We are renting! Is an email sufficient as being 'in writing'?

mickym

Firstly a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who has helped us on our first move from our parents houses.

Its been a bit stressful, but without the advice being given on here we would have been a lot worse.

The letting agent we used was only being used for their 'finders' service, so now we need to deal with the Landlord direct.

We require to get a few things sorted with the house that we would like to clear with him.

Some require some holes in walls/ceilings:

1. Installation of broadband

2. Putting up curtain rails

3. Fitting of Smoke Detectors (we are going to approach our local fire service for doing this)

Do you think email will cover us if there are any problems in the future regards any disputes?

Thanks

Michael

clutton_2

as long as you keep copies i dont see why email should not be acceptable.

why not ask to meet the LL tho - at least that way you can each see who you will have to deal with in the future

mickym

yeah it may be an idea actually....anyone else used email s an acceptable form of correspondance for work done to a house?

guppy

mickym wrote: »

yeah it may be an idea actually....anyone else used email s an acceptable form of correspondance for work done to a house?

You can communicate however you want, so long as any contract you have doesn't specify otherwise.

E-mail is good in that you automatically have a copy of what you write, but if you're expecting trouble, a hand delivered letter works better in my experience.

olly300

Email is good particularly if you ask questions which you expect answers to.

Tip- if you write an email and the landlord answers you via a telephone call write another email stating what the landlord said in the telephone call with the date and time of day implying you are asking for further clarification.

SquatNow

ALWAYS send a PROPER WRITTEN letter recorded delivery.

Also, why are you getting the fire service to fire smoke detectors? Are you incapable of putting them up yourself?

olly300

SquatNow wrote: »

ALWAYS send a PROPERY WRITTEN letter recorded delivery.

Emails and faxes are sufficient to be used in court cases of all types.

However you need to show that the email or fax was received by the other party.

It's sufficient if the other party responds to some of your emails.

paintpot

Hi there

One thing he might say is that anything you install you have to leave behind when you leave the property - he might not but be prepared. Otherwise, unless you are going to remedy the situation to a good standard when you leave, your landlord is going to be left with holes in the walls/ceilings. However, I find it slightly irregular that the property doesn't have any curtain rails, unless there are other window coverings like blinds aswell? And whilst not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that landlords install at least battery operated smoke detectors if not mains operated. Maybe that's just me thinking that

I'd make an initial call to the landlord, introduce yourself, agree the way forward, get it writing, (email is fine) then if possible invite him round to see the work afterwards and then get him to sign an addendum to the inventory (I assume you have one) stating what has been done and what has been agreed or if not prepare one yourself, post it to him and ask him to sign it and return it to you.

It tends to be things like this that cause issues at the end of tenancies. Especially if you stay there for some time and memories fade with time :rolleyes: - tenant says it was agreed they could do this that and the other, landlord says it wasn't or it was agreed but they have caused damage in the process.

Some of my tenants who have recently left put some shelves up, not just a couple - I removed 40 raw plugs out of the two bedroom walls :eek: - yep, they left the holes and the raw plugs but not the shelves. I was not amused and no I didn't agree to it. I would have agreed to a "couple of shelves" only I didnt because they didn't ask but it just demonstrates my point

planemad

SquatNow wrote: »

ALWAYS send a PROPER WRITTEN letter recorded delivery.

Also, why are you getting the fire service to fire smoke detectors? Are you incapable of putting them up yourself?

Why fit them yourself when the fire safety expert can come to your house install the correct type of alarms for free and advise you on fire safety as well as do a fire safety audit.

This is a service that is supplied by all fire departments and its worth taking the expert advise, please remember that the fire service are a service to us that we pay for in our council tax.

pickles110564

olly300 wrote: »

Emails and faxes are sufficient to be used in court cases of all types.

However you need to show that the email or fax was received by the other party.

It's sufficient if the other party responds to some of your emails.

If you are using outlook2003 you can set it up for read reciepts.

SquatNow

olly300 wrote: »

Emails and faxes are sufficient to be used in court cases of all types.

However you need to show that the email or fax was received by the other party.

It's sufficient if the other party responds to some of your emails.

Why take a chance when you can just as easily post it?

pickles110564 wrote: »

If you are using outlook2003 you can set it up for read reciepts.

If the other person allows responses.

planemad wrote: »

Why fut them yourself when the fire safety expert can come to your house install the correct type of alarms for free and advise you on fire safety as well as do a fire safety audit.

This is a service that is supplied by all fire departments and its worth taking the expert advise, please remember that the fire service are a service to us that we pay for in our council tax.

Can confirm they do offer the service... or at least London fire brigade do: http://www.london-fire.gov.uk/fire_safety/community_fire_safety/hfsv.asp

However, if you can't cope with fitting a smoke detector yourself, you probably shouldn't be at home unsupervised anyway.