Renewing tenancy-advice?

sillylittlejill

Hi guys

My partner and I moved into our end of terrace house in July. We absolutely love our house and don't want to move as we have good a really good deal, paying 395pm for a large 2 bed house.

We have had a few issues though, in August my partner saw a rat (through the ventilation grate in living room floor) and the landlords were quick to get environmental health out, they put poison down and said that it wouldn't bother us again. Over the next couple of weeks there was a noticeable pong and we spoke to the letting agents (house is managed by them). It took them a couple of weeks to get it sorted but they sent someone out and they got two very fat dead rats and the smell vanished.

My mother recently pointed out that there is damp in the back of the kitchen cupboards, its like a very fine mould but it hasnt really bothered us. The main issue we have at the moment is slugs in our kitchen. I have spent so long putting salt down but they still get in somehow. I don't want to put any type of pellets/poision etc down because a close friend of mine has an inquisitive toddler and I can imagine her trying to eat it! Apparently the reason we have issues with damp is because it is a 1900's house and the ventilation isn't good? Not sure what can be done about that.

We have a 6 month AST and it is due for renewal in January. I can't stress enough how much I want to stay in this house but I think these things need sorted. The letting agents are desperate to keep us on as we always pay rent on time and apparently they had a lot of problems with previous tenants.

As we are very settled in this house, we are now thinking of getting a cat. When the house was advertised, it did say no pets/smoking/dss but a friend who rents her house through the same agency has 2 cats and 4 ferrets and her house wasn't supposed to have pets!!!

Sorry for going on a bit. I obviously know that we need to speak to the letting agents but as we haven't had anything like this before, I am unsure how to proceed with it. Do I take pics of the slugtrails etc and go in or do I write a letter?

I would really appreciate some advice from people more experienced in these issues than myself.


Thanks in advance


sillylittlejill

Fire_Fox

1900s houses usually have good ventilation, it's only when we install double glazing and block up chimney breasts etc. the ventilation becomes poor. The solution is to either ventilate by opening the windows daily or use a dehumidifier. Also try to stop the water at source - don't air dry laundry indoors, keep lids on pans when cooking and always close the bathroom door and open the window after showering.

Whether or not you are allowed to get a cat is the decision of the landlord not the letting agent. I do not advise you get a pet without permission - you would be in breach of your AST and, if the landlord finds out, could choose to tell you to get rid of the cat and/ or serve notice to quit. If you want a cat to help with pest control, be aware that many domestic cats are not interested in hunting.

It is always wise to put any concerns/ complaints/ queries into writing and send the letter recorded delivery, that way you have a paper trail if there is any dispute over your damage deposit at a later stage. Although the property may be managed by the letting agents your contract is with the landlord, so a letter can help the two communicate without there being an element of 'Chinese whispers'.

adg1

I can sympathise with you. My parents rented a holiday home in Weymouth for a week and had the same issues. It was a mid terrace, 1900s house, had awful damp in places and had slugs in the kitchen. It was so badly extended/modified that the ticking of a clock wobbled the stud wall enough to make the clock fall off the wall.

I think the problem with that house was that the original fireplaces and airbricks had been blocked up to allow for extensions and an increase of the number of bedrooms. That was the first issue. The fact that you had dead rats in your air brick system at least means its open.

The slugs seemed to come in as the garden was at a level higher than the kitchen floor. This caused a little gap between wall and concreted over garden that water got in leading to damp. The slugs came in through the gap under the door I think.

I would, in all honesty, seriously consider moving on. It seems that, though you love the house, there are aome serious faults. There's also a probably a good reason you have got yourselves a deal on the rent and I'd guess its down to the condition.

poppysarah

sillylittlejill wrote: »

My mother recently pointed out that there is damp in the back of the kitchen cupboards, its like a very fine mould but it hasnt really bothered us. The main issue we have at the moment is slugs in our kitchen.

Nom nom nom...
Do you invite people round for dinner?

mould is not a good sign. slugs are not as tasty as snails I believe.

bramble1

With regards to the pet, our tenancy said no pets, but we wrote a letter to the landlord asking permission to keep a dog, and offered an additional security deposit, and to get the house professionally cleaned before leaving the property and they agreed to it.

Research on the web tenancy agreements to include pets and you'll get some good ideas on what to add in the letter.

simpywimpy

Slugs are a problem that you just can't get rid of in my experience. Every house I have had has had them

sillylittlejill

Thanks everyone! No I don't have people round for dinner parties as neither myself or my boyfriend can cook well enough! My mum is just nosy!
The house is only actually single glazed. Should I take photos and send them in too?

Thanks for all the advice so far

xx

Fire_Fox

If it's single glazed read your meters monthly so you don't get a nasty surprise with your winter heating bill! Single glazed original windows will (probably) be drafty, modern single glazed tend to be well sealed but will still conduct a lot of heat out, so you may get condensation. I'd just note in the letter you have taken photographs should they be required for clarification: that way you look like you are being helpful!