Landlord ignoring me/my questions....

GotToChange

(This is part of a longer saga [previously posted]....have lived here 12 years fwiw.)

I asked my LL (in writing together with rent and rent book) a couple of questions last week and have received no acknowledgement or response.
The main reason (apart from the questions* - which I thought were fairly reasonable...) that this is so weird/rude/worrying/annoying is that he lives right next door.

He has not spoken to me since November - when he had a BIG issue with the fact that I didn't tell him (speedily enough - despite him being away for four days immediately after the Gas visit) that the Gas Engineer (for the Cert) would not go in the loft (where apparently screws were needed [new policy]) as there were no floorboards. He (LL) left a very hostile message on my voicemail and refused to speak to me when I returned his call. Since then - ugh, I don't know; it is a terrible situation to be in.
Any thoughts?
(I guess that the LLs on here will come down on me like a ton of bricks, but I may be presuming...)

*The questions were -
Re. the carpet on the stairs, which has lifted from the risers and now is "hollow" at the edge of the tread, I have slipped numerous times, so it is quite a worry. I mentioned is in passing last summer and was told "We don't have the money to help you...." (huh?) **
(This carpet predates me and is v old-fashioned so I suspect had been down for some time for it's previous owner - who died here....)
In the bathroom, the handle for the loo is very loose - which is probably due to the poor substance used to fix it (concealed cistern), together with the coving and the window (not to mention - which I didn't - the actual grouting which looks like denture powder or some such to me. Refreshing the latter is a major task (for me, I accept and am doing) due to the amount of tiled areas in the b'room, which he insited upon, and then did the "work" himself. The stuff around the windows etc, I have asked him about.... - I wouldn't even know where to begin.
I also just asked him about actual servicing of the boiler - as opposed to the Safety Check (which, apart from the loft issue, seemed quite cursory); wondering if there was something else that may be required.




** Not that it is the point (or any of my business) but this house is owned free and clear, they have just returned from a month (2 x retired "teachers") in Canada and drive three cars (btwn two people) which include a vintage Rolls Royce and a 2012 delivered the day of return from overseas. That aside though, I do actually pay rent and I thought that LLs would have some kind of contingency for this kind of thing. It is a pretty poor show in my opinion.

rentergirl

Oh dear. How childish of your landlord. Can you knock on the door again, explain that you don't wnat to fight, but that these questions need answering. Write a very, very polite letter explaining the situation. He will have to face up the sutuation, especially about access got a gas safety cert.

Beckyy

I've just read your previous thread, and your LL sounds like an absolutely nightmare. He basically just wants to sit back and have the money roll in, whilst expecting you to do everything?

Unless you're getting a particularly good deal on the rent I would be threatening to leave!

This may be helpful (if you're in England. Scotland may be different) http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/disrepair_in_rented_accommodation

Yorkie1

Put all of your points in writing. Mention the tripping hazard caused by the carpet. It isn't your responsibility to sort out the grouting and you may find he blames you if you don't do in the way / to the standard he might wish.

Ask for a timescale for them to be resolved.

Is your gas safety certificate still valid or has it now expired?

G_M

[QUOTE=GotToChange;52137671...
I asked my LL (in writing together with rent and rent book) a couple of questions last week and have received no acknowledgement or response.
The main reason ..that this is so weird/rude/worrying/annoying is that he lives right next door. irrelevant

He has not spoken to me since November - when he had a BIG issue with the fact that I didn't tell him (speedily enough - despite him being away for four days immediately after the Gas visit) that the Gas Engineer (for the Cert) would not go in the loft (where apparently screws were needed [new policy]) as there were no floorboards. LLs do not have to be friends. Whether he speaks to you or not is irrelevantHe (LL) left a very hostile message on my voicemail and refused to speak to me when I returned his call. Since then - ugh, I don't know; it is a terrible situation to be in. Do everything in writing
...
*The questions were -
Re. the carpet on the stairs, which has lifted from the risers and now is "hollow" at the edge of the tread, I have slipped numerous times, so it is quite a worry. I mentioned is in passing last summer and was told "We don't have the money to help you...." (huh?) **Put this in writing. If you 'mention things in passing' you should not be surprised if they are only casually considered.
....
In the bathroom, the handle for the loo is very loose - which is probably due to the poor substance used to fix it Either report in writing, or fix yourself (open cistern, tighten nut holding handle, close cistern)(concealed cistern), together with the coving and the windownot clear what the problem is, but have you reported in writing?? (not to mention - which I didn't - the actual grouting which looks like denture powder or some such to me.No obligation on LL to renew, but report in writing and see what response you get Refreshing the latter is a major task (for me, I accept and am doing) due to the amount of tiled areas in the b'room, which he insited upon, and then did the "work" himself. The stuff around the windows etc, I have asked him about.... - I wouldn't even know where to begin.
I also just asked him about actual servicing of the boiler - as opposed to the Safety Check (which, apart from the loft issue, seemed quite cursory); wondering if there was something else that may be required. Provided the boiler has a safety certificate, you can assume it is safe. The LL has no obligation to do more (as long as it continues to work).




** Not that it is the point (or any of my business) but this house is owned free and clear,correct - not your business they have just returned from a month (2 x retired "teachers") in Canada and drive three cars (btwn two people) which include a vintage Rolls Royce and a 2012 delivered the day of return from overseas. So? They won the lottary? Or inherited? Or have other businesses? Or.... or.... not your businessThat aside though, I do actually pay rent and I thought that LLs would have some kind of contingency for this kind of thing. It is a pretty poor show in my opinion.[/QUOTE]
Put your concerns in writing at the address "for the serving of notices" which is normally provided on the tenancy agreement.

If you have not been given such an address in writing, you do not need to pay rent. Landlord and Tenant Act 1987

lighting_up_the_chalice

I'm sure your LL would look on a long term tenant as a positive financial gain. If you can convince him that another 12/24 month (or longer) tenancy is what you want, then you have security of tenure without giving up your protection. Get the agreement signed, then run along to your local council and let then take the statutory action required to get the LL the face HIS duties.

GotToChange

G_M wrote: »

Put your concerns in writing at the address "for the serving of notices" which is normally provided on the tenancy agreement.

If you have not been given such an address in writing, you do not need to pay rent. Landlord and Tenant Act 1987

Not sure how to quote the whole of your response (i.e. my original post with your comments included), so here are my comments:

It may be largely irrelevant that we are next-door neighbours - but it seems to me that I have all the problems of living next door and none of the (dubious) benefits - and that said, I have never once thought that the arrangement be pereferable or easier in some way. He does (which has all been detailed before), especially when it is to his advantage.

Nevertheless, I am not a person who is ignorant to my neighbours - and this "not speaking" is ridiculous - but I fail to see what I am supposed to do about it. Bawling and shouting at me on the phone (he made the call to me first) - and no apology (haha) or mention subsequently is almost beyond a joke.
(And yes, I know that i must have sleepwalked into a messy situation when I moved here; I am paying the price now though.)

When I say "in passing", I mean that - as on this occasion - I attach a note to the rent book (another issue which remains unresolved); it would be utterly ridiculous to be writing formal letters I would have thought (although am re-thinking....). His response to the carpet problem was that "we do not have the money to be able to help you" - prior to the third overseas trip of the year* [I am getting conflicting information about who the responsbility for a new carpet falls to....] - as though I had been asking for some kind of handout.

The Gas engineer certified the boiler but actually affixed the warning label - due to not being able to add the screws in the flue (I think), due -as I said - to the lack of floorboards in the loft.When the letter reached the LL before I told him (Tues after the Fri inspection - LL away for all four days....), he went mental at me. His pet builder installed floorboards but the screws had to be affixed by B/Gas - which LL was arranging - back in November. So, although the Cert is valid, I am not actually sure of the legal position.
(I also believe that a boiler that has passed a Cert but not been serviced [annually?] is a little like believing a car that has a MOT is fully safe without servicing.






*Which he makes a point of telling me about so that he can get the rent from me before he goes. He likes to have some spare cash in his pocket he says.

BitterAndTwisted

You have too much emotionally invested in this relationship. I suggest you do your best to distance yourself from the landlord and try to get things on a purely business-like footing.

Never, ever mention anything in passing. If you need things addressed you must put them in writing. But first you need to separate the things which are necessary or vital from the "like to have" things. I suspect your like to haves are going to be distant dreams from how you have described these people. Look at it this way: how likely are they to get top-dollar in rent for this property in the condition it is now once you have given your notice and found somewhere better? New stair-carpets are expensive so unless you reinforce the trip-hazard you I doubt that are going to get anywhere.