Problem with New Landlord help please

lloydyd

Hi all,

I am about to move into a new property (This Friday). I was allowed access to the house to put up a shed (as agreed by myself and the LL). The managing agent let us in and on checking some of the items in the house, I noticed that the bottom drawer in the fridge is broken and doesnt work.

I told the agent who said she will email the LL (lives in India) and they came back today and said, just pull the draw out and use it like that....

I said, No, this house is being rented with white goods and one of the items is broken and needs fixing, they said they agree and will email him back.

Am i wrong to expect the LL to fix this problem? In the past when renting, the LL has sorted these issues. I would assume that (according to the information i have received from the agent) they are very hot with inventory etc ,and if the previous tenants broke this, it would have been taken out of there security deposit, so why should i have to put up with it not being fixed....

Advice please.....thanks folks.

Werdnal

You are correct that if the previous tenant caused this damage, then LL has a right to make deduction to cover the damage. However, whether they use this amount to effect the repair is not so clear. If the fridge is in working order, other than this drawer, the LL does not have an obligation to repair it.

What does the inventory say for your check-in? If it records "Fridge, working order but one drawer damaged" then that is all that is required. If the inventory does not note this, make sure you amend it, so LL cannot charge you for the damage when you leave.

This is why it is so important when you take on a property that you go through every item in the inventory and ensure that it all works - even down to plugging something into each socket to make sure there is power.

You can ask for a replacement fridge/drawer, but LL does not have to supply it so long as fridge is functional. Is the fridge a current model - if so, you could get a price for a replacement drawer and submit that to the LA to see if the LL will accept it.

pmlindyloo

As trivial as it sounds I totally agree with you about the inventory and the previous tenant probably being charged for replacement of the drawer.

If you took it to the extreme the LL could be on a nice little earner.

Stick to your guns and make them replace it. If you want to be kind you could offer to replace it (with their agreement in writing), present them with the invoice to be reinbursed or get it billed to the EA/LL directly.

ognum

I would ask a few questions about this

Is the fridge a current model, can the draw be replaced. In my own home I would not get a new fridge if a draw broke.

What would you have said it the draw was missing and you had never seen it?

Honestly my thoughts are that if this is the biggest issue you have with your landlord then you have a pretty good property.

Landlord has cut you some slack, allowed early access for the erection of your shed, maybe you should cut him some slack now.

I am aware some people will not agree but the relationship I believe is about give and take!

lloydyd

Ok People, lets be fair here. Im a bloody good tenenant. Ive paid £2100 towards the deposit when only £100 was required. This is not the only issue.

The prop comes as partly furnished. The bed in the master has a dirty stained and damp mattress. The LL said, WE should dump the mattress at our own cost and store the bed in his property until he can collect it in JUNE!!. We agreed to this as we really love the house. There are also 3 rooms in the property which are locked out (due to him storing his stuff in them), this is reflected inthe price of the rent.

There is a plasma fire which wont work as the remote for it has been lost which he WONT replace.

There is a wall which sperates the conservatory and the lounge which is peeling and has the plaster coming off of it which HE WONT fix.

All of these things we have said we will deal with in order to secure this house (had to vacate the old house due to LL coming back from Abroad).

Still think im being unreasonable?? This drawer thing is just the last in a long line of the LL being un cooperative and not very helpful when i feel we have done everything to accomodate him....

There is a limit to how much we are willing to accept. The drawer is no big deal, but i feel the need to put my foot down before he thinks its all his way or no way

rentergirl

Check the inventory, but if the fridge is working, it does not need to be replaced. However...an absentee landlord who lives a long way distant with a slow acting letting agent, seems like it will get worse the longer you stay.

lloydyd

The fridge does seem a current (Zannusi) model. Im not sure how it makes any diff if the drawer wasnt there...it was! i cant now imagine or pretend i havent seen the defect.

Im not asking for a new fridge, just a new drawer. Its the bottom drawer which is the coldest part of the fridge. If the drawer is missing, wont it cause temp issues in the rest of the fridge?

Also i agree about give and take, but it seems this LL is all take and no give (for the reasons above)...

bebewoo

Don't move in, you will never be happy there...........

lloydyd

bebewoo wrote: »

Don't move in, you will never be happy there...........

Too late. We move in 2 days. I am also worried. But once the "power" is in my hands (as in, im the one paying the rent) Or wont.... things will settle down.

There are always issues when a new tenent moves into a new property, and then once the "issues" have been resolved we generally dont bother the LL with small problems which we usually just fix ourselves. I hope this will be the case and we can be happy in this house. The house itself is something of a dream house, so i guess we have to like it or lump it.

sooz

lloydyd wrote: »

The house itself is something of a dream house...

Sounds it,

Non working fire
Damp living room wall
3 locked bedrooms filled with god knows what
Manky mattress
Broken fridge drawer
And landlord in India who doesn't want to fix things

Good luck

ognum

Not sure what type of dream home this is for you, I guess it could be about the location.

Not sure why anyone would agree to pay more deposit than is needed for a house that is already below par.

I would advise you not to move in but it seems it's too late! I am really confused why the fridge draw is the issue you decided to bring here first and not the other issues.

Absentee landlords are sometimes not the greatest. You should make sure how the tax is being paid on his rental income as you may find you are responsible for paying it!!