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My Rights as a Tenant
kier333
Posts: 318 Forumite
Hi,
I rented a studio flat in Novemeber 2011, I paid a six week deposit and a months rent in advance with a six month tenancy. The deposit was correctly put into a deposit fund by the LL, however, I have had a number of problems since moving in. First the studio is part of a 4 bed house, which is split into 4 studios, all have there own kitchen and shower room but the problem is the electricity and heating are all of one system, Included in my £1000pcm rent is council tax, gas, electricity and water rates. I have no way of controlling the temparture in my flat and at night it is very cold. I have turned up the heating and ran the program so as the room is warm at night, however, LL has been around complaining that although everything is all inclusive he does not feel its acceptable to have running so much, I explained I have one radiator in the studio and it is cold, he came back with well my gas/elec bill was 8k for a year. Also I wanted to register on the electrol role as if I want to obtain credit it will never show I lived here, or anywhere for that matter. I called the local council and they inform me that the on there system it shows as only a house, I did suspect he was up to no good. So now I am very concerned. I am paying for heating that he will not let me have on when I require it (if it was not inclusive I would still need it on and I would pay) second he has not declared it to the local council as 4 studios in a house and as such only pays ct for the whole house as one, and thirdly he holds six weeks deposit and i am worried I will not get all this back.
I am also concerned about fire regs as I have no fire door on the studio and I am in a loft converstion.
Please advise what I can should be doing?
Many Thanks
I rented a studio flat in Novemeber 2011, I paid a six week deposit and a months rent in advance with a six month tenancy. The deposit was correctly put into a deposit fund by the LL, however, I have had a number of problems since moving in. First the studio is part of a 4 bed house, which is split into 4 studios, all have there own kitchen and shower room but the problem is the electricity and heating are all of one system, Included in my £1000pcm rent is council tax, gas, electricity and water rates. I have no way of controlling the temparture in my flat and at night it is very cold. I have turned up the heating and ran the program so as the room is warm at night, however, LL has been around complaining that although everything is all inclusive he does not feel its acceptable to have running so much, I explained I have one radiator in the studio and it is cold, he came back with well my gas/elec bill was 8k for a year. Also I wanted to register on the electrol role as if I want to obtain credit it will never show I lived here, or anywhere for that matter. I called the local council and they inform me that the on there system it shows as only a house, I did suspect he was up to no good. So now I am very concerned. I am paying for heating that he will not let me have on when I require it (if it was not inclusive I would still need it on and I would pay) second he has not declared it to the local council as 4 studios in a house and as such only pays ct for the whole house as one, and thirdly he holds six weeks deposit and i am worried I will not get all this back.
I am also concerned about fire regs as I have no fire door on the studio and I am in a loft converstion.
Please advise what I can should be doing?
Many Thanks
0
Comments
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I don't much about planning but if the council thinks its one dwelling then sounds like it has been converted without permission. Have you spoken to the Local Authority planning dept?
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/flats/#Iwanttoconvertahouseorsingleflattoanumberofflatsbed-sitsorotherformofsubdivision.0 -
A grand a month for a Bedsit?!?!?? (sorry "studio") :eek:0
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19lottie82 wrote: »A grand a month for a Bedsit?!?!?? (sorry "studio") :eek:
London prices are steep, however, you are right its basically a big room with a small shower room and a a kitchen0 -
£40 per week for each flat for gas and electric, doesn't sound excessive to me, what is more concerning is the lack of fire escape and the cold.... I am not very genned up on HMO properties, maybe Shelter could advise....Blackpool_Saver is female, and does not live in Blackpool0
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Does the documentation you have from the LL
1. confirm that he is paying CT?
2. Confirm thart he is paying utilities?
3. Water rates?
How much longer is the contract?If you've have not made a mistake, you've made nothing0 -
If the property is too cold and your heating/electricity is included in the rent I would consider buying a couple of cheap fan-heaters (a tenner each or so in @sda or @rgos) with a timer each and heat my studio that way.
The landlord appears to have done an unnregistered conversion. You could have more potential problems than not registering on the electoral role. Pay your rent and leave this place at the earliest possible opportunity.0 -
glitter123 wrote: »I don't much about planning but if the council thinks its one dwelling then sounds like it has been converted without permission. Have you spoken to the Local Authority planning dept?
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/flats/#Iwanttoconvertahouseorsingleflattoanumberofflatsbed-sitsorotherformofsubdivision.
spoke with council and its turn out they have no planning... what should I do, stop paying rent.0 -
Blackpool_Saver is female, and does not live in Blackpool0
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Blackpool_Saver wrote: ȣ40 per week for each flat for gas and electric, doesn't sound excessive to me, what is more concerning is the lack of fire escape and the cold.... I am not very genned up on HMO properties, maybe Shelter could advise....
Not that I'm excusing the landlords greed and failure to comply with planning regulations but I pay under £20 a week in energy bills for a 2 bed property with 6 radiators.
So double that for a studio sounds atrocious.0 -
Does the documentation you have from the LL
1. confirm that he is paying CT?
2. Confirm thart he is paying utilities?
3. Water rates?
How much longer is the contract?
Yes its states clearly that the rent is 1000 pcm plus he charges 200pcm for gas, electricity, and gas and water rates, all inclusive we pay £1200 total as per the tenancy agreement. tenancy ends april0
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