Renting problem - damp and mould

thunderchump

Me and my girlfriend have been living in our flat for 5 months and for the last 3 have been trying to get quite a severe damp problem sorted. and to be quite honest we are fed up with phoning up only to get told they will contact the landlord to which we then hear nothing. they also came to fix out leaking tap (after 1 month) only to take the broken tap and never return!! so we have damp and no hot water in the kitchen! the DPC was "repaired" before we moved in, although the paint was still wet i suspect they simply painted over it. basically we want to move out but want our deposit back, what are our rights? can we withhold this months rent and simply leave?

any help would be greatly recieved!

thunderchump

can anyone help me?

i'm desperate!

Doozergirl

Are you on a 6 month agreement? You can leave on the last day of your tenancy without giving notice, but it would certainly be courteous to do so and of course, they need to know that you have terminated the tenancy so that they don't hold you liable for any more rent.

Of course it's not sensible to up and leave without paying your rent this month.

You've stuck it out this far, I'd try and do things properly to stop yourself from getting in trouble. You'll want a reference fromt he current landlord so it's best to be on good terms. Witholding rent will not put you in a good light with propective LLs! It might take you a couple of weeks to find somewhere decent and then you'll be at the end of the agreement anyway.

I'm learning quite quickly that it's probably better to have a LL that manages the property themselves; they're more likely to be professional.

thunderchump

thanks for the reply! its a 12 month agreement unfortunately but i will send them a letter tomorrow notifying them of my intention to terminate the tenancy 6 months early due the damp problem remaining unsolved. that gives us a month to find somewhere else. we also have enviromental health on the case as we believe the damp was covered up by simply painting it! best start packing! pain in the bum though! just hoping we get our seposit back!

lynzpower

check your agreement it may wel have a 6 month break clause.

Wings

I would give them notice that you intend to terminate your Tenancy Agreement by giving them an immediate 1 months notice. That months Notice must be dated and received by the LL or LAs on the day in the month when your rent becomes due for payment, receipt of the same should be obtained and retained by you, so if you are unable to hand over the Notice in person, then do a postal record of the same.

Your letter of Notice should include the reasons for terminating your Tenancy Agreement early.

If it was me, I would not pay the last months rent, therefore allowing the deposit to pay the same.