Reduced Rent due to health & safety?

Esepticus

Helloooooo,
I will most probably be called lazy for not looking but I thought I would ask this question and if it has been asked then please do say!

I am currently in student accommodation and have been broken into by some nice drug addicts twice now. The first time they only got away with my laptop while I was in my lesson and the second time they got away with a large amount of stuff, mostly electronic. So as a measure the site office of the University have screwed my window shut and it has been like that for 2 months now.

Do you think it is possible to get the payment for the room I am renting reduced at all? I am thinking due to the Health & Safety issue it might be possible! :rolleyes:

What do you all think??

dmg24

I can't see any health and safety implications here?!

Esepticus

Fire hazard, by law there has to be a suitable exit when there is a fire except for the door. Thus it being the window. When the police came after the incident they did say that it is a health and safety issue also incase of a fire.

dmg24

In that case the room is uninhabitable. Can you not request another room?

I would imagine that if you remind the university accommodation officer about the window they could remove the lock? But then you will have the original problem.

Seems like the lesser of two evils to me, but certainly not a reason for a rent reduction.

Esepticus

I could but I have only 2 months left here which is a pain in having to move a lot of stuff. Also when that was brought up there weren't any rooms left on campus, but I will most probably mention that the window is still screwed shut in the morning.
Its the same as a friend who is living next door to me. His room was burgled and has his window screwed shut. Quite a pain really. The whole row of houses along have been burgled even though there are cameras, fencing and barbed wire! Meh