Can I/Should I ask for rent reduction?????

DjP

Hi,

I live in a one bed flat.

It's £200 a week (yes but it's in London E14)

Ok it's not in the super posh part of E14.

A month ago, they started to build four new flats on top of our building.

This has meant a lot of building noise, all day.

Not a problem for most, but I work nights and used to sleep days.

Which I can't now.

I've had to stay with my parents, so I can sleep.

But am still paying the rent (obviously).

I am meeting my landlord tomorrow, shoudl I ask for a reduction in the rent?

She benfits from the new flats (as I presume all the owners got something for this ... I may be wrong about that though).

Anyway, the buliding work will continue for at least 4 months.

I have lived at the property for over 4 years. I am tidy. Not caused or had any problems.

As there is scaffolding all over the front of the building, I'm not sure she will be able to rent it out easily.

I am 6 months away from buying my own place. So it will be a hassle to move, BUT for the same price I can get somewhere with a free gym and swimming pool ... so it might be worht the hassle?

I'm on a short hold tennacy aggrement, which is now running month by month as a rolling contract.

So should I ask for a reduction?

How much is fair?

Or am I out of order to ask?

Oh and my mother is very happy for me to stay with her, as she gets to see me ... which is nice. But I don't like paying all the rent, when I'm not even staying at the flat.

Thank for any help, even if it's just to tell me that I am a fool xxx

FS20

As they say, if you don't ask, you don't get! I would make a reasonable offer, perhaps go for £40 a week off and then she may barter and settle for a bit less. Worth trying! Let us know how you get on )

BadgerFace_2

While living in a Bournemouth flat, the building was extended to include another floor.

For the period while the building work was undertaken, we paid 50% rent by mutual agreement. It was the landlord that was building the additional flat though.

Hope that helps!

Fire_Fox

You are a fool! Serve your one months notice to quit, put your furniture in storage and move to a cheap as chips bedsit or even in with your mum if she will have you. Surely if you save the extra cash (£800 plus all the bills!) you will be in your new home quicker than six months?

I doubt your landlord is benefiting from this, she only owns the long lease (the right to occupy your flat for x number of years), she has no rights over the fabric of the building it is the freeholder who has that. Were you not given notice that this work was to begin? Have you tried WAX ear plugs?

DjP

Ok, thanks.

I will first ask for a reduction of £50 a week (25% off)

If not and there's no movement on this ... then I will give my notice ...

Meeting around 5pm today (Monday)

I will let you know how I faired.

Thanks again x

BexInLondon

I think my flat overlooks your building! I'd definitely be getting onto my landlord about it! They seem to be doing this on a lot of flats in our area! If it were me I'd either do what Firefox says and move somewhere cheap as chips or, if I really couldn't face that, move into one of the nice ones with pool etc!

The people I feel most sorry for are the people on the top floor of the building next to yours (if yours is the one I'm thinking about). They used to have a lovely big unofficial roof terrace which is now being turned into a flat!