getting out of a rental contract 4 months early? long - sorry

girlfunky

Can anyone gove some advice please? Perhaps someone on here has been in our situation?

Basicallw we have rented our house since nov 2007. Since we moved in we have had many problems such as electrical sockets producing HUGE make-you-jump-out-of-your-skin sparks when you turn them on, a problem with the CRD (?) being permantently on even when the electrical system trips, also damp problems have recently appeared in the main bedroom.

After going into the agents office on Thursday and kicking off big time (after drawing their attention to the problems at every opportunity - like at each review visit and in between by telephone) The damp problem has appeared in the main bedroom, it is against the external wall at the front. Our next door neighbours dont have any heating except a coal fire and the outside of the wall has that tacky plastic boarding across the wall, it used to be wooden but my dad has suggested that the contractor put the plastic boards over the rotting wood and its causing the damp in the room. i have noticed that the mould has spead through the fitted wardrobes adjacent to the affected wall and is the common wal shared with the neighbours with no heating.

We really want to move house because we have a 12 week old baby sleeping in the room and my husband had severe asthma and since the mould appeared his asthma medication has been made much stronger and his attacks are becoming more regular and severe.

We have found somewhere else so we want to get out of the contract. Im going to the local cab office next week but wondered if anyone could share some advice on if this is do-able or not?

Thanks in advance!

poppysarah

Have you put complaints in writing? CC the complaints to the agent and the private housing tenancy support officer at the local council.
But you've rented it for so long living with these problems why haven't you done anything about it before?

Have you been siging a new tenancy every so often DESPITE there being repair issues?

girlfunky

hi poppysarah, thanksfor your advice, we initially had a 6 month contract then renewed it as a 12 month contract. The damp problem appeared this summer after we resigned the contract. As for the electrcals the only thing we did was call them once a month but i got so fed up i went into the office and threatened to go to the council if they didnt fix it, which they did the following day but its the damp problem thats most worrying, havent a clue why it started in august and not before considering we had already been in the house for just over 9 months! thats a weird one

girlfunky

thing is we want to move we dont want to resolve the issue - any advice on that anyone?

poppysarah

You'd have to negotiate with them. Check with the CAB if they think the damp is a good enough reason - it probably isn't if you don't give them a chance to fix it.

If you can find an alternative tenant they might let you out early.

*if* the damp is going to be expensive and messy to sort out then they might need you out of the property anyway. If they fudge the issue of doing it then get onto the council and get it sorted out. They might see you as a nuisance and be more willing to let you go (Especially if a lick of paint covers up the damp for another few months)

girlfunky

thanks for your advice poppyarah, we are negotiating with the landlord, just had the agent come round they basically agreed that its not just condensation and that we have been doing what we should be to help dry it up and keep it at bay.

Have told them that i have spoken to CAB and the council and they agree that it needs sorting out and its not just a lick of paint before they let the property to other tennants in 3 months time.

I said that i have no hesitation in contacting the council and environmental health about the substandard conditions if they wanted to fix it but obv that would involve going through expensive, official routes which could be a problem for the agency, the landlord and just adding time onto a problem that needs fixing asap.

Who knows what may happen but i certainly know that we will not be extending this contract and if the letting agent/landlord doesnt pull their finger out then we wont be letting through the agent again either!

poppysarah

Ooo that sounds very good! I hope they respond positively!