Dreadful problems with landlord- please advise

gothmaz

princeofpounds wrote: »

we should also remember to point out that the boiler needs to be fitted/fixed/inspected by a gassafe qualified technician - previously known as CORGI.

I checked this too. I had his number from my gas certificate that I had badgered for when I moved in. I checked online and he was compliant.

gothmaz

MoneyQueen wrote: »

Hi gothmaz,

Can I ask if the bunglow is in Essex. Your landlady seems to be very similar to the one that I had when I was renting in Essex few years ago

MQ

No, it's in NW London.

clutton_2

""I should also add that this woman is a health and safety officer for a council""

how utterly appalling....... its horrific that she cannot see the potential dangers for you and your family

""I should add now that the boiler was eventually replaced last week."" - excellent result.... but no one should have to do a "basil fawlty" to get safe decent heating .....

marcowil

Gothmaz, have you taken any of the advice given on here and contacted the authorities about this?

gothmaz

To be utterly honest it's been a complete nightmare. There are a number of things that need doing in the house. We had it out this weekend though. She said a number of things had come to light and she wanted a chat. So we arranged to meet at mine at 12pm Saturday. I told her my daughter had dancing class first thing then my son had a beavers panto outing at 2pm, so this was my window. By 1pm she wasn't there so I called and phone was off. I called 3 times and eventually left a message. At 1.50 she called to say she was a few miles away, on the tube. I told her AGAIN I was going out. So she asked if she could pop by later. I had to go shopping and I was out again at 7.30, so I said I'd make sure I was back about 4ish to see her and would call when I got home. I called her, she said she'd try to get over. By 6.30pm she called to say she wasn't coming. So she asked if we could do Sunday. By now my Saturday had already been dictated by her so I wasn't happy to. I had plans to visit my sister and do my dads tax return for him, so eventually I said I would delay my plans till 3.30. She said she'd call in the morning to tell me what time she'd be over. By 1pm still no word, tried tocall and no answer AGAIN. At 2.45 she eventually called saying she would be over within the hour. I again reminded her that I had told her I was out at 3.30....honestly this bloody woman!!!! So I asked her if we could have it out over the phone.

She told me that I had kicked up such a fuss over the boiler that they wondered what I would be like if they had the extension built (was supposed to be this year, now next year she says...will probably be year after knowing her). She said we needed to keep her furniture cleaner as it was expensive. I told her that thank you very much I keep a VERY clean house cheeky cow (other half calls me Monica from friends i'm that bad!) but just stank to me of her trying to get one over me. I told her again that I wasn't happy to renew and wanted to know about deposit. She said I would have it back once house was checked within 7 days. I said I needed it for a new house and seeing as she hadn't protected it, could we help each other out. She said if it was in a scheme it would take that long - I said BUT it's nots in a scheme, is it and I can take you to court for it. She said she felt that was threatening. Ummmm....yes! We discussed items that she should've done over the year and didn't, she said I should've asked her more. Yet apparantly by bugging her over the boiler I over reacted...so if I called daily about other things she'd moan about that too! Can't win! She then said that if we decided to stay she needed to increase the rent to pay for those things to be done. Well, my thinking is that they should've been done during THIS year. I'm not paying more for them!
She agreed to deduct 4 days rent for having to move out over the boiler. She then asked me if I'd still pay the full rent and she'd give me the money back. I said no....i don't think so!

I just want out, with my deposit in tact.

gothmaz

marcowil wrote: »

Gothmaz, have you taken any of the advice given on here and contacted the authorities about this?

Well the boiler is now fixed, so I haven't called the EH as we had the wiring sorted as well.

I did check the boiler fitter online as recommended through this site.

Once I am out of there though I intend to shop her to her mortgage company though. I don't want to do anything to jeopardise getting my deposit back though.

All the advice on here has been really helpful! x

clutton_2

""She agreed to deduct 4 days rent for having to move out over the boiler. She then asked me if I'd still pay the full rent and she'd give me the money back."

oh right - and another 16 phone calls to not get your money back.......

this woman needs reporting to the council private sector housing officer... they WILL make her comply with legislation..

well done you for telling her exactly what's what... and i do hope you get a better landlord next time - we are out there....

for next time.. ask if your new prospective LL is a member of a Profesional Landlords association and if they say yes.. check it out.....

re ""I don't want to do anything to jeopardise getting my deposit back though.""

i cannot imagine this will be easy... so it may be a good idea to research now.... if she has not registered your monies with a scheme - you may have to take her to court to get it back... did you sign an inventory on move-in ?

suggest you read Eagerlearners thread on here re getting deposit back.. it shows the difficulties if you have a stubborn LL

princeofpounds

OK, it's clear that the relationship has broken down, and it is her fault. Personally, I would sue her for the deposit protection penalty (if applicable, I haven't gone back in the thread to remember what the precise situation is) and bring all the authorities to bear on any repairing issues you have. Teach a bad landlord a lesson and move on.

gothmaz

clutton wrote: »

""She agreed to deduct 4 days rent for having to move out over the boiler. She then asked me if I'd still pay the full rent and she'd give me the money back."

oh right - and another 16 phone calls to not get your money back.......

this woman needs reporting to the council private sector housing officer... they WILL make her comply with legislation..

well done you for telling her exactly what's what... and i do hope you get a better landlord next time - we are out there....

for next time.. ask if your new prospective LL is a member of a Profesional Landlords association and if they say yes.. check it out.....

re ""I don't want to do anything to jeopardise getting my deposit back though.""

i cannot imagine this will be easy... so it may be a good idea to research now.... if she has not registered your monies with a scheme - you may have to take her to court to get it back... did you sign an inventory on move-in ?

suggest you read Eagerlearners thread on here re getting deposit back.. it shows the difficulties if you have a stubborn LL

I tell you, I've learnt ALOT of lessons this time by being too trusting and too relaxed. I'll not let it happen again that's for sure.
No inventory was signed on move in, no.

Other half has just called me to tell me a Foxtons To Let sign is going up in front of the house as I type. We hadn't even given her a final decision yet on moving...I was going to leave her stew for a week or two, guess she's decided to go ahead. Not a problems for me!

What should I say to prospective tenants though, when they come over and ask what landlord is like, am I honest?

BitterAndTwisted

Prospective tenants may not necessarily be unaccompanied so stick to the absolute unvarnished truth. That would probably be enough to discourage even the most fool-hardy