Getting things repaired in Rented accom

lolly_896

Morning all

We are currently renting have been here 2 years. There are a few things i would like addressing and asap!

We have a leak under the bath which has been leaking since we moved in, landlady did send somebody around to fix it but it obviously wasnt done properly as we now have problems with the kitchen ceiling. Have informed her 3 times in the past 12 weeks that it is still leaking!

Kitchen ceiling - From when the leak started the ceiling had a hole in it, as the leak contines the plasterboard is coming away from ceiling so it now has a whole in it and the plasterboard coming away

Cupboard door - we have a old heating system and in August there was a gas leak the gas people came out fixed the leak but condemned heating due to lack of ventilation! After much nagging and moaning she sent somebody registered to come and sort out problem he nocked a external vent in. and then just took the door of the cupboard housing the central heating unit as she had told him she was fitting a combi boiler in the very near future. He said that combi boilers do not need the same ventilation as the boiler we have

Also last summer the water tank in loft corroded, water came running down through the house and runined the bedroom, tank got fixed etc. to keep her costs down she just replaced the ceiling, only the wallpaper that needed replacing(We have 3 different blown vinyls in the bedroom) but the seam where the wall paper touches the ceiling was ruined so she was getting somebody to errect coving to cover it. She knew my dad was a plasterer and got him to do it, he invoiced her and she never paid.

What i need to know is how i go about getting the repairs done as i don't think i can legally deduct rent to get repairs done?

Anyhelp would be much appreciated! Thank you all

robpw2

try ringing your council housing standards if they cannot force the ll to do the repairs they will do them and then charge them

poppysarah

Put everything in writing to LL and CC it to the private rented sector housing team at the council.

But I'd consider moving.

And if I hear one more person say "Oh but I don't want to move I like living here despite it being full of rats and having no repairs done properly" then I'll probably scream.

lolly_896

poppysarah - i'd move in a heartbeat! My DS is settled at school and has autism so moving would be massive to him literally the end of the world.

I also worry a bit that she has a "hold" over us as she knows why we would like to stay here. Also that if i kick up too much of a fuss she could give us our notice to leave

BitterAndTwisted

Move out before the whole kitchen ceiling falls down on your heads. Frankly, I'd be more p1ssed off about my Dad not getting paid than anything else: this tells you pretty much everything you need to know. Landlord is obviously in dire straits if they can't protect their valuable investment and I reckon it's probably only a matter of time before is repossessed.

poppysarah

Is there no other rented property in the area? Moving is probably stressful, but so is living in a house with so many issues.

Write a big list of everything to the LL that needs doing and as I say send it CC to the council.

Your dad should chase her for the unpaid invoice too.

Ask for dates when the jobs will be done.

You're entitled to live in a safe warm dry house. If the LL can't do that and gives you notice then you are probably better off in the long run.

poppysarah

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I reckon it's probably only a matter of time before is repossessed.

or something serious happens that makes the place uninhabitable.

lolly_896

Thank you all,

I think i'm going to try and put a letter together this afternoon, as for my dad he wouldn't have bothered invoicing her if he had his own way. He doesn't see it as doing it for her, it was for us. And he said he didn't want the money, he would have given it to us or the children. So i can't see him pursuing it really - he may if i push him.

*Edit - We are in a sought after area so the rent in other houses in the area are totally unaffordable

Thank you for all your replies

theartfullodger

Follow this sober, calm & sensible advice (assuming it is a private landlord in Engerland..)

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets

Get the Landlord to do his job... stone me LL is paid enuf!

Cheers!

Lodger (Landlord since 2000)

lolly_896

Thanks theartfulldoger but sods law! Im in Wales

theartfullodger

Shelter Cymru is on
0845 075 5005



But follow the advice on the Shelter England site anyway - it is sensible and the right principles... Make sure you WRITE to LL (copy agent if there is one) and keep a copy of letter detailing problems & inviting his to let you know what he will do to fix things...