Burst water pipe in rented house, what are my landlords obligations?

G_M

Going down the police route will be stressful and VERY difficult, even if they take it seriously in the first place. Any proof of a relationship?

I agree the LL/tenant relationship is bust, and the damp/repairs will be almost certainly a bodge.

As Poppy says: bad LLs don't deserve tenants. And good tenants don't deserve to live in these conditions. Start house-hunting. Give the proper notice, and move.

If she's now in a periodic tenancy (monthly rent or weekly? England/Wales or Scotland?) she needs to give a months notice ending with a rent period.

Ilovepurple

Hi guys, thanks for your comments.
My friend and I are not saying that the EHO is taking bribes of any sort, meerly that he is not a stranger to either the LA or the LL. It just seems as if he had formed an opinion of the situation prior to the visit. Her dad has made a complaint to the EH office about the visiting offer.
She went to see a solicitor today who has advised her of what the landlord 'should' do, but has also told her to expect eviction as a result of the letter as its clear that the LL doesnt want to do the repairs. We were not aware that he could refuse and evict her instead. This may work to her advantage as she will get help from the housing if threatened with eviction.
We just have to wait and see now.
Personally I would be asking for compensation for the hassle, and her son being ill, but all she wants is the repairs done correctly or help moving.

dippy

Ilovepurple, there is a middle ground. Write to your councillor and MP about the state of the house. Do you have any doctor's papers when your son fell ill because of the mould? Tell the councillor and MP that you will be forwarding the story to the local paper.

Also, in the letter, complain about the service you have received from the EHO. Be careful about not making allegation if you don't have proof but make it clear that in your opinion, he hasn't been diligently doing his job.

Your MP and councillor and directly elected officials who should be working for you and the councillor will be the boss of that EHO who hopefully will get a kick in the backside to do his job properly and protect you, the tax-payer who's paying for his salary.

missile

LL should pay for friend to stay in alternate accomodation until repairs are completed. However, this may take some time and it seems the LL wants to avoid the extra cost. Difficult situation and I would suggest your friend looks for another property.

Take photos so you have a record to prove state of the property.

Ilovepurple

Hi again guys. Update Re this situation. Following a complaint that my friend made to the EH office about officer who came to visit and the fact that he had not followed up last years visit Re smoke alarms, the EHO stated that the house was in need of dehumidifiers to dry out the property, all carpets were to be removed, and that the mould would need removing/treating before the rooms were repainted. The LL was given a week to do this. In which time a solicitor has written to LL c/o the LA as she didnt have an address for him and stated that my friend would not be paying rent until the house was sorted out, and that the rent he wanted from her for when she wasnt staying in the house she would keep also as damages RE her stuff that has been damaged and her sons help. The letter asked that the LL address the repairs in a correct manner as quickly as possible. The LL's response was to phone my friend and tell her he would take her to court as SHE was the cause of the flood by not having her heating on (she has a 5 yr old so would hardly have the house cold!) and also told her that she would only be able to leave if she paid him 600!! He then said the reason he had not come round with the dehumidifiers was that she had told the LA that she was refusing him entry. This was denied when she asked the LA. Who then called her again after speaking with the LL and tried to get her to agree to leaving the property in a week by paying the 600. She asked them all to contact her solicitor regarding this. The solicitor has tried to get her out of the property without paying the money but they refuse! They know she has another property to move into, but are refusing her references, and she knows she is probably on the system for rent arrears. IMO they are trying to keep her in the property paying rent so the LL can afford the repairs. There is clearly no insurance payout! Can anyone advice on how she can move without the references that other LA's need, or of any other things she may do to help this situation?
Thanks.