Problem with rented house.

quilty

Hi everyone, I hope someone can give me some advice.

We signed for and started paying rent on a house last Tuesday, it was through an estate agent but a non-managed property. We was assurred all work to be carried out would be done immediately when we first viewed, we was first advised that 3 week prior (so four weeks ago in total).

So now we are moving in tomorrow, I have had constant contact with the landlady trying to get her to do the work as we orignally gave today as the date to sign or next tuesday the 25th but she insisted we did it last week and started paying rent.

I have spent all week cleaning and painting to get rid of the mess from the last tennants after 3 attempts at cleaning the oven grill tray with numerous industrial cleaner I have resigned myself to the fact I'm just going to throw it away and try to buy a new one (although I cant find the right size at the moment.)

My main issuses are:
1) We have no porch door, so the house isn't secure.
2) Workmen still have a key to gain entry and we can only use one lock on the front door, again isn't secure and from tommorrow all our belongings are going to be in there.
3) Our cooker hob isn't connected because it needs a different cable, that with the grill unusable I'm not able to cook much!
4) The back door lock is on back to front and doesnt lock anyway (door to utility room)
5) Boiler house door is hanging off the hinges.
6) No instructions for the boiler so I have no idea how to turn the heating/water on and off and can't change the timings on it.
7) Utility room tap is turning itself on and the pipe is leaking.

There are many more but I started by wanting to write a short and to the point post and it ending up a rant, sorry!!

I have asked the estate agent for help and she has called the landlady but said as it isnt a managed property it isn't her problem. Landlady called me tonight and said somethings would be done tomorrow (hubby is going to love that while trying to move, but at least it's being done) And the porch will be a week and the cooker she doesnt know when it will be done, I got a bit narky and told her if things wasn't sorted tomorrow then we will have to discuss the rent as I've already paid a week for a property we can't live in, I'm worried what I'm going to do next week with 3 kids on school holiday and an unlivable and unsecure home!!

Who can I complain to if the landlady doesnt do the jobs? I havent a clue! If anyone has read this far then thank you very much and any help/suggestions/comments would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Darlyd

ME personally would walk away..

quilty

darlyd wrote: »

ME personally would walk away..

It is a lovely house though, filthy but lovely, great property and perfect location, I think thats why she's dragging her feet she knows would get a tennant regardless.

And I've spent so much on it now I wont walk away lol just bought and had fit 2 new carpets for it!

Turnbull2000

Silly, silly. Making improvements to a landlords property is generally a big no no. You've already been had once in taking her word on repairs. She must be rubbing her hands at this.

(edit: no, you've been had in twice. Putting in new carpets was a daft move)

evoke

What if the landlady doesn't fix all the issues? You're going to end up stressed and out of pocket. It's clear that you like the property overall but you actually have to live in it with all its faults and the landlady doesn't seem like someone who cares about the issues.

I would start talking about reasonable deadlines to resolve all the issues in writing if you are determined to stay in the property.

athina_2

Write a letter and send by recorded delivery asking for x, y and z to be fixed by a certain date and if it's not done then you will fix yourself and deduct from rent. Check the legalities of that first though.