Help with landlord please!

rokat

Hi,

We moved into a two bed house in March. When we moved in part of the roof was being repaired which cost the landlords a lot of money (which isn't really our problem) but they are now refusing to pay for anymore repairs on the house!

The 2nd bedroom has a huge damp patch on the ceiling and along one wall. It also smells of damp. The room is not habitable. This is because the roof needs repairing/replacing.

A contractor came round with the letting agents three weeks ago and told them that the bedroom window needed replacing because the wood is rotting (letting a breeze through) and that there is absolutely no insulation in the loft.

In the last few months we have also had leaks in our kitchen ceiling, through our chimney and from our living room window whenever it rains so we have to have buckets at the ready!


They have refused to repair any of this and have only said they 'may consider' replacing the window late spring!

I have looked up renters rights and landlords responsibilities and what I have found seems to say that they are in the wrong by not repairing...

1. ‘The law says your landlord has to keep the structure and exterior of the property in good repair. This includes:
• The roof
• Guttering
• Walls (but this doesn't include internal decoration)
• Windows and doors’
(http://www.tenancyagreementservice.co.uk/tenants-rights.htm#ixzz2FPcqru6Y)

2. ‘Rights Concerning the Standard of Accommodation
You have the right to live in safe and comfortable accommodation without unnecessary disturbance.
That is, your landlord is obliged to ensure that a property is structurally sound, ‘wind and waterproof’ and generally habitable, with leaking roofs and damp not legally acceptable.’

(http://www.uknetguide.co.uk/Homes_and_Gardens/Article/A_Guide_to_Tenants_Rights-106015.html).

So the question is what do I do now? Can I withhold rent? Or at least some of it until repairs are done?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

V_Chic_Chick

Withholding rent would be a breach of your tenancy agreement, which could mean that you were taken to court and / or evicted.

Contact Environmental Health about the repair problems.

When does the fixed term of your tenancy agreement run out? You may find that the most fruitful option is simply to move as soon as possible (but still drop the landlord in it with EH!)

special_kala

I recently had issues with my landlord and got my council involved.

They can make them do repairs

Yorkie1

I agree with the EH suggestion and that you should not stop paying rent.

Out of interest, do you have any gas items in the property? Do you have a current gas safety certificate? Is your deposit protected and were you given the prescribed information about the protection?

Are you in a fixed term period still, or are you on a rolling contract?