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Landlord Help!
ksmart
Posts: 1 Newbie
We are new landlords (property rented from 3 Dec 2010) and have been through all the official channels to make sure our tenancy agreement with our tenants is all above board. I would like to note that we lived in the property for 2 1/2 years before renting and did not notice this problem.
The property (1 bed flat) is in need of new windows and it was made very clear at the beginning of the contract we would replace 1 (living room) and the others would follow when we had the necessary funds available. The flat also has laminate flooring.
The tenants contacted me last week to tell me about a bad damp / mould problem under the bed. They have a divan style bed and the mould was on the floor and on the bed (underneath the drawers and headboard). They have sent me a picture of the drawers but had cleaned up the other damage.
We have had a friend (also joiner / handyman) round to check it is not structural or anything to do with the plaster board and he has confirmed it is due to condensation. There is a lot of condensation on the windows and they also had clothes hanging rails on the radiators. He has confirmed our suspicion that the mould/damp has been caused by condensation and lack of ventilation.
I have purchases a de-humidifer for the tenants and have sent this to them and also fast tracked the fitting of windows in the bedroom to improve the problem.
They are now asking that we buy them a new bed as they are sleeping on a mattress in the living room at the moment.
I have looked around the internet etc and feel that this is not our responsibility as the reason for the condensation is due to the lack of ventilation and therefore their issue as they should be maintaining the property.
I am planning on speaking to them tonight but do not want to say the above and not have any sound footing ... is this something I should seek legal advice on?
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
The property (1 bed flat) is in need of new windows and it was made very clear at the beginning of the contract we would replace 1 (living room) and the others would follow when we had the necessary funds available. The flat also has laminate flooring.
The tenants contacted me last week to tell me about a bad damp / mould problem under the bed. They have a divan style bed and the mould was on the floor and on the bed (underneath the drawers and headboard). They have sent me a picture of the drawers but had cleaned up the other damage.
We have had a friend (also joiner / handyman) round to check it is not structural or anything to do with the plaster board and he has confirmed it is due to condensation. There is a lot of condensation on the windows and they also had clothes hanging rails on the radiators. He has confirmed our suspicion that the mould/damp has been caused by condensation and lack of ventilation.
I have purchases a de-humidifer for the tenants and have sent this to them and also fast tracked the fitting of windows in the bedroom to improve the problem.
They are now asking that we buy them a new bed as they are sleeping on a mattress in the living room at the moment.
I have looked around the internet etc and feel that this is not our responsibility as the reason for the condensation is due to the lack of ventilation and therefore their issue as they should be maintaining the property.
I am planning on speaking to them tonight but do not want to say the above and not have any sound footing ... is this something I should seek legal advice on?
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
0
Comments
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Let them sleep on the mattress and tell them to look after the property properly.Everyone is entitled to my opinion!0
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Condensation is a problems caused by poor behaviour of tenants, NOT a landlord's responsibility.If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing0
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Be firm with your tenants, you have been more than reasonable.
No need for legal advice.
This should be dealt with on a common sense basis, once lawyers get involved, common sense becomes quickly replaced with a large bill for fees.0 -
I became a landlord only recently and with only a month into the contract the tenant is causing the LA/ myself hassle. I have had a builder on site completing work eg. front door/ pathway and step over last month (weather permitting) although tenant was aware of this and has been stated in contract that work is to continue until completion approx 2 weeks time. (Plans to re-landscape garden JUL)
In mean while I recieved a phone call from LA regarding an issue with the tenant threatening court if the excess building materials are not cleared asap!
I do plan to skip these materials but once the job has been completed in 2 weeks time, I have searched the DirectGov looking for information on matter and have came up short. Can anyone point me in right direction?
Regards0 -
I became a landlord only recently and with only a month into the contract the tenant is causing the LA/ myself hassle. I have had a builder on site completing work eg. front door/ pathway and step over last month (weather permitting) although tenant was aware of this and has been stated in contract that work is to continue until completion approx 2 weeks time. (Plans to re-landscape garden JUL)
In mean while I recieved a phone call from LA regarding an issue with the tenant threatening court if the excess building materials are not cleared asap!
I do plan to skip these materials but once the job has been completed in 2 weeks time, I have searched the DirectGov looking for information on matter and have came up short. Can anyone point me in right direction?
Regards
You shouldn't be letting a building site out.
If I was you i'd reduce the rent for a couple of months to keep things sweet with your tenant.Everyone is entitled to my opinion!0 -
To be honest its not a building site, updating house little by little whilst working overseas. Besides the fact that the tenant has been aware of the progress from the beginning (stated in contract) and now has made comment of court.
Any information regarding this matter on a more serious note rather than:You shouldn't be letting a building site out.
If I was you i'd reduce the rent for a couple of months to keep things sweet with your tenant.
would be most appreciated...0 -
To be honest its not a building site, updating house little by little whilst working overseas. Besides the fact that the tenant has been aware of the progress from the beginning (stated in contract) and now has made comment of court.
Any information regarding this matter on a more serious note rather than:
would be most appreciated...
I think evokes comments were serious actually.. How much building work are you actually doing? If its taking more than a month complete, I would be seriously peed off if I were a tenant and would be complaining to the letting agent as well!
I suggest you start your own thread though rather than hijacking someone elses - you are likely to get a lot more replies.0 -
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To be honest its not a building site, updating house little by little whilst working overseas. Besides the fact that the tenant has been aware of the progress from the beginning (stated in contract) and now has made comment of court.
Any information regarding this matter on a more serious note rather than:You shouldn't be letting a building site out.
If I was you i'd reduce the rent for a couple of months to keep things sweet with your tenant.
would be most appreciated...
I almost never agree with Evoke as a matter of principle, but in this instance I think he's spot on.... and being serious.0 -
LOL. Yes, I was being serious!Everyone is entitled to my opinion!0
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