Where shall I start? What a nightmare!

tbs624

HannahIOW wrote: »

I wouldn't call it a simple bathroom refit to be honest, plasterboard on all walls had to be replaced, the floor had to be replaced and so did the ceiling, plus once the old ceiling was ripped down they discovered that the joists for the upstairs flat were rotten and needed replacing, which has delayed everything further. They have been working on the bathroom from 8am - 3:30pm since tuesday, with all that has to be replaced there's no way they can keep plumbing everything back in each day.


It's not 24 hours though, it's a predicted four days provided there are no more set backs. You say they aren't obliged to provide us with alternative accommodation, but are we just expected to go without the toilet or being able to wash for at least four days?

I think perhaps you misunderstood what Moromir was saying? the commment that it was only 24 hours read to me as if in direct response to this bit from you

We have been there 1 day and the boiler has a gas leak, so now we are without hot water and heating. We phoned up the gas board who came and looked, tried to fix it but it requires an engineer. They have shut off the whole supply due to it being dangerous.

The engineer can't look until tomorrow afternoon

With regards to the other problems in our flat such as the damp etc and various things not working, which haven't been for ages - surely we are paying for a warm dry home but this is not what we are receiving? The storage heaters also do not work properly anymore, we have told them this but yet again it gets ignored.

But if all you have done is verbally mention it when the LA comes round for an annual inspection you are unlikely to get a prompt response from this sort of LA/LL unless you follow it up a week later, saying "when can we expect you round to deal with the following x,y and z, as discussed during inspection"

The Council's Env Health Officer is the one to contact with a request that the property is assessed under HHSRS ( Housing Health and Safety Rating System)

HannahIOW

tbs624 wrote: »

I think perhaps you misunderstood what Moromir was saying?

Ah yes, I think you could be right there

tbs624 wrote: »

The Council's Env Health Officer is the one to contact with a request that the property is assessed under HHSRS ( Housing Health and Safety Rating System)

Thanks I will look into that, do they charge for doing this?

tbs624

HannahIOW wrote: »

So basically you're saying if any maintenance etc needs doing, they only legally have to do something about it if we put it in writing? Otherwise they can just legally fob us off?

It's about creating a decent"paper trail" from the start just in case you need to pursue the matter further.

So, T rings LA to report repair in 1st instance and *then* follows that up with a letter saying " I am writing to to confirm my phone call of x date when I spoke to Mary/Bob , and notified you that x, y and z are in need of repair.

We can be available to provide access to the property on (dates x 3 or 4)". Keep a copy with your tenancy agreement.


You may find it helpful to read Shelter's Guide to Getting Repairs Done (google it , it's a pdf)

tbs624

HannahIOW wrote: »

Ah yes, I think you could be right there


Thanks I will look into that, do they charge for doing this?

No they don't, and they can *insist* that the LL gets necessary repairs undertaken

HannahIOW

Thanks very much

grey_lady

Wouldn't this be a good time to find somewhere new to live?

HannahIOW

The area where we live now is convenient for us, plus with my OH running a new business we really don't have time for the upheaval of moving right now.

moromir

HannahIOW wrote: »

It's not 24 hours though, it's a predicted four days provided there are no more set backs. You say they aren't obliged to provide us with alternative accommodation, but are we just expected to go without the toilet or being able to wash for at least four days?

The lettings agent have suspended our rent (450pcm) while this is being done, in order to pay for the holiday let they put us in. So currently we are paying but have no suitable place to stay, no heating or hot water at either place. We ended up having to shell out for a hotel last night as we had no other option. Surely this week's rent should be used to cover an alternative?

Hi Hannah,

What I was trying to make clear to you was the difference between what a Letting Agent is and their responsibilities toward you (ie basically they don't have any) and the Landlord and his responsibilities (he has a lot).

I think you need to get it straight in your head who did what.

A Letting Agent has no authority to 'suspend your rent'. The Landlord may have agreed to pay the Letting Agent the sum of £450 to use the holiday let while your bathroom is refitted and they've just sorted the accounting out in house, does this seem likely?

I think the water has been muddied by the fact you seem to be saying the Letting Agent owns the holiday let? Is this correct?

In any event its still the responsibility of the Landlord to ensure you have access to heating, water and sanitation within a reasonable period of time (the law appreciates that sometimes big refits are necessary).

The Landlord may wish to persue the LA about the fact theres problems at the holiday let too but thats his issue to deal with, you don't directly have a 'case' against the Letting Agent.

Are you still without gas? Have you put this in writing to the Landlord yet? (direct if you have his address or c/o his LA?)

HannahIOW

Hiya thanks for the reply.

I guess it's possible the money side of things has been sorted out in house. To be honest I'm not sure who owns the holiday let, as it isn't on the website for our letting agents but on a different company's one entirely...

The gas problem was at the holiday let, I've just been down there while a gas engineer fixed the problem so at least we have hot water and heating over there now. I've just returned to our flat where the builders are still working on the bathroom, to be told the new lino will be fitted next weds afternoon (why on earth does it take so long to get lino?) and the builders hope to be finished by tuesday... I really can't understand why it's taking that long as we were originally told it would be four days. They have connected up the toilet and sink now, so we can use those, and we have bought a brand new shower for them to fit tomorrow... I was hoping as soon as that was fitted we could leave the holiday let. They've put most of the tiles up too, I really don't see how they have three more days work left (assuming they won't be working on saturday).