While expecting their first child, Alex (40) and Sinéad (39) were left without adequate heating or hot water for months after their letting agency, Cox & Co, allegedly failed to repair or replace a faulty boiler and later turned off the gas supply just before winter 2024.

Upon moving into their Newhaven flat in November 2023, Alex and Sinéad were faced with a boiler leak leading to unreliable water temperature and pressure. They say they were told by a visiting engineer that their boiler was rare in the UK and parts could not be easily sourced.

A repair was attempted but issues persisted and were repeatedly reported to the letting agent, who are accused of performing piecemeal repairs that never rectified the issue.

In October 2024, while Sinéad was four months pregnant, they said their gas supply was shut off by a contractor during an inspection, making their living room uninhabitable as it was unable to be heated during winter months.

Sinéad and Alex requested the supply be reconnected multiple times, however Cox & Co allegedly did not issue anybody to reconnect the supply for the remainder of the tenancy.

In late February 2025, the boiler and electrics completely failed, leaving Alex and an eight-month-pregnant Sinéad with no choice but to find emergency accommodation as Cox & Co allegedly did not dispatch a contractor for three days, despite the couple contacting the agency’s emergency contact number.

Alex and Sinéad felt forced to move out ahead of the birth of their first child, as continuing to live in the property was unsafe for a newborn.

The NHS advises to “heat the room that you and your baby will regularly spend time in to 18 degrees” in order to keep a newborn baby safe and well.

The tenancy ended in April 2025 and Cox & Co allegedly refused to provide the couple with a reference for a new flat.

Living Rent members and affected tenant Alex Callaghan said: “After living together for over six years and renting privately through various letting agents, renting with Cox & Co has easily been the worst experience.

“A month after moving in, we noticed the shower would not run hot enough water. Despite repeated call outs, and piecemeal repairs the problem persisted.

“Cox & Co knew Sinéad was heavily pregnant, they quoted a three to five day turnaround – we waited over six weeks until these parts were installed. Then the boiler failed shortly after on a Friday night, the kitchen electrics went too.

“This repeated poor service affected our mental health badly. We had no confidence the boiler situation would improve, and this would put our newborn baby at risk of being too cold. So, we decided to move out quickly before our child was born.”

Living Rent Leith spokesperson April Gillespie said: “It’s disgusting to see a young family being forced to move so that their newborn daughter can have a home with reliable hot water.

“Working-class people are expected to pay extortionate rents to landlords who provide a diabolical service and simply do not care about how liveable your home is.

“We as a union refuse to accept this as normal, and will never stop the fight for tenants’ rights.”

Cox & Co was contacted for comment but was not immediately available.