Dreadful problems with landlord- please advise

BitterAndTwisted

If you don't want to sign a new fixed-term tenancy agreement when the current one is up early in March ask your landlady if she is agreeable for you to go on into a rolling period tenancy. All of the terms are the same as in the original tenancy agreement save for the notice which the landlord is obliged to give you, which is two months. You still have to give her one month.

You're right about the penalty for not protecting the deposit: in theory it's three times the deposit but ad far as I know it has never actually been awarded in a court of law yet but what I do know is that not protecting it is a criminal offense. If he doesn't know this, it could be an ace up your sleeve at some point if you choose not to tell her immediately.

And it's correct, if she absolutely needs you to be out of the property while these works are going on (and I don't see from your description why it's absolutely necessary) it's her responsibility to provide you with alternative accommodation. Let's see how she likes two day's notice now the shoe is on the other foot!

gothmaz

I did actually confront her about the deposit and she admitted to me on the phone that she has it in a 60 day bank account, not a TDS, I told her this was against the law so she said oh i better get it sorted then. But I seriously doubt she will.

I may go for the rolling period tenancy as I'm not comfortable signing up for another 12 months, although I am wondering what on earth could possibly go wrong next?

Unfortunately she knows my parents are on the same road and when she rang tonight I did say I would speak to them to see if we could stay with them, but that I would be deducting the days I'm out of this house from my rent next month. She said ok.

With regards to proof, we have taken photos of various things and I have kept items such as burnt immersion socket as proof.

clutton_2

I am LL of 10 years and when i read this re your carbon monoxide..... "" she told me take the battery out of alarm and put the heating back on and she'd get it sorted.""

my blood ran cold.......

if you have children, or even if you dont, you dont want to live in a house managed by such a maniac who has absolutely no sense of the value of human life... this and the electrics make me so wild that amateur landlords are allowed to get away with this sort of thing...

if you want to continue living there SAFELY one option is -

Report her immediately to Environmental Health with a less "ranty" account as above but containing all these horrific facts - they will be down on her like a ton of bricks and force her to abide by H&S and HHSRS regulations and make these repairs. They should also tell her that IF you are willing to move out then she has to find and has to pay for your alternative accommodation... Having done rewires and re-boilers, they are immensely disruptive works and may well take a week or more, especialy if the house is furnished, your property could be moved, damaged by builders, the house will be dirty when you move back in.

If the house is reasonably warm with heaters, then 2nd March is not long.. if it was me, i would seriously just refuse her access to do any work right now and move out on March 2nd - (tenants have a right of Quiet Enjoyment which means she cannot enter your home withour your permission) even if she fixes the heating now, this battery of blatant disregard for your safety will only continues as the tenancy continues...

If you do move out, then report her to EH - she needs to be stopped before she kills the next tenant .....

You must now start putting Everything in writing to her.. letter with proof of posting so that you have a paper trial for any future problems...

college_guy

This sounds not good. You must do something about seriously. Yes you've been talking to her for several weeks now and your complains are not yet taken care of. I'm not sure how to claim your deposit if ever you decided to move out, but you should look for another place to move in.

college_guy

In looking for another place to rent, make sure that all the facilities needed are in order, so that this instances will not happen again. I suggest you check out house listing at room to rent sites. My aunt got her lovely flat that she's enjoying now.

With the way things happening, I again suggest that you find ways to get your deposit and move out in that place. The signs are there. Its not gonna do anything good for you and for your family.

Cheers,

Ivan

adg1

gothmaz wrote: »

There are no smoke alarms in the property.

PasturesNew wrote: »

No need for there to be, legally, I don't think.

No legal requirement to actually provide them, but, if they are there, then there is a legal requirement for the landlord to ensure they are in good working order.

bitsandpieces

If she hasn't kept the place in safe order thus far, I wouldn't want to sign up for another tenancy. Environmental health will - very likely - insist she makes some improvements, but there is always the possibility that these things are messed up. I wouldn't want the hassle and risk.

Smoke alarms start from about a fiver, if I remember right. I'd just buy one, especially given the problems you mention (you should probably get landlady's permission to install it; offer to leave it after you leave). The cost's trivial, and I wouldn't take the risk.

Definitely contact environmental health - either now or after you leave, so that at least the next person is protected. No need to send a 'ranty' reply - just clearly state what you've said here about gas, electrics etc and it will get their attention :eek:

Fire_Fox

Send a letter recorded delivery detailing all your complaints. Get Environmental Health involved to sort out any health and safety issues.

mlz1413

From your first post you do most things by phone, I would start backing up your calls by letter and pop a copy to the LA each time.

Give her a time limit to sort it out and ensure the LA is aware.

Don't sign another fixed rental and make the LA aware that your interested in any other house in your area.

Whilst I agree that location is key to where you live, safety has got to be a priority.

poppysarah

1. RIng the local fire brigade and ask if they do smoke alarm visits and freebies.

2. Speak to the local council's private sector housing team about the issues

3. Get ready to move when your tenancy runs out. Give notice etc and do it all properly.