Landlord not up to standard

chemer2011

Hi there,

I am a single mum with 5 children who rented a flat 8 weeks ago.

The Flat came with a Washing Machine and Cooker.

The Washing Machine is pretty old and has now broken down. After getting in touch with the Landlord I was told that it was my responsibility and that I would have to pay for someone to come out and fix it as well as call out charge and maintenance fees.

I found a Washing Machine for 180 in Argos and ordered it. But when I told the Landlord he told me I would have keep his machine to one side and never told me how long for.

The place is not a palace and I do not have loads of space to put things. It is simply a flat about a shop.

Argos would have taken the old washing machine under their recycling scheme. Now I have to keep it because the Landlords says.

What rights do I have. As the Washing Machine was the Landlords and I moved in as a Tenant I am sure he should cover the repair costs. But I do not know the law and therefore need your help. If I can tell him what the law states then he may have to back down.

This is what my girlfriend has asked me to put. Her name is Annette and as she has two Autistic Children she is very vulnerable and easy put upon.

Please help,

Steve

Mind_the_Gap

What does her tenancy agrement have to say about who is responsible for the repair and replacement of white goods? Difficult to advise you accurately unless we know this, I'm afraid. The law says the Ll is repsonsible for some repairs (e.g. to boiler, toilets, gas installations), but not to w/ms or cookers. It will depend on what the contract stipulates.

As for the removal of the old one, it seems utterly unreasonable of the LL to require her to store it on the premises when there is no space to do so. Can she find out what he imagines he is eventually going to do with it? Then go from there.

BitterAndTwisted

Not all tenancy agreements include that the landlord is responsible for the repair of appliances supplied. The landlord can opt out of this responsibility if they want to.

In your friend's position I would WRITE to the landlord, explaining that the machine is beyond repair, that it has been replaced at the tenant's expense and that the old machine needs to be removed as there is no room to store it. Give the landlord a 2-week deadline to arrange collection and if it is not collected arrangements will be made to dispose of it.

hmd1987

how can she be a single mum if you are her boyfriend??

joerugby

hmd1987 wrote: »

how can she be a single mum if you are her boyfriend??

What has that got to do with the question?

Mind_the_Gap

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

Give the landlord a 2-week deadline to arrange collection and if it is not collected arrangements will be made to dispose of it.

Be careful, though. You need proof that the LL has been given this notice and this deadline. Get it in writing that he ahs received your notice - either by requesting a reply to an email/text, or by recordng his phone conversation, or by getting a free certificate of posting for a letter.

tbs624

Chemer - you may want to remove your GF's name and info about her kids - they are not relevant to your post.:)

.

Mind_the_Gap

hmd1987 wrote: »

how can she be a single mum if you are her boyfriend??

I am struggling to see how this is anyone's business but OP's and the tenant's.

Perhaps we could just stick to trying to help.

BitterAndTwisted

I would have thought that any single mother of five children, two of whom are autistic, deserves all the emotional support she can get.

Still, this has nothing to do with the subject at hand, does it?

chemer2011

hmd1987 wrote: »

how can she be a single mum if you are her boyfriend??

She was at the time when she moved and still lives there and I live elsewhere.

Darlyd

She or you need to read her tenancy agreement. Perhaps tell her to tell her LL that if he requires to keep the washing machine then he will need to store it. She could always seek legal advice, they may be able to help her with her tenancy agreement?