Tenant - Please help.

missclairey_2

NB - i have re-worded and amended a few things, better worded them as to not make people mad like before.

I am renting a house.
I need to know if there is a cooling off period.

I signed contracts and paid first months rent/deposit 4th..

While at the house i told her the carpet needed replacing as it was disgusting and stained all over, the house needed painting as there's marks all over walls and there's a bad leak in the bathroom which has marked cellings so a plumber is needed. I old tenant has since told me she has been trying to get the LL to repair it but didn't Also there's a leak in he en-suite which has stained the flooring. You cannot use the main bathroom as I could see where the leak was coming from and I'm worried the celling could collapse and I can't risk myself or son being hurt.

I text her 5th to simply ask when approx these jobs would be completed and the landlord sent me a very rude text, this is not the first time she has been rude to me via text. - I sent her only one text. I wasn't demading it be done, I just wanted to know when it would be done.. wanted to know i date so I can clean it after and get moving.
I was very polite and have tried to be as helpful as possible.
I even offered to sort the quote for the carpet and let her know as she works full-time and this is the thanks I get.

I have a sofa in the house so wanted to make sure was covered before painting. Also I wanted to clean the house top-bottom before moving all stuff in.

My rent for this month was paid the 5th but to help her out I said I wouldn't move in till 17th to give her time to sort problems.

It's like now she has got the deposit and first month rent she can treat me as she likes.

I am outranged and very hurt.

Please can someone get in touch or tell me what to do.

What are my rights?
Can I pull out now?
Is there a cooling off period?

I am 12 weeks pregnant, have a toddler so need to get the place aired (paint) and cleaned.
My husband and i have parted due to his unfaithfulness. I'm at my witts end and do, I would get the carpets re-placed and paint myself but due to a disability and early pregnancy dr's have advised not to as I could lost the baby.

The landlord know's the situation and doesn't care - I know it's not her problem though.

It's as if she's angry that she has to sort problems out.

I paid her £1,150 4th for first month rent and deposit.

Thank you for any help
Claire x

barnaby-bear

missclairey wrote: »

I am renting a house.

I need to know if there is a cooling off period.

I signed contracts and paid first months rent/deposit yesterday.

While at the house i told her the carpet needed replacing as it was disgusting, the house needed painting as there's marks all over walls and there's a leak which has marked cellings so a plumber is needed.

I text her today to simply ask when these jobs would be completed and the landlord sent me a very rude text and quite frankley I do not want to rent with her anymore as this is not the first time she has been rude to me. I was very polite and have tried to be as helpful as possible. I even offered to sort the quote for the carpet and let her know as she works full-time and this is the thanks I get.

I have a sofa in the house so wanted to make sure was covered before painting. Also I wanted to clean the house top-bottom before moving all stuff in.

My rent for this month was paid the 5th but to help her out I said I wouldn't move in till 17th to give her time to sort problems.

It's like now she has got the deposit and first month rent she can treat me as she likes.

I am outranged and very hurt.

Please can someone get in touch or tell me what to do.

What are my rights? Can I pull out now?

Is there a cooling off period?

How can i still rent with her after the rude text, I do not trust her now.
I am 8 weeks pregnant, have a toddler and my husband has left me so i'm at my witts end and do not know what to do or where to turn for help.

The landlord know's the situation i'm in and doesn't care.

It's as if she's angry that she has to sort problems out.

I paid her £1,150 yesterday for first month rent and deposit.

Claire x

By signing the contract you've sort of accepted the property. She's under no obligation to undertake any of the work - unless you got the agreement for the jobs in writing as a condition of taking the tenancy.

~Beanie~

missclairey wrote: »

While at the house i told her the carpet needed replacing as it was disgusting, the house needed painting as there's marks all over walls and there's a leak which has marked cellings so a plumber is needed.

Why did you sign the contracts and pay the money then? You sould have confirmed that she agreed to do all of the above first. If someone came into a house of mine and stated that the carpet needed replacing as it was disgusting they would immediately get my back up.

poppysarah

~Beanie~ wrote: »

Why did you sign the contracts and pay the money then? You sould have confirmed that she agreed to do all of the above first. If someone came into a house of mine and stated that the carpet needed replacing as it was disgusting they would immediately get my back up.

Because some of us are really gullible and believe landlords when they make promises.
It's got to be beaten out of you by years of being lied to and abused by people.

PasturesNew

There is no cooling off period.
If you signed a 6 month AST from 5th February to 4th August, then you can leave on 4th August and that'll be the end of it.

If she'you are reasonable, then you can (with her agreement only) move out sooner but you are responsible for paying the rent until a replacement tenant is found PLUS any charges she incurs in finding a replacement.

top_drawer_2

how did you pay it??

Maybe you cold recall the cheque or bacs payment if not i would be down the CAB to speak to them about what standards of living are required for a rented property.

Maybe a strongly worded letter may help....

Alternatively, have you got a large man friend who would be willing to help out??

I cant really suggest much else .... you've signed a contract and legally your bound by it - possession is 9/10th's of the law i'm afraid....

Jen

sooz

poppysarah wrote: »

Because some of us are really gullible and believe landlords when they make promises.
It's got to be beaten out of you by years of being lied to and abused by people.

And some of us like to read the small print before they sign & if there is something we want changed or amended, we ask, & have it confirmed in writing BEFORE we sign. There are so many threads on here about tenants changing their minds & looking for an opt out after signing/moving in.

I'm not condoning the behaviour of this particular landlord, but with no other type of contract would anyone sign & then hope to make changes to the contract!

sooz

top_drawer wrote: »

how did you pay it??

Maybe you cold recall the cheque or bacs payment if not i would be down the CAB to speak to them about what standards of living are required for a rented property.

really bad advice. The contract is already signed, & the OP is committed to paying the rent for the duration of the contract. If she doesn't, the court will be in touch, followed by a ccj.

she should write to her LL, not text, & confirm all conversations with the LL in writing.

As for the carpet & decor, as other posters have said, if it's on the inventory as marked etc, then she is free to leave it in that state at the end of the tenancy. In the meantime, she can arrange to have the carpet cleaned. Whilst this sounds harsh, it is normal to expect the tenant to clean them at the end of a tenancy (if cleaned at the start) so she will not have this additional cost.

poppysarah

sooz wrote: »

And some of us like to read the small print before they sign & if there is something we want changed or amended, we ask, & have it confirmed in writing BEFORE we sign. There are so many threads on here about tenants changing their minds & looking for an opt out after signing/moving in.

I'm not condoning the behaviour of this particular landlord, but with no other type of contract would anyone sign & then hope to make changes to the contract!

But most innocents wouldn't assume it'd be ok to write such a thing as "landlord to clean carpets before tenancy start date" on a contract. They'd just believe the landlord as to be a decent human being who'd keep a promise.

The OP is what I'd class as vulnerable right now. They are undergoing serious life stress - and was in no position I suspect to make any demands to changes of contract terms.

Believing and trusting people is something we should all be able to do.

OP: Have you got your gas safety certificate? Ask for one if not and if it doesn't appear very quickly then report the landlord to the H&S exec where you will enjoy a little sweet revenge as they can get heavily fined for not having one in place.
Mean? Not as mean as promising a vulnerable tenant you'd clean the place and then change your mind.

milkybars

I think this might just be a missunderstanding. In texts it can be hard to guess the tone of which the sender intended. Maybe your text came across as nagging or demanding and her's in response to that.

As above, you are signed and sealed now so pulling out would lose you money. But I think yours and your new LL's relationship is repairable. I'm sure the last thing your new LL wants is to damage your posessions and that care will be taken to ensure this doesn't happen. Plus if she has a decorator come in to do the work, they also will be careful not to damage anything.

It sounds like it's a fraught time for you, I wish you better times for your future.

sooz

poppysarah wrote: »

But most innocents wouldn't assume it'd be ok to write such a thing as "landlord to clean carpets before tenancy start date" on a contract. They'd just believe the landlord as to be a decent human being who'd keep a promise.

The OP is what I'd class as vulnerable right now. They are undergoing serious life stress - and was in no position I suspect to make any demands to changes of contract terms.

Believing and trusting people is something we should all be able to do.

OP: Have you got your gas safety certificate? Ask for one if not and if it doesn't appear very quickly then report the landlord to the H&S exec where you will enjoy a little sweet revenge as they can get heavily fined for not having one in place.
Mean? Not as mean as promising a vulnerable tenant you'd clean the place and then change your mind.

You got a free thanks from me there...why are those buttons so close?

You don't write it on the contract itself! Again, this would be too late, if you are at the stage of signing. It is part of the negotiation prior to signing a contract. Yes, you'd expect the property to be cleaned, but if it was in a total state when viewing, you'd confirm this in writing. It's not normal to view a property then sign & pay large amounts of money (deposit & 1st rent) on the same day. The LL has to check refs, the tenant has to give notice etc. There is a period of time between viewing & signing when these things can be discussed. Even putting it in an email would do.

Why stop at the gas safety cert?

OP - do you have confirmation & prescibed info about the deposit scheme?
Did you view an EPC on or prior to your first viewing of the property?