shouldI be worried?

judy_

Hi guys

Today I had a surveyor come round to check over the house that I have rented for over 7 years, so that my landlord can renew his mortgage.

Anyway, in the 7 years, I have never seen nor heard from my landlord and any outstanding repairs never get fixed even though I report them to the letting agents and LA also do a 6 monthly check which I also say what needs repairing....but alas nothing ever gets done.

Today the surveyor said the whole house was riddled in damp and that my LL will not like what his report says.

Do you think I will be forced to move out for the necessary work to be done (if LL is forced to get them done)...or is damp proofing a house possible with occupants?

Also i think there may be some subsidence as where the corner of the house meets the pavement, there is a huge gap well about half an inch, where water pours down into my cellar when it rains.. this gap has got bigger over the years.

If I do have to move out, will my LA have to rehouse me to one of their available houses for rent and if so, will it all be of cost to myself? Or am I on my own to find alternative accomodation?

Thanks

Judy

clutton_2

hi judy - sorry to hear you have such an uncaring landlord. the law says that if the house becomes uninhabitable then the tenant must be provided with alternative accommodation by the LL. but - in view of your LLs behaviour - do you seriously expect that he will do so ?

If he does get nasty - then go to the local council Private Tenancy Officer who will write to him on your behalf.

when did you sign your last tenancy agreement ?

i damproofed one property with the tenants in situ - as they refused to move out - even tho i offered them another property for 2 weeks at half rent.

damproofing often entails knocking off all the plaster up to 3-4 feet from the floor and injecting chemicals - then replastering it - and then waiting for the plaster to dry then painting or decorating. it is a VERY messy dusty nasty job - and i would not want to have to live i a house whilst it was being done.

the LLs Lender MAY or may not insist that your LL does the work - if they put a "retention" on his remortgage application, then he will have to do the work before th eLender sends the additional mortgage funds into his bank account.

judy_

Thanks for replying clutton,

I last signed a tenacy agreement in 2001, not sure if that would help my situation.

I have in the past reported my LL to the private tenacy officer, who came round and took photos, then wrote to my LL to get the problems fixed.

LL didn't take any notice until one day the loft conversion ceiling fell onto my son.

I am not sure if my problems are with my letting agents not passing on info to my LL, or LL ignoring.

I feel like a slice of cheese between 2 slices of bread not talking to each other lol..

I work full time and it will be very stressful to have to arrange to move out at short notice,(with 3 children in tow) or indeed live with the mess while it gets sorted.

Roll on next year when I will have a big enough deposit to stick 2 fingers up to my LL and LA and buy my own house

Judy

Gangstabird

Thank goodness you didn't buy this one!!!

If you do not have a contract, I believe that you are a legal squatter, so your landlord is very stupid not to have had you sign a contract.

SquatNow

Or the landlord could decide to just stay with his current lender.

Which is far more likely.

judy_

if landlord stays with current provider, then thats ok..

I am just worried about being turfed out on the streets so to speak in the meantime.

My rent is reasonable £525 a month, also handy for my childrens schooling, but I do feel as if I am paying over the odds for a house with so many problems..

guppy

Gangstabird wrote: »

If you do not have a contract, I believe that you are a legal squatter, so your landlord is very stupid not to have had you sign a contract.

Contracts to let a property don't have to be in written form. If you're paying rent to occupy a property, with the landlord's consent, you will normally have a tenancy

A written contract just lets the LL add in additional terms, such as no pets, etc. etc.

Having said all that, I reckon there must be nicer squats than this rental property!

judy_

tried to do a quote from guppy's post, but got lost.......

shame my LL owns over 150 properties...if he shows same reckless, uninterested, invest in his propertties...then let him go under....

judy

clutton_2

judy says "" I last signed a tenacy agreement in 2001,""

this probably means that you are on a "rolling periodic contract". Is this is the case, the LL has to give you two months notice to leave. if you chose not to leave - then he has to go to court to ask for a possession order - if you still dont leave - he will have to go back to court and ask for a bailiffs warrant - then you DO have to leave. all this can take 3-5 months - so dont worry unduly. if you want the council to provide you with accommodation after you are evicted - you HAVE to stay there till the bailiffs write to say that they are coming, otherwise the council will say that you "have made yourself voluntarily homeless". they also say this if you have been evicted for rent arrears.

your LL sounds monstrous - have you been to Environmental Health to report the poor conditiions ?

geoffky

you are not from ashford are you?