Rent breaching building regs?

NozzaC

I'm renting a house and there are a couple of odd things about it.

The main problem is that the kitchen/diner is largely in a "conservatory" building - glazed walls and polycarbonate roof. Consequently it is FREEZING in the winter. It's already very cold and causes the downstairs to be cold in the mornings if the doors are left open. It cannot be heated properly because they didn't put proper radiators in it but some tiny "plinth" heater under a unit. You can't have it on without having the rest of the house heated. We've complained a fair bit but the landlord has responded in a bizarre manner quoting how they personally restrict themselves to one room in the winter and having blankets and warm clothes.....to save energy!

The other thing is that it has a toilet directly off the lounge - for no apparent reason.

Are these things in breach of building regs? If so can I and should I do anything about it? Other than just moving of course?

Thanks

N

DawnW

Why did you choose to rent this strange sounding property? I am not an expert on building regs etc but these tend to be 'of their time', ie, they change / get updated but these changes only apply to new work, not existing structures. Is the house quite old? When was the extension built? The answers to these questions will have a bearing on whether building regs would apply, I think. As for how they relate to tenancies, I really don't know, but I am sure someone will come along who does.

One thing though; if my tenant were to try to cause problems re building regs over a situation that was quite obvious from the outset (as opposed to a dangerous situation, for example, where I would in any case sort it out asap - I mean, presumably the toilet hasn't upped and moved itself since you signed your contract??), I would be inclined towards issuing a S21.

NozzaC

DawnW wrote: »

Why did you choose to rent this strange sounding property? I am not an expert on building regs etc but these tend to be 'of their time', ie, they change / get updated but these changes only apply to new work, not existing structures. Is the house quite old? When was the extension built? The answers to these questions will have a bearing on whether building regs would apply, I think. As for how they relate to tenancies, I really don't know, but I am sure someone will come along who does.

One thing though; if my tenant were to try to cause problems re building regs over a situation that was quite obvious from the outset (as opposed to a dangerous situation, for example, where I would in any case sort it out asap - I mean, presumably the toilet hasn't upped and moved itself since you signed your contract??), I would be inclined towards issuing a S21.

The toilet is not a problem. But the kitchen is - there was no way of telling how freezing it would be before moving in. I believe the work was done in the last 3 or 4 years.

withabix

From your description, it sounds to me like the conservatory/kitchen will be in breach of Building Regulations and possibly Planning Laws.

You cannot construct a conservatory that is connected to the main house without compliant, permanently fitted EXTERIOR DOORS separating the two without Building Regulations approval.

It is unlikely that the insulation level of the conservatory roof (in particular) with be compliant anyway - as the roof is polycarbonate, it won't be compliant (unless it's about a foot thick!).

I'm not sure where this gets you with regard to your Tenancy however. Nothing has changed since you signed the agreement, other than the weather!

Buy an electric heater?

silvercar

I'm not an expert planner, but it sounds like the conservatory wouldn't comply with building regs though it probably wouldn't need planning permission. The council is very unlikely to act on anything which is over a year old. The fact it doesn't have a building regs certificate may cause problems when the owner sells. It may be that the seller would have to put doors between the conservatory and the house. If the kitchen is in the conservatory bit, then a mortgage lender would be unhappy.

None of this effects your tenancy agreement AFAIK. You are renting a property as seen beforehand. I accept that the weather may have been better then, but it is still upto you to look at the property and make your own judgement. Was there an energy performance certificate available when you looked? These have been compulsary for a while now and you should have been shown one. This would have graded the house on how energy efficient it is.

There should be a way of turning radiators off, if you just wanted to leave the plinth heater on. Alternatively buy a freestanding electric heater for the conservatory.

ILW

Not sure what the OP is expecting to happen.
It appears they want the house rebuilding.

tek-monkey

Turn off the other radiators, they have controls on them.

getmore4less

NozzaC wrote: »

The toilet is not a problem. But the kitchen is - there was no way of telling how freezing it would be before moving in. I believe the work was done in the last 3 or 4 years.

Fairly obvious from the description.

Unless of a very high standard hot in summer, cold in winter

clutton_2

i go along with everyone else - you saw what the property was like before you moved in, and so i dont think you can really complain

did you get an EPC ? - that should have told you about the thermal qualities - even if your eyesight did not