Rented Property Attempted Break In

Scho

Hi,

As some helpful members of this forum already know, I moved out of a rented property a short while ago into a new one and about 2 weeks ago I had an attempted break in.
The long and short of it is that I was away for a long weekend and came back to find the lower panel in the uPVC backdoor had been kicked through, though luckily the alarm went off and scared the attempted robber off.

I haven't lived there since (a week ago Monday - so 10 or 11 days now) because the door hasn't been repaired and the guy that secured it says it wasn't a reinforced panel so could be kicked through quite easily again and told the landlord as such - cheapo double glazing job I'm guessing. Now although he arranged an engineer visit to survey the damage on Monday, theres been nothing else physically done. I've had to fit a padlock to the backgate and alter security light sensors but thats it. He said he's got an extra lock for the gate from B&Q but no sign of it yet.

Am I allowed to pay him less for the fact I haven't been able to live there for a week or so now? What is the best way to approach him about this? The landlord is a good guy (especially compared to my last agency!) but I'm paying for something I can't use right now, and instead of being a nasty tenant as I won't be there for a while I want to do this in the best and most civil way I can?
Does me not being able to live there constitute a breach of the letting agreement?

I'm moving in with my girlfriend in July anyway, so we may be able to speed this up (all my expensive stuff is at hers anyway!) but simply I have too much crap and planned to get rid/move this gradually not all at once.
Thanks for the help!
Scho

BitterAndTwisted

It sounds like your landlord is taking steps to arrange for the door to be repaired as best they can and as long as they are doing this you are not entitled to either cease paying rent or demand a reduction. The door may not have been repaired yet (give the landlord a chance! Someone only came out on Monday !!!!!!) but you have said that it's been secured so why can't you live there? As far as I can see this does not render the property uninhabitable.

RAS

You cannot off-set your duty to pay rent against your LL's duty to repair.

And how and why neither of you seem to be capable of getting a quick temporary boarding up job down, escapes me. When the back door on my rented property was kicked in, literally shifting the frame in the wall, we nailed it back together and went to bed.

Scho

The panel has been put back yes, but secure isn't exactly there yet. The PVC panel is held on by the plastic mouldings that clip into the frame. A firm kick at each corner would grant easy access to the place. If they'd have put a board or something up to stop that then I'd be happy, but as it's not in the best of areas I'm not too happy staying there just yet. Maybe I'm a snob!

Sounds fair enough though B&T - more my ignorance and friends/family etc throwing in their own opinion to the mix that makes me want to double check on here what I can do. The landlord seems really good to be fair, but I'd rather ask here and find out that twiddle my thumbs.

Thanks for the advice.

silvercar

The panel has been put back yes, but secure isn't exactly there yet. The PVC panel is held on by the plastic mouldings that clip into the frame. A firm kick at each corner would grant easy access to the place. If they'd have put a board or something up to stop that then I'd be happy, but as it's not in the best of areas I'm not too happy staying there just yet.

If the repair has been done to the standard the door was in when you signed up to the rental then you have no claim. There is no obligation on the landlord for betterment. Just as you agreed to take the property knowing the area it was in.

G_M

I echo the gist of the comments above. Plus of course the property will be a d*mn sight more secure with someone living there than being empty.

Bottom line is almost any property can be broken into by determined theives (see how easily the police break in on those cop shows?). An alarm and someone in the premises are the best deterants!

angrypirate

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

It sounds like your landlord is taking steps to arrange for the door to be repaired as best they can and as long as they are doing this you are not entitled to either cease paying rent or demand a reduction. The door may not have been repaired yet (give the landlord a chance! Someone only came out on Monday !!!!!!) but you have said that it's been secured so why can't you live there? As far as I can see this does not render the property uninhabitable.

2 weeks to repair a door? Yeah right. Im sure if the OP's landlord's house was broken into, then it would be repaired in no time at all. Unfortunately due to the crap renting laws this country has and the number of amateur landlord who dont understand the meaning of responsibility, there isnt an aweful lot you can do