Landlady not fixing drain problems

AFK_Matrix

You may even want to mention when writing to the LL that if she does not get it sorted by the deadline you give that you will be contacting the Environmental Health or doing the work yourself and deducting it from the rent (as detailed above). A little scare is probably all it will take to get her idiot !!! in gear lol.

lovinituk

theartfullodger wrote: »

Apart from everything else, your problems and neighbours I never understand why Landlords don't want to get this sort of problem sorted V V fast - if only to avoid damage to their "investment".

Probably a financially overstretched landlord! The OP mentions the LL said they couldn't afford it at one point.

People really shouldn't get into letting properties if they don't have contingiency for such issues.

OP - if it is a financial issue for the LL, then you could have similar problems if some other issue occurs - leaky roof, broken windows/doors, broken boiler, etc, etc!! If the LL can't afford to fix this probelm, then they won't be able to afford to fix anything else!

neen80

Well the silly moo had the manholes covered over years ago, when we first told her she said she knew it was gonna come back and bite her in the butt!

When we moved in we redecorated ( with her permission of course) as by her admission 'hadn't been done for years'. She put a brand new carpet in the hall after we decorated, she came to look at it, on our invite and she loved what we had done. We had jet washed all the decking and patio, tidied up the garden and house. Its a massive improvement! Even the neighbours have commented!
Thats when she said we could stay as long as we like because the previous tennants had not looked after it properly.
We done this free of charge as we wanted to stay long term otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. So the house is immaculate, she would be a fool to try to get us out, we don't want to leave as the location and size of the house is amazing! Thats why we pay top whack for it!

Just goes to show what type of person she is I suppose, wanting the best from us but not willing to do the same. I would rather have flushing toilets and a clean garden than a new hall carpet!

neen80

She said she couldn't afford it months ago, so we were fine about that.

But like I said its been months so she's had plenty of time to sort something out. The frustrating thing now is though she isn't communicating at all so I will be writing her a letter.

No doubt she will say xmas is the reason she can't afford it, but she drives a gorgeous Merc and lives out in the sticks in a very expensive area!
But thats nothing to do with me, I havn't breached my contract and she has!

lovinituk

neen80 wrote: »

she drives a gorgeous Merc and lives out in the sticks in a very expensive area!

And I expect its the profit she makes from your rent payments that pay for that!! It makes it all the more disgusting in my opinion - shes living the high life while you are living quite literally in sh*t and paying for her luxuries!!

G_M

neen80 wrote: »

Thanks again both!

My deposit is protected with the DPS, although she has final word on if we get it back! I don't trust her one bit anymore!
She hasn't served me any notice....yet!

No.

The DPS has an independant arbitration process to resolve disputes between you and the LL. So the 'final word' is not hers!

I suspect that if she served you a S21 it would take 3-4 months to evict you if she did it right. She probobly won't, so it will take her 6-8 months!

Plus if she has any sense she won't serve a S21 anyway. What does she gain by evicting you? She still needs to sort the drains (new tenant asks: "what's that smell.....?" and in the meantime loses rent from a regular payer. Next tenant might not even pay the rent!

neen80

Also another issue that might come about, if the situation isn't resolved and the relationship between us is so bad that I feel I have to leave or she wants me to leave, where does that leave me regarding references for another property?

I can get one from my previous landlord no problem, but won't this affect me if she refuses or give me a bad reference?

Sorry about all these questions but this has never happened to me before so it's good to know what my right are

theartfullodger

sadly a landlord does not have to give any reference, nor a good one..

However, if she wants you out she'll probably be very happy to give a good ref simply to see the back of you..

*miaomiao*

theartfullodger wrote: »

I had a similar problem at a house I rented out: Tenant 'phoned me, I thanked him & said I'd ask my builder to have a look, he went round with 24hrs, said he couldn't fix it, I updated tenant, contacted water-board (Scotland, sensible country..) who were round within 24 hours, had a look, said they needed more kit then were back within another 24 hours and sorted it all, no charge to me or tenant (I'd been expecting a bill - bonus!). & I still felt mildly embarrassed & went round to say sorry (and check it was really OK) and bottle of wine as very small gesture. The last thing I'd want as a Landlord would be damp, worse, and a reputation for not looking after property and/or tenants: It's simply bad for business...

Artful, I do love reading your posts. Where can I rent a property of yours?!:A

neen80

*miaomiao* wrote: »

Artful, I do love reading your posts. Where can I rent a property of yours?!:A

I was thinking the same!