Adivce needed new to renting.

Blackpool_Saver

gave up trying to read that half way through, and to be honest most of what I did read sounds normal for rental properties

Blackpool_Saver

lotty41 wrote: »

Guess I have a lot to learn about renting.

you sure do, and your complaints are tame to be honest

Fire_Fox

lotty41 wrote: »

Ok thanks Fire Fox. Have en suite top floor, family bathroom 1st floor, loo ground floor. The family bathroom smells horrible, drains I assume, what's the best thing to use to get rid of that awful smell?

Since you are buying washing soda anyway, you could try that dissolved in very hot water. If it does not work buy some drain cleaner, you can get a massive bottle from the pound shop which will do several drains. That should clean the gunk that the microorganisms are feeding on (old toothpaste, conditioner, dead skin, hair _pale_). Then keep the stuff away by pouring neat Value thin bleach down every so often, that won't clear the gunk but it will kill any smelly nasties. Obviously read all the packaging carefully and only use chemicals according to the recommendations. You should be able to fix all this for a fiver or so if you shop around, no need to purchase expensive branded products.

Does the toilet smell or just the drains? Toilet you can't use the same products as drains, toilets needs acids or the seal rots and the toilet leaks, drains respond best to alkalis. Best stuff for toilets is the little fizzy tablets, but you can try a bottle of Value coca cola or Value white vinegar for cheap. Just try to see all this as a good lesson, you will know what to do when you leave this rented place and how to maintain your own home and appliances if you ever buy them.

lotty41

Just the drains Fire Fox, thank you for the tips.

Blackpook saver, my complaints may be tame and I may have a lot to learn about renting, but some people, like myself, like to live in a clean decent home, that is what I am paying good money for.

I can only imagine if people complained more about 'tame' things then some things just might change regarding letting agents. I pay a lot of money, just like others, to live in a home, so why should we not complain about 'tame' things, if such 'tame' things go ignored how do we expect bigger complaints to be addressed.

I am paying for a service, just like I do in other walks of life, I am not a teenager, student or someone that has the p*ss taken out of me lying down, you may do but I dont. What you think is acceptable when it comes to renting is your choice, we all have different standards.

Blackpool_Saver

lotty41 wrote: »

Just the drains Fire Fox, thank you for the tips.

Blackpook saver, my complaints may be tame and I may have a lot to learn about renting, but some people, like myself, like to live in a clean decent home, that is what I am paying good money for.

I can only imagine if people complained more about 'tame' things then some things just might change regarding letting agents. I pay a lot of money, just like others, to live in a home, so why should we not complain about 'tame' things, if such 'tame' things go ignored how do we expect bigger complaints to be addressed.

I am paying for a service, just like I do in other walks of life, I am not a teenager, student or someone that has the p*ss taken out of me lying down, you may do but I dont. What you think is acceptable when it comes to renting is your choice, we all have different standards.

You have it quite wrong, I am on your side, my home is immaculate............NOW

I have had to deal with exactly the same problems as you, the problems you have encountered are common when renting, especially in houses which have stood empty for a while.

I am going to start my own post about what I have had to deal with whilst renting over the last few years, then you will see that what you complain about really is quite run of the mill when renting.
You cannot and will not get treated like you want, all you will do if you keep complaining is get asked to leave. The best thing to do is sort it out yourself, it will save you a lot of pointless letters and phone calls.

edited to add, I even had environmental health out at my last place, a 4 bed house on an executive estate, water was soaking up the walls, it was deemed a catergory 2, but it still wasn't fixed. When we left it was still the same, it would appear it was painted over and has now re-appeared, it's up for let AGAIN

lotty41

Point taken, but the house was only empty for 4 days. Maybe it's naive for me to say but I will complain if and when I feel necessary and if I need to leave or I'm asked to because they dont like my complaints then I would rather try and find a landlord that actually cares about having good tenants that look after their property. I'm sure some landlords would rather they knew that the letting agent that is taking care of the property is not doing what they are getting paid to do.

I am a good tenant, you could eat your dinner of my kitchen floor (not that anyone would want to), I treat the house as if it was my own, any good decent landlord would want that, if I have to move again then so be it.

lotty41

Blackpool saver, are you saying then that I should repaint the house myself?

Fire_Fox

lotty41 wrote: »

Blackpool saver, are you saying then that I should repaint the house myself?

Not Blackpoolsaver but .... not without the written consent of your landlord and not unless you are confident you can prep the walls and paint to a high standard. This includes neat edges and not damaging the flooring with splashes and spills. You will need sandpaper and blocks, sugar soap, bucket, ladder, dust sheets, rollers and brushes, trays, masking tape .... you might be able to borrow some of this. Don't underestimate what a massive job it is to prep and paint an entire flat.

Blackpool_Saver

When I moved into a lovely house where the only thing wrong was the multicoloured walls, I paid a highly thought of decorator to neutralise right through.
I knew I may get it taken out of my deposit at the end because I hadn't sought permission, which I knew would be refused, because frankly the owner was as common as muck and clueless, she had inherited from a rich relative.
so I went ahead and did it. Sure enough the first inspection came around and it was duly noted that I had. Letting agents loved it and knew it was an improvement, when we moved on the gormless woman tried to take it from my deposit. I fought it and won. She then re-painted the walls multi, it was up for rent for months and months, now it is trashed. Stupid woman. I did her a favour but she was too dumb to see it. This is where I struggle. Having done up properties for sale myself, I hate having to be told absolute nonsense by owners who know less than I do.

Blackpool_Saver

lotty41 wrote: »

Blackpool saver, are you saying then that I should repaint the house myself?

Well, I did but I got it done professionally. I would seek permission and try to negotiate a share of the payment maybe....