Problems with house we are renting

MrFrost82

Me and my partner moved into a property in February this year and we have had nothing but problems, both with the house and the letting agents. We really need some advice as we are getting nowhere!

The day after we moved in, the gas boiler packed in. No heating or hot water, unless we used the electric back up boiler. The letting agents got a plumber to come out. After 10 visits to the property and after 3 weeks (which meant me or my partner taking unpaid leave from work) the boiler fault was finally fixed. Although during this time we needed heat and hot water to our house, which meant running an electric back up boiler, which we calculated used 1200 units of electric in this 3 week period.

Other problems we found when moved in was the garage door wouldnt lock, the loft hatch in the bedroom wouldnt stay up. It took them 4 weeks to rectify these faults.

Between me and my partner, we had 3 days unpaid leave, made on the basis someone would be coming out to rectify the above faults, and on these 3 days, no one actually came, meaning 3 days unpaid for nothing.

And to top this all off, on Sunday we had several roof tiles blown off the property and onto the roof of the extention to the rear, which has created a foot wide gap in the roof of the extension. On Tuesday and Today we were promised that someone would be out to come and fix the problem as water has leaked in and now there is a large damp patch on the ceiling in the dining room. Surprise, surprise no one showed.

I contacted the letting agent this afternoon and explained that unless the fault was rectified I would go to citizens advice and raise my concerns with them. I was then told because of this the letting agent would now not consider us to rent the property for more than the intial 6 month period.
Our plan was to rent long term as the owners have moved to Australia and my girlfriend is pregnant so we have been busy in planning for that, no we are going to have to find somewhere else to live at the time she is due.

I am extremely annoyed and worried as I simply dont know where to go. We have lost so much money with days off here and there and are dreading the electric bill coming.

I have spoken briefly to Shelter who havent really been able to help.

I would appriciate it if anyone could give me some advice.

Thanks in advance.

MrFrost82

I forgot to mention also, the first time we used the dishwasher it leaked water everywhere all over the dining room carpet and we are still waiting for someone to come and fix this and clean the carpet as promised.
Also I have put all my conerns in writing to them and sent recorded delivery 2 weeks ago, giving them 7 days to reply as advised by Shelter but heard nothing back from them.

clutton_2

you could talk to your local council private sector housing officer - but they may then send an environmental health officer round, which will probably annoy your agent even more.

if you know the landlords address, why not let him/her know what is happening ... he will not be pleased that a potential long term tenant is being treated so poorly

if you do not know your landlords address, ask for it, you are legally entitled to ir