Fridge/freezer problem in rented accommodation - who should wait in for repair person

shopndrop

My son is in rented accommodation and their fridge/freezer stopped working on evening of 8 December. They advised the letting agent by phone and e mail on 9 December.

It was arranged for an engineer to call out just before Christmas and he advised that the compressor was the problem. The landlord them remembered that he had an extended warranty so the LA now arranged for someone to come from the manufacturer. He came out last week and advised it wasn't the compressor but that more gas was needed, so yet another callout is required as he couldn't do anything to do with the gas.

My son has had to take time off each time someone is called out and as he is in a new job, feel uncomfortable asking to go in late yet again (even though he is making up the lost time).

I would like to know is it reasonable to expect the landlord or letting agent to wait in next time? Any views would be appreciated.

morg_monster

When we have had repairmen/plumbers/etc etc call, we just allow them to pick up keys from the Letting agent and they let themselves in and do what they have to do. we usually come home after work and everything's sorted. they are all vetted and chosen by the letting agent in the first place so I feel happy with this arrangement. would your son / the landlord be happy with this? otherwise he could try saying he can't take any more time off and see what the landlord proposes.

also you say "their" fridge ... is there another tenant who can take a day off instead?

DawnW

LLs legally cannot simply let themselves into rented properties without permission. Why does your son not speak to the LL / LA and say that he is having difficulty in getting time off work but he would be happy for LL/LA to acess the property to supervise the repairs?

shopndrop

LA will not release keys to manufacturer's workman with no-one in the house. They will only let their own contractors in.

Will suggest that he tells LA that he is happy for them to supervise repairs and see what their response is. He doesn't have direct access with LL, it is all done through the LA.

shopndrop

An update - he told LA that he is happy for them to supervise, they say they don't have time to do that, LL is out of the country so LA is trying to contact a relative of the LL to see if they can wait in.

Geenie

This isn't just a letting problem. We all have to wait in and take time off for repairs or deliveries that don't arrive when specified. Frustrating I know, but you have to be assertive about time. Good luck.

GrammarGirl

Geenie wrote: »

This isn't just a letting problem. We all have to wait in and take time off for repairs or deliveries that don't arrive when specified. Frustrating I know, but you have to be assertive about time. Good luck.

But as a tenant, he's not responsible for the maintenance of the fridge/freezer, whereas a homeowner is.

Our LA gives us 24 hours notice before letting any workers into our flat for repairs. They give them a set of keys so they can let themselves in and out. As someone else said, these people have been vetted by the LA and if there were any issues then the LA would be held responsible. I don't think it's unreasonable to state that you cannot take more time off work and the LA must deal with the issue themselves.

clutton_2

it seems to me that the LL/LA is dong their best and has already sent out workmen to sort out this problem

home-owners have to make arrangements to wait in for workers - why shouldn;'t tenants ?

tenants cannot have it both ways - they cannot say " we have quiet enjoyment and wont allow access into our house unless we are there"

-

whilst at the same time grumbling that the LA/LL wont let themselves in to fix the equipment

we all have to compromise where workmen are concerned and expecially around christmas and around the getting of the correct parts

if he wants it fixed - he will have to compromise - or pay the LA extra for an extra visit - or pay a friend to house-sit for the morning


i recently had to sit in an unheated house for 7 hours waiting for BT who would not give a specific time - its life - deal with it - us landlords cannot "nanny" tenants all the time

shopndrop

The LA is doing very little. My son has actually arranged the callouts, the LA has just said to him give the service dept of the fridge manuafacturere and call and arrange for them to come out. He has done this and so far taken 2 days off work. Each time a workman comes out they say it is a different problem to the previous one, they still do not have a working fridge/freezer. He is more than happy for someone to be given a key to let themselves in - he even suggested leaving the key somewhere outside for the engineer to let himself in but that is against the LA rules.

He has moved to a new area and doesn't actually know anyone yet apart from a neighbour who leaves home the same time as him each morning so getting a friend to house-sit is not an option either at this time.

The LA has now got back and they will not pass a key onto an engineer, they will only let their contractors have a key and they will also not go with the engineer as the next callout is expected to take at least 1.5 hours sometime between 8 - 6.

I feel that my son has been quite reasonable so far in taking time off - the fridge freezer is obviously past its useful life and probably needs replacing but the LL is not willing to do this until the engineer has been out again, and only then will he "think" about replacing it.

silvercar

The landlord has taken out an extended warranty on the appliance, the engineers are having trouble identifying the fault. It could be that the warranty will provide a replacement or contribute to the cost, once an engineer can confirm that it can't be repaired.

Gorgeous_George

This is a classic case of why I don't bother with extended warranties etc. A faulty oven in my BTL was replaced for less than £200. I collected it from the shop and delivered it myself.

Local tradesmen are usually more flexible but if my tenant wanted an item repairing I would expect them to be available to allow an engineer to call. After all, it is for the tenant's benefit and they know the symtoms.

GG