Getting things fixed in a rented flat

BitterAndTwisted

They have said that there are six of them in this property.

lynzpower

How many of the six are couples? ( ie a couple sharing a bedroom is classed as one household)

G_M

So. The 'landlord' does not repair/maintain the property and the 'middleman' is not exactly helpful/sympathetic.

If your contract is with the middleman, then yes, you are a lodger with few rights. But it sounds to me more like an HMO with the middleman acting as agent for the LL (who hides behind him) , collecting and passing on rent.

Approach the council. Ask for it to be evaluated as HMO. And for repairing enforcement.

Check here (£4) to find out who owns the property, and their address.

lynzpower

krycek985 wrote: »

Why not just give your notice and move? Sounds a right dump anyway.

Why put up with a leaking roof for two years and now just add it to the list of problems ? Not accusing you of anything but If I was the landlord and you told me its been leaking two years and Im just hearing about it I wouldnt belive the time that it had been leaking at all.

Surely if the tenant reports a leaking roof the LLs best plan is to go and take a look and see if its geneuine, if so call a roofer to repair it?

Annisele

lynzpower wrote: »

Dont pay for the gas safety yourself, get the HSE or environmental health to force the landlord to do it!

This is the only part of Lynzpower's post I disagree with. I absolutely agree that gas safety is the landlord's responsibility - but as a T I've paid for it myself in the past, and then argued about getting my money back later. If I drop dead of CO poisoning I won't be one bit comforted by the fact that my LL is in prison for my manslaughter.

lynzpower

G_M wrote: »

So. The 'landlord' does not repair/maintain the property and the 'middleman' is not exactly helpful/sympathetic.

If your contract is with the middleman, then yes, you are a lodger with few rights. But it sounds to me more like an HMO with the middleman acting as agent for the LL (who hides behind him) , collecting and passing on rent.

Approach the council. Ask for it to be evaluated as HMO. And for repairing enforcement.

A private home with 3 or more lodgers is classed as a HMO ( as per training I recieved last week) I will try and find where it says in the regulations later this evening.

I expect "lodgers" could be couples and form one household as elsewhere in the regulations.

krycek985

lynzpower wrote: »

Surely if the tenant reports a leaking roof the LLs best plan is to go and take a look and see if its geneuine, if so call a roofer to repair it?

Im not disputing the course of action or excusing the landlord at all. I think its shocking the sound of the place. All I was getting at was why wait two year or put up with it for two years ?

lynzpower

Annisele wrote: »

This is the only part of Lynzpower's post I disagree with. I absolutely agree that gas safety is the landlord's responsibility - but as a T I've paid for it myself in the past, and then argued about getting my money back later. If I drop dead of CO poisoning I won't be one bit comforted by the fact that my LL is in prison for my manslaughter.

it is not just the gas safety testing , it is the potential repair works. Given the OP says that the cooker and boiler are both faulty and other installs are aged, it makes sense to me to ask EH to come and take a look at the property as a matter of urgency.

If the OP can afford this, and wish to spend this money to protect thier health then of course it makes sense to do so. However if the Gas safe engeer disconnects appliances then the OP is in a position with potentially no heat/ hot water until the LL decides to see fit to spend the money.

Given the history of disrepair it sounds like a better idea to me to call environmental health and get them to undertake a full assessment of the premises. they have the access to systems to try and find the landlordand to enforce any repair that are required.

If you are suffering with poor health due to your dwelling this is exactly what EHP have the power to help with.

I suggest you call them in the morning and ask them to take a look. Also in some authorities the EHO will not take steps if the tenant expressly does not want them to. You may want to clarify this with your own local council.

mad_madam_mimm

Just to clear up with the leaking ceiling thing...I notified the middle-man/leaseholder guy who lives in the house with us the very second it happened - water was pouring in, it would have been impossible to ignore! He was very good and organised for a "builder" friend of the LL's to come and fix it the next day, who came and did such a shoddy job that the leak continued. He came back to attempt to fix it again which has significantly improved the problem, but even now in heavy rain it still drips through and I have been left with an ugly ceiling which is about as well insulated as if I didn't have a ceiling at all. Anyone who needs to know about it, knows about it, I haven't kept quiet about it as thats no way to get anything fixed!

For further clarification, in our house is us as a couple in one room and 4 singles each with their own rooms. We each have separate contracts. And as for just moving out, its not that simple - I am a full time student and have not had the time, means or finances to improve my situation. This is the first time I have lived away from home and so I am learning all the time, and ok it looks like I've made some mistakes but to be quiet and put up with the rubbish was infinitely preferable to being kicked out or having so much trouble with the LL that my studies suffered.

Thanks for all your help and advice so far folks - phone calls will be made!

lynzpower

I think phone calls should be made, good luck and let us know how you go on, sounds very much like a HMO.

Incidentally you may want to google rent repayment orders. If your EH department identifies this as a HMO that should be licensed, steps can be taken for your rent to be repaid to you, not always but sometimes.

For cases where this has happened go to : rpts.gov.uk and choose decisions - then Rent repayment.