Tenant receiving awful service - help

mrtenant

Some questions

I moved into a furnished flat 14 weeks ago and have received repeated awful service on four key issues.

On each occasion there was a delay of two weeks without any response.

The issues were:

a) No hot water in the flat
b) Broken kitchen hot tap
c) Broken bed meaning I had nowhere to sleep

Last week I reported an electrical fault relating to the cooker and when again there was no response for 5 days I told them I was in dispute with them and that I was going to leave at the end of this month's rental payment, and not pay them any more.

There are 2 months remaining on my contract.

Despite admitting the facts of my complaints, the landlord is refusing to release me from the contract.

I want to know

a) like any consumer receiving poor service, can a tenant claim breach of contract and walk away as long as the landlord is informed

b) can i seek a small refund (worth one months rent) for the poor service i have received, just as i might be able to in other consumer relationships.

Advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Mr T

BitterAndTwisted

mrtenant wrote: »

I want to know

a) like any consumer receiving poor service, can a tenant claim breach of contract and walk away as long as the landlord is informed. No, you can't.

b) can i seek a small refund (worth one months rent) for the poor service i have received, just as i might be able to in other consumer relationships. There's nothing stopping you from asking!

Advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks

Mr T

You cannot withhold rent in lieu of repairs not getting done in a reasonable time. There are precise procedure you must adhere to.

You are bound by the terms of your contract to pay the rent in full until the end of your AST. You cannot get out of it without your landlord's express agreement.

Please give your notice to vacate the property in writing.

If you've been in the property for 14 weeks it doesn't make any sense to me tht you'll be leaving in two month. Surely your AST is for a fixed-term of 6 months i.e. 26 weeks not 22?

mrtenant

I have given notice of intention to leave in writing but my leaving date is prior to the end of the contract.

The 14 weeks was off the top of my head, it's actually a fortnight short of 4 months.

I want to leave either at then end of this rental payment, or I offered to stay put til the end of the next one to allow them to more easily find a tenant.

But they have refused point blank and have said I must stay for the entire period.

I am at a point where I have lost complete faith in them and I would like to leave immediately, as on all four occasions they have not responded, and one of those occasions they admit they should have moved me to a B&B.

What is the advised course of action in such a situation.

Mr T

adouglasmhor

Ask advice from Shelter or CAB.

G_M

As already pointed out, you cannot leave before the end of your fixed term contract.

There are procedures for getting repairs done. Use them, rather than walking away or witholding rent.

With each of the issues you've had, did you report them in writing to the LL?

tbs624

Are all these repairs issues now resolved? If yes, just sit out the few weeks and use your time to find a new property.

For future reference, always report repairs issue in writing and keep a copy of your letter. If a LL won't see to repairs within a "reasonable time" then you can ask for support from the private sector housing team at your local Council.

If this property's in Eng/Wales, has your LL scheme registered your tenancy deposit?

Imp

And remember, tenants are not paying for a service, they are paying a contribution to the landlord's pension.