Landlord being unfair and unlawful?

Imani

the central heating in the privately rented house always breaks down. it is working ok now but is soooo dated you wonder why it was never brought into the future. there is damp in teh kitchen no ventilation in the kitchen just an extractor fan that does not extract. comical

landlord has finally agreed to re-do the entire central heating in the house and update the boiler and add some kitchen vents in the hope that it will resolve the kitchen damp issue.

however in order to do this landlord needs us to move out for 4days to a week so the people can rip up floor boards turn pipes off etc etc. family of 4 youngest not even a year old. no family where I live and hubs only family in the area do not have enough space for themselves.

so struggling to find alternative accomodation. rent is so high as it is cannot afford to pay rent and hotel b&b fees. landlord says will not reduce rent for the week of incovenience.

landlords solution to issue notice to evict from the house because all of sudden she wants to make this one improvement after 3yrs.

spoke with council, who said landlord is acting illegally and can go to court regarding this so enough time is given to find a new place to live.

just wondered what are my rights. the letting agent told me this is what the landlord wishes to do and she is refusing to lose rent money to allow us to pay someone else for temporary accomodation

what is the law
where do i stand
i do that we had an initial 1yr contract and that landlords eviction notice which will come end of the month will give 8 weeks notice

i am going to speak with CAB and once I get my notice the council say I can speak to housing advisor. gosh been on council list for 3yrs.

what is a family to do
if i had enough to buy a house now I would

guppy

I wouldn't be surprised if the landlord has no intention of making the improvements, but instead wants to find another tenant so they don't have to spend the money.

If they have served the notice properly, I don't think there is much you can do

poppysarah

Ring shelter see what they say

Strapped

Could you travel to family elsewhere for a week? I know you shouldn't have to, but if it would prevent you being evicted I'd do it (has the LL actually served you notice yet?)

Imani

Strapped wrote: »

Could you travel to family elsewhere for a week? I know you shouldn't have to, but if it would prevent you being evicted I'd do it (has the LL actually served you notice yet?)

not practical. i live in the east midlands my closest family is in London. travelling from London back to the east midlands for a week plus cost of travel is not worth it. no notice due to be sent end of this month

Imani

guppy wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised if the landlord has no intention of making the improvements, but instead wants to find another tenant so they don't have to spend the money.

If they have served the notice properly, I don't think there is much you can do

council say that we can go to court to get an extension to give us enough time to get a new place

guppy

Imani wrote: »

council say that we can go to court to get an extension to give us enough time to get a new place

This is true, the landlord can't forcibly evict you if you do not leave on the date specified in the notice. If you don't go, he has to go to court to regain possession of the property.

But please double check with Shelter about what this means for your specific circumstances - usually if the Landlord takes you to court, you would be responsible for his costs

As I say, get some proper advice though, obviously further cost is the last thing you need at the moment

Loretta

If the landlord needs to do repairs, ie heating system and there will be too much mess for you to live there while the work is going on the landlord has to find and pay for alternative accomodation for you during that time.

Have you been given proper notice?

Does the landlord want to terminate your tenancy? you have not made this clear

Imani

Hi Loretta,
From what the letting agent has told me. The landlord wants to get the work done so it saves money in the long run and therefore less bills for breakdown. For the past 3 yrs the central heating system has had to be tweaked and bandaged at least twice a year

The letting agent said that as we couldnt find alternative accomodation etc that the landlord has instructed them to issue the eviction notice. so that the work can get done. letting agent also said that landlord refuses to reduce rent or pay for the temporary accomodation.

guppy

Imani wrote: »

Hi Loretta,
From what the letting agent has told me. The landlord wants to get the work done so it saves money in the long run and therefore less bills for breakdown. For the past 3 yrs the central heating system has had to be tweaked and bandaged at least twice a year

The letting agent said that as we couldnt find alternative accomodation etc that the landlord has instructed them to issue the eviction notice. so that the work can get done. letting agent also said that landlord refuses to reduce rent or pay for the temporary accomodation.

I'm sure someone is telling you porkies here. Why would the landlord prefer to evict you and suffer a void period, than reduce your rent?

Loretta

Imani wrote: »

Hi Loretta,
From what the letting agent has told me. The landlord wants to get the work done so it saves money in the long run and therefore less bills for breakdown. For the past 3 yrs the central heating system has had to be tweaked and bandaged at least twice a year

The letting agent said that as we couldnt find alternative accomodation etc that the landlord has instructed them to issue the eviction notice. so that the work can get done. letting agent also said that landlord refuses to reduce rent or pay for the temporary accomodation.

What sort of tenancy do you have? Have you been given proper notice? we need some more detail, this doesn't seem quite right