been impossible to keep the place anywhere near comfortable.

Zak99
How long is the rental expected to last? Long term then worth doing something otherwise move earlier than planned.
Otherwise perhaps the modern gas boiler was installed as an upgrade and the old back boiler was not removed to reduce expenditure. Does the back boiler function? If it does then the air vents are needed, if it is non-functioning then the vents can be blocked (and the thing should be removed). Ditto the other vents, are they there as part of the historical baggage or newly installed (it's easier and cheaper to say they are needed because of B. regs. than to remove then and make good) You need a conversation with the landlord. If you have trickle vents I would have thought this would comply with B. regs but I'm a bit out of touch with UK regs. Time to talk to someone who knows.

Thanks all,

In response to some comments -

It's an LPG boiler, that requires no vents other than it's flue. The back boiler is out of service and wont be used. I can't really dialogue with the Landlord myself unfortunately. It's hopefully a long term let. A cheaper council place may be a possibility in the distant future. The bungalow is in the UK. It's a private let with state assistance for rent. I'm not sure if there is a kitchen extractor but I don't think so. Vents are around 150- 200mm square from photos and in most if not all rooms. Some pics attached

Perma-vents look interesting

Thanks again

Posted By: zak99another type of vent preset

http:///newforum/extensions/InlineImages/image.php?AttachmentID=8177" alt="vent2.jpg" >

Looking at this one, it looks a smaller vent outside, I don't live close to easily get a clearer picture.

Posted By: djhBuy a cheap humidity meter to monitor the situation. Cover the vents with plastic film sellotaped over and see how it goes? (Might need to cover the outside of the vents too, to prevent the cover being blown off - use waterproof tape!)

Whilst I agree with djh I would maybe go to citizen's advice with your rental to get a legal take before doing this.

Posted By: zak99The bungalow is in the UK.

Yes, but which country? The building, planning, fire safety and rental regulations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are different. England and Wales tend to be the same except for a few small tweaks for Wales. Scotland is quite separate though often changes are made in parallel with the English/Welsh versions. Not sure about NI.

One way forward may be to look at when the landlord purchased the property, if relatively recently they’ll have bought it as an investment.
Does the back boiler have a gas fire front? If so is this still in use? I have an ex council flat ( mentioned earlier) with a back boiler and a vent in the wall, and again as mentioned before there were vents in other rooms that had had gas heaters. The property originally had crittal frames , subsequently these were replaced with upvc dg which has trickle vents and latches that allow the openers to be locked in a “cracked open” position.
The vent in the room with the old back boiler will have been installed for the boiler and even though it’s not in use , it’s unlikely you’d be allowed to remove the vent until the boiler is removed, the making good will be the real expense the landlord likely wishes to avoid. The other vents i would suggest predate the current windows.

The landlord has a property that has features that were required at the time they were installed , but later changes negated their need but the additional work required to remove them and make good was declined.

What does the properties epc show? Currently the landlord only has to meet an E to make the property leagal to let, as has been said on previous threads there are proposals to improve this to a C in the near future and its unlikely the landlord is going to do much to the property until the new legislation is confirmed and enacted

You could try contacting the landlord and local council private sector housing team and see if a building control officer will visit , but if the property is legally compliant and there are no health problems in the property the council would probably see no need to be involved.

Would any through wall single room mvhr units slip in? A bit spendy but maybe could be done together with the landlord. Or, as an investment with the intention to take them with him on moving. Got to be a bit more controlled than the straight through hole there now.