Problems with new flat

joeltekfoto

Hi,
I was wondering if any you smarty pants on here might be able to give me a little advice about something. Basically me and my girlfriend recently signed up to a new flat with a landlord who owns a number of properties, they're quite big with their own office etc in the city centre. We viewed a flat we loved, put the deposit down and applied to be tenants, we didn't hear anything for a week so I phoned them up and was told that flat had actually already been let out and they forgot. But they told us they'd swing it so we could still get the flat, again more days went by and phone calls/texts went unanswered until I got through to one of them and was told in actual fact we can't have the flat we originally wanted.

So we ended up in another flat in the same development, no big shakes but we got messed around a load with not answering calls etc and it taking the best part of two weeks.

The flat online was advertised as having a washer/dryer and on the viewing I asked the agent if it was a washer/dryer, he said it was. The previous tenant was a bit grubby and we were assured it would be 'deep cleaned'. I went to collect the keys today and was messed around even more at their office, had to wait an hour for the keys to be cut and they weren't sure who the energy suppliers were or where the energy meter was....

Whilst I was waiting in the office two sets of new tenants came in to complain about the state of their flat, broken furniture, dirty etc. Anyway so I eventually get my key and go to the flat to find it's been anything but 'deep cleaned' it's a right state, 'marks' in the toilet, dirty kitchen and hob, dirty floors, etc etc and some of the furniture is knackered.

To be honest I'll happily clean the place myself and sort out new furniture, but what I am annoyed at is that on closer inspection the advertised washer/dryer is only actually a washer. Not only this but we don't have a mailbox in the porch, there's no box for our flat and we have no mail key.

The rent on the place isn't bargain basement, it's not much shy of £500 for a one bed. Just wondering if anyone has any advice on the best way to get this resolved quickly because I really don't have much faith, they seem ridiculously unprofessional and lax I can't see them being quick to sort anything, the other new tenants were all complaining about how useless they are when I was in the office to collect my keys. I really do need them to put a washer/dryer in and sort the mailbox.

If anyone could offer any advice it'd be much appreciated, I sent them an email earlier but I'm yet to hear back.

clutton_2

go to another agent and find another flat

joeltekfoto

clutton wrote: »

go to another agent and find another flat

Cheers for the reply, I really like the flat itself and location so I'm a tad reluctant to do that but theoretically despite having a signed contract could I get out of the lease?

G_M

clutton wrote: »

go to another agent and find another flat

I get the impression from the OP's post that she's already signed a contract. So a bit late for that clutton.

You could try asking to be released from your tenancy, but the LL/agent does not have to agree, so be diplomatic!

Is there an inventory? Does it detail the condition of the property and accurately record the dirt? Have you signed it (if not, don't, until it accurately reflects reality).

Put all your complaints in writing. I don't mean the delays, un-returned phone calls etc, I mean specific problems with the flat. You are committed to living there (unless I'm wrong about you having signed a contract, or unless they release you) so stick to things which you want them to do eg change the washer? Clean the flat? Fix broken furniture (list it) etc.

Keep your letter short and to the point, keep a copy yourself, and send it to the LL with a copy for the agent. LL's address should be on the tenancy agreement.

sequence

Never, ever, trust a word out of a letting agents mouth.

joeltekfoto

G_M wrote: »

I get the impression from the OP's post that she's already signed a contract. So a bit late for that clutton.

You could try asking to be released from your tenancy, but the LL/agent does not have to agree, so be diplomatic!

Is there an inventory? Does it detail the condition of the property and accurately record the dirt? Have you signed it (if not, don't, until it accurately reflects reality).

Put all your complaints in writing. I don't mean the delays, un-returned phone calls etc, I mean specific problems with the flat. You are committed to living there (unless I'm wrong about you having signed a contract, or unless they release you) so stick to things which you want them to do eg change the washer? Clean the flat? Fix broken furniture (list it) etc.

Keep your letter short and to the point, keep a copy yourself, and send it to the LL with a copy for the agent. LL's address should be on the tenancy agreement.

Hey 'she's' actually a he! :rotfl: But yes the contract is signed, I want to stay there, I'm not bothered about cleaning the place myself or the furniture, the washer/dryer and mailbox I am bothered about though. I've sent them an email listing everything that's wrong with pictures asking them to acknowledge receiving the email and for a date for it to get done but I'd put money on them not doing anything about it. I thought my last landlords could be incompetent but if what I've seen so far is anything to go by....

And I've been given no inventory forms or anything like that.

If they don't do anything about it then what would my options be?

Cheers for your reply!

G_M

1st, make this as formal as you can. Not email, definately not text - write. You know, old fashioned letter. Sending it recorded delivery also a) shows you are serious and b) proves they received it.

No inventory is more of a problem for the LL at the end than for the tenant. LL can't prove what was there at the start, or in what condition.

If repairs are not done, follow shelters advice here.

tbs624

G_M has given you good suggestions. I'd add photos into the list of to-dos, plenty of them including close-ups of every smear and dustheap.

You may also want to formally request *in writing, snail mail* that the LA provides with you with the LL's name and address. They have 21 days from receipt of that written request in which to give you the info, or they will be committing a *criminal* offence.

Don't be under any illusion about LAs - no training, no qualifications, no particular expertise required to set up as one. A profession, it is not.

joeltekfoto

Hey thanks for replies everyone, just a little update I spoke to them today re: the washer/dryer as they haven't acknowledged my email. They said 'It is definitly a washer/dryer, we only buy washer/dryers', it is definitly not, I have the manufacturers page up for the model now, no dry function. I'll take some pictures and send them to them tonight, fingers crossed once they see it's only a washer it'll get sorted..