Windows in rented house will not open

theartfullodger

Road_Hog wrote: »

My advice (as a landlord) is do not threaten your landlord with the council. The local council got involved with me and my tenants, I'm not sure whether the tenants contacted them or some how the council got involved because they're claiming child benefit.

This snotty git from the council (and his sidekick) started telling what I was going to do, I hauled him outside (didn't want to mention it in front of the tenants) and told him that he best get inside and tell the tenants why they were going to be living in a bedsit in two month's time unless he had somewhere to put them (they'd ((my tenants)) already turned down two council properties because they didn't like them).

.........

Gosh, wish I was such a perfect landlord complying with all regulations & with such caring an attitude.. So big and b**tch also "I hauled him outside".. just the way to ensure as and when you do have to deal with the Council they handle you with consideration & respect..

These are students: Chances are their tenancy runs for the whole year (or covers all 3 terms) [my student lets go mid-August to mid-August]. If so LL won't be able to demonstrate the best qualities of caring Landlorddom by booting them out with 2-months S21..

You ain't having a bad day or got a terrible hangover have you dear Sir?? Your name (Road Hog..) indicates the sort of attitude not all would admire..

As johnbusby points out, what's to fear??

I've found council staff can be really useful & helpful: Maybe that's down to how I approach them - nah, too simple, too obvious...

Cheers!

Artful

ruggedtoast

Road_Hog wrote: »

My advice (as a landlord) is do not threaten your landlord with the council. The local council got involved with me and my tenants, I'm not sure whether the tenants contacted them or some how the council got involved because they're claiming child benefit.

This snotty git from the council (and his sidekick) started telling what I was going to do, I hauled him outside (didn't want to mention it in front of the tenants) and told him that he best get inside and tell the tenants why they were going to be living in a bedsit in two month's time unless he had somewhere to put them (they'd ((my tenants)) already turned down two council properties because they didn't like them).

That said, I'd make bloody sure that there were adequate fire exits on any property I owned. Doubled glazed units with decent sized openers upstairs and downstairs, plus hopefully a flat roof (garage or kitchen) to be able to step out on to and then jump down to the ground.

I'm sure if someone died in a fire, you could be held for manslaughter, not that that should be the overriding concern, mainly I wouldn't want it on my conscience..

Lets put all that together shall we.

Tenants. Child benefit. Council enforcement involved. Muppet private landlord bully threatening imminent homelessness.

The more landlords like you are threatened by the authorities the better. Hopefully soon legislation will be passed that will stop you and your ilk from operating altogether.

Road_Hog

johnbusby wrote: »

Presemably if you were a decent LL and followed the legislation you would have nothing to fear from a council inspection?

Perhaps my tenants have managed to cause damp several times in a property that I lived in for, for over 6 years and never had a damp problem once. Perhaps they've managed to have several other problems regularly, but obviously I'm such a terrible landlord that I've not put the rent up in 10 years, and stopped the rolling 6 months tenancy agreement (at their request), because they were about to be offered a council property. Which they turned down both properties offered, were terrible, and my house is in a nice area, in a good school catchment area with a nice local park, plus I'll remind you again, that in over 10 years I haven't put the rent up, not one penny.

I kind of get annoyed when I've lived in a property (my own home) that I know doesn't have a damp problem, suddenly gets one, and the builder who sorts it out tells me it isn't a problem with the house, but must be something that the tenants are doing.

I also get annoyed at a myriad of other things, like seeing my front garden (very small paved area) dividing wall knocked down when I deliver a new washing machine, but not having been notified of this, or the tenants notifying the letting agents and getting the neighbours (who knocked it down) to repair it.

I don't visit my tenants and check up on them, it's their house (they're paying for it), the only person that calls, is the gas man for the yearly gas check. I'm an easy going LL, that doesn't put the rent up, leaves the tenants alone, puts up with their lazy ways of looking after the property (there's many more things that I haven't listed).

So yes, I can snap when Mr.Housing officer from the council starts giving it the large-un, he doesn't own my house and if his alternative was so great, why did my tenants turn down both houses offered by the council?

I wish when I was younger and renting, that I had a LL that left me alone and didn't put the rent up every year. Personally I'd have kept the place in tip top condition just to keep it that way.

clutton_2

as a LL i would most sincerely hope that my tenants would draw to MY attention first of all any problems with the property to give ME an opportunitiy to put it right .... i have known windows stick shut after decorating, and all it takes is a stanley knife, soem sandpaper and a bit of elbow grease to sort it out.....

hell no....

the usual anti-landlord posters on here would have the LL hung drawn and quartered rather than offer some calm, sensible advice like

TALK to your landlord then follow it up in writing.....

Everyone, (apparently except landlords) gets the chance to put things right, but, not landlords on MSE

I would really love to know how many tenants are evicted as a result of taking the extreme advice which is given on here day in day out.... ie - tell EVERY possible authority we can think of to report the landlord to, because a window wont open... lets get this into perspective...

ok ok - its wrong.. windows should open, but, as someone sensible above has said - in the case of a fire - throw a chair through the window and get the hell out.....

negotiation and discussion should ALWAYS be the first port of call.... so - talk to your landlord and tell us what s/he said...



With regards to HHSRS regs... have you guys actually read them ? some of the interpretations of them are so nastily nitpickily interpreted by some of the little hitlers who work for the council, that it is insane... i have had several run ins with these people... and have refused to have any more of my properties considered for Accreditation.. Councils seem to want to impose standards and criteria onto the private rental sector that dont apply to many many private properties.

I have no issue with providing safe environments for my tenants, and i do, but when a civil servant who has done a 3 day course tries to tell me that my NICCIE registered 40 years experienced electrician is wrong... i wonder what sort of non-jobs the council are creating ......

Road_Hog

clutton wrote: »

I would really love to know how many tenants are evicted as a result of taking the extreme advice which is given on here day in day out....

That was my first point, why try to antagonise your landlord, I can't see the point of it. And yes readers, I did rent for many years before I could buy my own property.

clutton wrote: »

With regards to HHSRS regs... have you guys actually read them ? some of the interpretations of them are so nastily nitpickily interpreted by some of the little hitlers who work for the council,

That's what got my back up. This council guy was a little Hitler who seemed to be revelling in what he considered was his power. Which is why I took him outside to knock him down a peg or two and let him realise that it wasn't his council house and if he was that bothered, then he could house them.

As for a bad landlord,

I don't put the rent up during a tenancy (even if it is over 10 years)

I allow pets (cats and dogs)

I allow smokers

I don't start issuing notices when the rent is two weeks overdue

mchale

clutton wrote: »

as a LL i would most sincerely hope that my tenants would draw to MY attention first of all any problems with the property to give ME an opportunitiy to put it right .... i have known windows stick shut after decorating, and all it takes is a stanley knife, soem sandpaper and a bit of elbow grease to sort it out.....

hell no....

the usual anti-landlord posters on here would have the LL hung drawn and quartered rather than offer some calm, sensible advice like

TALK to your landlord then follow it up in writing.....

Everyone, (apparently except landlords) gets the chance to put things right, but, not landlords on MSE

I would really love to know how many tenants are evicted as a result of taking the extreme advice which is given on here day in day out.... ie - tell EVERY possible authority we can think of to report the landlord to, because a window wont open... lets get this into perspective...

ok ok - its wrong.. windows should open, but, as someone sensible above has said - in the case of a fire - throw a chair through the window and get the hell out.....

negotiation and discussion should ALWAYS be the first port of call.... so - talk to your landlord and tell us what s/he said...



With regards to HHSRS regs... have you guys actually read them ? some of the interpretations of them are so nastily nitpickily interpreted by some of the little hitlers who work for the council, that it is insane... i have had several run ins with these people... and have refused to have any more of my properties considered for Accreditation.. Councils seem to want to impose standards and criteria onto the private rental sector that dont apply to many many private properties.

I have no issue with providing safe environments for my tenants, and i do, but when a civil servant who has done a 3 day course tries to tell me that my NICCIE registered 40 years experienced electrician is wrong... i wonder what sort of non-jobs the council are creating ......

As usual, the most sensible and factual advice given on this thread