no cooking facilities in rental property.

Nicky321

bristol_pilot wrote: »

DSS wasn't mentioned in the original post, but now that we know that it is public money i.e. taxpayers money i.e. MY money going towards this - that's even more reason for it not to go to some scummy landlord who doesn't provide a basic safe environment.

PS I thought DSS under 25 had to live in shared accommodation these days?

She is a single mother to a baby, as for taxpayers money, up until she got pregnant she was working, so dont confuse her with other who just live on the DSS because they cant be bothered working for a living. If she was in a position to work she would.

clutton_2

my best tenants are DSS single parent mums

be very careful indeed how you approach this - i would have a friendly talk with the LL about the difficulties and then follow it up with a letter confirming the conversation you had with LL - get him on side if you possibly can.

i have heard of yet another tenant yesterday who has been given her notice to quit because she went to the council to complain about repairs not being done - but your daughter should be ok for the next 6 months of the agreement - she cannot be evicted (other than for rent arrears and ASBO type stuff) before the end of the fixed term

LLs who act like this at the beginning of a tenancy rarely get any better

Nicky321

Met with the LL, and asked about repairs to certain things. He seems ok, didnt talk much though.
He has agreed to come tomorrow and start to replace light fitting, light switch, put grid covers on, put solid gates to back of property, fit cooker, add extra sockets, replace tv aerial (which has been removed) and just asked us to make a list of jobs we need doing and he will fix it. Lets hope it goes smoothly from now. I think he had problems with the last tenant (who ive heard was a bit of a roughy!)

Nicky321

LL has been and hes fixed the broken light switch and burnt out light fitting, he has put new shelving up in the airing cupboard, turned the econ 7 switches in bedroom to sockets and cleaned up as he worked. He has asked when it is convenient for him to come round and do some more jobs that need doing. I asked him about the gas oven and he is going to try and get hold of someone to connect it up. I cant grumble, so far he has been very helpful.

poppysarah

Nicky321 wrote: »

turned the econ 7 switches in bedroom to sockets .

What does that mean?

Is he part P registered?
(Has to be to touch electrics in bathroom or kitchen)

Nicky321

poppysarah wrote: »

What does that mean?

Is he part P registered?
(Has to be to touch electrics in bathroom or kitchen)

The property used to have economy 7 storage heaters, but the econ 7 meter had been taken out along with the heaters some time ago (now has GCH). So the switches on the wall (that used to be used to switch on storage heaters) are now wall sockets.

He is an Electrician by trade.

Nicky321

Today the LL arranged for a corgi gas fitter to come and connect the gas cooker/oven and also a TV aerial company to fit the aerial.

tbs624

Nicky321 wrote: »

Today the LL arranged for a corgi gas fitter to come and connect the gas cooker/oven and also a TV aerial company to fit the aerial.

Thanks for updating - all good news Nicky, esp.as provision of a TV aerial is not a general LL obligation. Hope your daughter enjoys her tenancy:sometimes these things need a push along via some really straightforward communication.

Not all LLs slap a S21 out for highlighting repairs issues, but any tenant who does find his/herself in that situation should contact the CAB and Shelter to add their voice to the campaign against retaliatory evictions.Tenants should not feel that they have to put up with sub-standard accommodation, whether they pay the rent themselves or via LHA/HB.

Gorgeous_George

Sounds like a triumph for conversation.

For any newbie LLs out there, fixing the odd problem as it occurs is a good plan. It makes for a happy tenant and that makes for a happy LL. A stitch in time and all that.

I fear we will see many more LL/tenant problems over repairs with the latest breed of reluctant LLs (can't sell, decided to let instead).

GG

TriffidQueen

Can I ask, did your daughter look round the flat before signing a tenancy agreement?
Basicly flats for rent are either advertised as furnished or unfurnished?
Even furnished can be misleading, as the landlord can put there is a bed, table, etc but that does not mean it is in good condition.

It remind me of someone whos daughter rented a flat and thought that furnished meant, knifes, forks cups etc......:rotfl: and that was the mother!

Best suggestion would be to buy one of those double hotplate things for £50 or a microwave, until the landlord fix's the electric point.

Always read the small print before signing and ask questions, ie what is included. Do not take for granted that flats are gleaming palaces.