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Cowboy Landlord/Agents.
BennyB1
Posts: 27 Forumite
Hi all,
I will keep this as short and as simple as possible, but please bare with me and if possible, please share your advice or what actions can/should be taken.
On June 4th, myself and 4 friends secured a 4 bedroom/3 floor house by paying £1140 (1 months rent of £890 and admin fee of £150). The agreement was to move into the property on the 28th of June, as the house needed lots of work to be done.
Lets fast forward to June 28th, everything packed and removal van booked as well as our current tenancy agreement expiring the same day, we head to the estate agents to sign for the house. upon arriving, we are told the house isnt ready and our furniture isnt there, but was promised it would all be done by the end of the 29th. Having no other options, we proceeded to move into the house.
When we arrived, we had no carpets, no furniture, tools and paint everywhere, messy floors, a boarded up window, skirting boards hanging off and most importantly no hot water.
We called and was told once again it would all be complete by the next day. The next day, we still had nothing and no hot water. Over the course of the next 2 days we called uncountable times to get our boiler fixed, only to be told somewas on their way all the time but nobody showed up. We gave up and phoned british gash who came and fixed it in 10 minutes. During this period, the agent came to do an inventory check and I made him write down all the problems in the house and told him if not sorted, I would move out regardless of any contracts. He did this and told me he would phone me later on in the day to tell me when people will be coming, of course i've never heard back.
Days later, it broke again, they sent somebody out in 3 days to fix it, by this time we still had nothing done. At this time, the toilet and outside drain was also blocked and sewage flowing all over the garden, which is obviously an emergency - same situation, nobody arrived, we got it fixed ourselves.
Today is the 12th, the boiler stopped giving hot water again on the 7th, we have had 5 days of no hot water. I have spent every day at work ringing and ringing, to be told once again somebody would come, but nobody has ever turned up. I have spoke to them 4 times today, they always told me theyd ring back in 5 minutes and never did, they then stoppped answering my calls. To this day we still have a boarded up window and everything else incomplete.
They lie, ignore us and get rid of us as soon as possible. It is beyond frustrating, please put yourselves in this situation and imagine what it feels like to be made a joke of when having paid out over £2000 in 1 month, to not even have the basic human need of hot running water and these people not wanting to do anything about it but ignore you.
The point of this thread is to ask what can we do? Honestly, as it stands, I want to leave and cut the contract, is this possible? What legal advice can I get, what can I tell them to do? Im currently having to look for a plumber to pay for out of my own pocket, just so i can shower and not have to boil a kettle to wash the pots.
Any help greatly appreciated. I wish for people to avoid this letting company like the plague, would it be worth me posting the name?
I will keep this as short and as simple as possible, but please bare with me and if possible, please share your advice or what actions can/should be taken.
On June 4th, myself and 4 friends secured a 4 bedroom/3 floor house by paying £1140 (1 months rent of £890 and admin fee of £150). The agreement was to move into the property on the 28th of June, as the house needed lots of work to be done.
Lets fast forward to June 28th, everything packed and removal van booked as well as our current tenancy agreement expiring the same day, we head to the estate agents to sign for the house. upon arriving, we are told the house isnt ready and our furniture isnt there, but was promised it would all be done by the end of the 29th. Having no other options, we proceeded to move into the house.
When we arrived, we had no carpets, no furniture, tools and paint everywhere, messy floors, a boarded up window, skirting boards hanging off and most importantly no hot water.
We called and was told once again it would all be complete by the next day. The next day, we still had nothing and no hot water. Over the course of the next 2 days we called uncountable times to get our boiler fixed, only to be told somewas on their way all the time but nobody showed up. We gave up and phoned british gash who came and fixed it in 10 minutes. During this period, the agent came to do an inventory check and I made him write down all the problems in the house and told him if not sorted, I would move out regardless of any contracts. He did this and told me he would phone me later on in the day to tell me when people will be coming, of course i've never heard back.
Days later, it broke again, they sent somebody out in 3 days to fix it, by this time we still had nothing done. At this time, the toilet and outside drain was also blocked and sewage flowing all over the garden, which is obviously an emergency - same situation, nobody arrived, we got it fixed ourselves.
Today is the 12th, the boiler stopped giving hot water again on the 7th, we have had 5 days of no hot water. I have spent every day at work ringing and ringing, to be told once again somebody would come, but nobody has ever turned up. I have spoke to them 4 times today, they always told me theyd ring back in 5 minutes and never did, they then stoppped answering my calls. To this day we still have a boarded up window and everything else incomplete.
They lie, ignore us and get rid of us as soon as possible. It is beyond frustrating, please put yourselves in this situation and imagine what it feels like to be made a joke of when having paid out over £2000 in 1 month, to not even have the basic human need of hot running water and these people not wanting to do anything about it but ignore you.
The point of this thread is to ask what can we do? Honestly, as it stands, I want to leave and cut the contract, is this possible? What legal advice can I get, what can I tell them to do? Im currently having to look for a plumber to pay for out of my own pocket, just so i can shower and not have to boil a kettle to wash the pots.
Any help greatly appreciated. I wish for people to avoid this letting company like the plague, would it be worth me posting the name?
0
Comments
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No, you can't leave and "cut the contract" easily although there might be scope for claiming that the contract is "frustrated" i. e. you've paid money but the other party is unable to honour their side of the deal.
Please do not post up the name of the letting-agent. All of this fiasco is the responsibility of the landlord, whose money is financing these rather ambitious but incomplete works.
First thing to do is to write down precisely what has happened to date and what the response has been. Then put it all in a letter and send one copy to the agent and another to the landlord asking them when the property is going to be reinstate into a habitable condition.
I expect the agent has stopped taking your calls because they can't get a straight answer from the landlord.
Meanwhile get onto your local authority's tenancy relations officer and see what help or guidance they may be able to provide. Shelter might be another port of call0 -
Thank you for your reply, hoping others can shed some light.0
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Are any of you students? If so, you might be able to get some advice from your student services people0
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Yes we are, so will be sure to have a quick chat with someone there. I'm going to make an appointment at Citizens advice tomorrow, telling the landlord this might shake him up into getting things done. The contract states he is responsible for repairs. Am I also right in thinking that not having running hot water in a rented property for a large period of time is quite a serious thing?0
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Thank you for your reply, hoping others can shed some light.
You won't do much better than......BitterAndTwisted wrote: »Meanwhile get onto your local authority's tenancy relations officer and see what help or guidance they may be able to provide. Shelter might be another port of call
Your Local Authority have statutory powers to compel the LL/LA to bring the property up to a minimum standard and supply minimum facilities. Contact them without further delay!0 -
Have you put your complaints *in writing* to the LA/LL and kept a copy?
I agree with B&T that the issue may be the LL's inaction/unwillingness to get on with matters but that in no way excuses the LAs from keeping you informed and fully explaining the delay. Many LAs think they can get away with treating younger/student Ts in a particularly abysmal fashion.
On the lack of hot water & overflowing sewage issues, get on to the Environmental Health Officer at the local Council pronto - the LL has a specific statutory obligations under s11 of the LL& T Act 1985 which cover both of those.
Is this LA/LL listed at the Uni accomms office? If yes, keep them updated.
You may qualify for help via Community Legal Advice if you are on low incomes as students
Shelter's helpline is 0808 800 4444 - they also have a useful pdf online called "getting repairs done"
Once you have got resolve you may want to post up a review at https://www.allagents.co.uk, and write up your experience for your local Uni newletter/magazine.0 -
I really feel for you. It's awful to have to live like this and the landlord should be ashamed. As above, take the good advice you've been given and hopefully this will get sorted out soon. Definitely speak to the housing people at uni and spread the word. I'd make sure you take dated photos too, as they may be helpful. Good luck and please let us know the outcome.0
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Hi all, thank you ever so much for your replies.
This afternoon I rang the LA and mentioned the obligations under the LL&T act like mentioned above and that i'd be speaking with a solicitor within the day, she seemed quite gobsmacked when hearing this and said she'd ring me back within the hour.
Suprisingly she did, and within 2 hours the LL was round with a plumber, 2 workmen and a British Gas engineer. The boiler was fixed, walls were painted and he apologised.
He then told me he would be round in a week with workmen to sort out all the gutters and get some more painting done.
Seems these people are quite intimidated when it comes to legalities.0 -
Well done. Nice to see it works out sometimes, but keep an eye on the sewage system, that sounded a bit worrying.0
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jimiharr :spam: all 28 posts0
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