Tenency and payment for repairs

lynzpower

I would put it to the landlord that if you pay and oversee the work then they have no way of ensuring the job is completed to a high enough standard.

the legality of this sort of transaction would come from the small claims court, using the mulitude of legislation governing landlords. Eg if you paid the plumber 100 quid and the LL refused to give it you back you would then reclaim plus costs & state interest through the small claims track.

In any case if you DONT have the money ( or dsont WANT to use your money in this way) simply say you dont have it. if the landlord doesnt have the money well this is tough lukc they shall have to borrow it. the resdponsibility lies with them to maintain their prop at the end of the day.

prudryden

1. How much money are we talking about?
2. What reason did the Landlord give for asking you to pay?
3. Did you explain to the Landlord that you don't have sufficient funds to pay? Is so, how did he respond?
4. What kind of work is it?

Poundcounter

thesaint wrote: »

There are plenty of reputable tradesman that won't send an invoice to a third party...

The LL is not a third party. He is one of the two parties tothe contract to carry out the repair. It is the tenant who should be viewed as a third party, hence my advice not to get involved in the contract precisely to avoid the type of confusion shown by the saint.

thesaint

Poundcounter wrote: »

The LL is not a third party. He is one of the two parties tothe contract to carry out the repair. It is the tenant who should be viewed as a third party, hence my advice not to get involved in the contract precisely to avoid the type of confusion shown by the saint.

Somebody call?

As a tenant with a slow on the uptake landlord you can fight for your rights for them to do their job. Alternatively you can get the job done yourself(landlord 3rd party), and deduct it from your rent.
My way get's the job done in a timely fashion at no cost to yourself, your way, may get the job done(probably) when the landlord(tenant 3rd party) gets around to it, at no cost to yourself.

Contact shelter, enviromental health, C.A.B, local rag if you please, but it depends what is important to you as a tenant.

No confusion, simply repairs carried out.

jamesd

sanfrancisco, while there are some risks if the work isn't done properly and a dispute happens, it would clearly help both you and your landlord to get the work done if you were able to help. You can't fund the repairs yourself so you might propose one of the following:

• Payment to you in advance of 80% of the estimated cost of the work, reducing your up-front cost.
• Creation of a repairs fund that the landlord advances to you and tops up periodically as work he approves is done, so you have no up-front cost. He gets to trust you with this money just as you have to trust him with your deposit.

Neither is a perfect solution but either should help move things forward.