make do and mend for tougher times

fuddle

monnagran I know how generous you are, boy do I know. I worry that by following your plan, you may struggle financially. I have the toilet fixed by the way! Took two hours of a plumbers time and a part. I wonder how much that has cost. Plus this dehumidifer. It's on hire and with DH being involved in construction we know how much it's costing.

Small jobs can add up to big costs. I guess my LL has been stalling because of the finances involved. I think he's realised that whether we live here or other new tenants live here, he still needs to sort the problems.

I just worry that your unbelievable level of kindness may end up costing you much more in finance and worry.

I see so many houses in the private rental market that are in our price range that are beautifully maintained. It's just us folk that have to make do with substandard properties that struggle. Good and bad in every thing.

I do hope that my frantic posts the last few days haven't caused any offence to my toughie friends who are LL's.

All is well here anyway. I spoke to him. I saw him but I was training my dawg so too busy for conversation.

Edit: forgot to tell you that his plan is to dry the walls, see if it stops with having the gutters cleaned. If not maybe fill in the air bricks, and after that he'll need a builder if it continues. At least he's trying, which is all anyone can ask for. I think what he'll end up doing is buying us a dehumidifier as a solution. For the 2 plus years we'll be here (at the most) I can cope with that.

Nargleblast

I always thought that if you have an air brick which is blocked up in some way then that reduces the ventilation into the house and causes damp? Certainly on some DIY programme I saw once, an air brick was covered with a bank of soil outside - once that was removed the damp problem was solved.

paidinchickens

Fuddle you haven't upset me I just wanted to set the record straight over the "greedy landlords" comment.

Your landlord is terrible and should be ashamed of himself. Take comfort in the fact that when you are out of there he will still have the problems only they will be bigger and cost a lot more and hopefully delivered with a big bow by karma


Had tablet O'clock so may not make much sense :rotfl:

Possession

There are good and bad LLs just as there are good and bad tenants. If your LL wants to keep that house in the long-term he needs to sort the problem properly before it does structural damage which will cost a lot more to put right. It might just be some pointing needs re-doing, but he doesn't sound as if he knows what he's talking about! He ought to call in an expert, but perhaps he really can't afford to. When we were letting out we were completely stretched financially and we didn't make any profit anyway. If we'd had to do big repairs we would have had to re-mortgage, and that isn't easy to do at the moment. Anyway he's come and seen it and the toilet is fixed, so I'm hopeful he's seen the bigger picture.

Byatt

There are greedy landlords however, just because people on this thread are not or are not profiting from renting out, doesn't mean there aren't. The unscrupulous ones have no conscience.

GreyQueen

grandma247 wrote: »

Pic you will never get bread like the stuff in the supermarket, they use special methods which give them more loaves per pound of dough. You could try putting a tray of hot water in the oven with your bread or let it rising a little longer but it will never be light as air or like the plastic stuff.

Re paint. Our newly painted hallway wood went dark cream after two weeks and it was dulux. I bought some one coat gloss at least 6 weeks ago from wilks (their own) and the banister rail is still white so it will all get done again now.

Waaay back in 1984 a pal's boyf (boatbuilder by trade) told me that it is perfectly-possible to make white paint that didn't turn yellow. It was something that they added (or left out, can't recall) which caused the yellowing.

I did quite a bit of white glosswork on doors in my flat 2 years ago (Dul*x Brilliant White) and it's still as pure as the driven snow. Makes me wonder if I bought another can, whether it would be so good.

paidinchickens wrote: »

The wives of servicemen are worried as if they are made redundant the ones in quarters will have no where to live either, great thank you for service to your country eh?

PiC x

If there is anyone from the services (or their partners or ex-partners) reading this, be comforted to know that you have extra consideration given to you. Because people get moved about for their service, they don't lose their local connections to wherever they came from, as people normally would. Been seeing for a long-time army wives being given 90 days to get out of quarters after the relationship has failed. Housing advisers will ask questions to see if you/ your partner are ex-military as it does make a difference to how you're treated compared to civilians (and it should).

I have had a haircut. You may now have my RL name.......Shauna.........:rotfl:Shauna Lockes.

Byatt

Yes, GQ, my ex was in the services and we got a place as a result of local connections. Sadly, the services have always treated their service people and their families in this manner. Having quarters always makes you vulnerable to the whims of the service or your partner.

fuddle

Are you feeling ok now Byatt? The scars of losing a home are all the same it doesn't matter how it's happened.

We have to just focus on the positives eh? What are the positives of your rented house (inglenook and real fire? how is that coming along?) Mine would be the leaded bay windows. They are lovely. Positives

Byatt

Yeah, I'm Ok Fuddle, just a moment or two, this too will pass. Having the counselling stirs up a few things, so will think of the positives and carry on.

VJsmum

Oh I'm not offended, I think your landlord acted like a right scumbag. I hate all that "you have to go", and then once he's put the willies up "oh no, didn't mean it". As someone said - it's bullying.

I think with the student market it is a bit different. They are one year contracts and the houses will already be back on the market for next year. Most students will start looking now for next year with the majority going around December January time. We got a text from a parent in August who was moving her daughter in saying that the house was a disgrace and there was this, that and the other wrong with it. I was tempted to text back and say "if you think that's a disgrace, you should see the one we live in!":rotfl: She had a point with a couple of things (mouldy shower curtain I hadn't had time to get in to replace for e.g.). OH is the soul of diplomacy (whereas I might have had a go) so I made him don sackcloth and ashes and he rang and let her rant at him for a bit. We put everything right within a week and had her eating out of the palm of our hands. None of it was expensive and the result is one happy tenant, who will spread the word that we are good landlords. It isn't rocket science (although I am told that rocket science is quite straightforward ). As I said, it is our pension so we are in it for the long haul and we are still learning. All I know is that we didn't want the money sitting in the bank so we did our homework and we work hard to try and make a success of it.

Still feeling low - I have mum flu (like manflu but you just have to get on with it) and I think the SAD isn't helping. THe weather was dead gloomy today too. However I have finished my dissertation marking, cleaned my kitchen and the revolting bathroom and am about to tackle some ironing. I had sausages and lentilles vertes for tea and pretended I was in France.