Please help! RENTED FLAT PROBLEM

SUSIEQ

My son who is at uni has just phoned me to say that him and his flat mate had notified the letting agent on their flat that they had never had the electrics checked for 2 years.He has just got the report back from the electrition with loads of things wrong, making the place
sound like a death trap!:eek:

There are no RCD 'S on anything including the shower.The immersion heater wires have got heat damage,the lights in the lounge won't work,the smoke alarm is faulty etc.etc. & I'm terrified.

I've never had any dealings with renting property and haven't a clue how to get this sorted quickly without a wild goose chase !

If anyone can offer some good advice we'd be really grateful
Thanx Sue

BitterAndTwisted

Who paid the electrician? In any case, that report should be sent to the agent and their comments welcomed. Not every, single thing in that report may need urgent attention as the self-employed often see situations like this as the same as signing their own cheques.

ALL communication with the agent/landlord should be in writing and if they don't propose a reasonable time-scale to address the most urgent issues they should speak to someone at their Uni Accomms people or Environmental Health who can enforce the repairs or have them carried out and bill the landlord for them.

SUSIEQ

Thanx for your reply Bitter
To answer your questions the electrician is the one the letting agent employs for all their work and as I understand it by law the landlord has to pay for checks every year?
You are right that every thing in the report is not urgent, but items such as a condemed immersion heater when it is their only source of hot water ,the electric shower that has also been condemed and a faulty smoke alarm surely these are classed as urgent ?
The uni has nothing to do with this matter as it's a private rental.

emfaz

Although the accomodation is not linked to the uni the welfare services should be able to support students with understanding there rights with private landlords.

Dave_the_Ginger_Cat

There is not a current UK requirement to have an electrical safety certificate, see http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/electrical_safety.htm

though there is a requirement to manage safety issues, in particular smoke alarms

http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/fire_safety.htm

I'm a landlord, and I have mains powered smoke detectors as some tenants remove the batteries from the other type. I have a periodic electrical check done, mostly to reassure myself against fire hazard.

In conjunction with pursuing the landlord to address the urgent works as BitterAndTwisted recommends, for your son's safety and his housemate, I'd personally recommend you put in some battery powered smoke detectors. Argos sells them at 2 for £9.99, http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7001569.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=tsid:11527%7Ccc:%7Cprd:7001569%7Ccat:garden+and+diy+%2F+home+security+%2F+home+safety+and+alarms+%2F and it might give you some peace of mind.

His student advice centre may help, or his CAB may offer advice on how to pursue

Good luck

SUSIEQ

Thanx for your replies .My son has just got back from the letting agents & is waiting for a phone call.
I've already told him to get some smoke alarms and a rope . Whats worrying Tom is that the landlord will put his rent up to pay for all the work,what do you think as a landlord Dave?

DannyboyMidlands

How can the LL put the rent up mid tenancy?

SUSIEQ

As I said before I know nothing about renting or tenancy agreements.

DannyboyMidlands

Well they should have signed an agreement for a certain amount of time. Assuming he's just gone to uni that is likely to be for 12 months (maybe 6). The LL cannot increase the rent until a new agreement is signed.

You may not know but didn't your son read what he was signing?

poppysarah

Local fire brigade will almost certainly come and fit smoke alarms for free. (and advise of anything that needs doing - they are pretty good normally at speaking to the right people to ensure legal requirements are met)
Search for their non emergency number near your son's home.

SUSIEQ

Of course he read what he was signing ,we're not stupid but we're not experts when it comes to loop holes available to LL's. I seeked advice not sarcasm Danny !