Landlord taking too long to fix garden wall, what can I do.

inklove

Mid December the side wall in my garden fell down.
I live in an end terrace, and the other side of the wall is a public footpath.

Because the wall only half fell down it was quite dangerous and with it being on a public footpath I insisted that the landlord immidiatly do something about the wall, but it took a call from the police to spur him to do something.
Just over a week after the wall fell down a builder came and knocked the rest of the wall down, into my garden.
He said he would be back on jan 5th to put up a new wall.
Except he never came back.
I have been calling my landlord almost daily, but all he says is that he will call the builder, or he doesn't return my call at all.

I have young children who can't play out in their own garden because it is full of bricks and rubble and it is also not secure.

Last week after a call to CAB I told the LL that he had a week to sort it out.

Today the LL called me and said the builder will be coming and removing the bricks and rubble on Friday to make the garden safe.
But when I asked about putting up the new wall he said. "well we will get the bricks moved first and go from there"

Which I know means it will be weeks before anything is done.

What can I do?
I can't afford to have it done myself.

G_M

1) Have you put your complaint in writing to "the address for the serving of notices"?

2) The LL appears to be dealing with the danger - albeit after prompting.

3) the landlord has no obligation to re-build the wall unless it forms part of the structure of the property (Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 ), or is specifically included in the tenancy agreement.

4) Are you in the Fixed Term of your tenancy? If so you are secure till it expires. If not, and your tenancy is Periodic (monthly or 'rolling'), then if you annoy the LL too much he might serve a S21 Notice and end the tenancy. LLs tend not to like tenants who call the police (though of course I don't know this LL and he might be grateful to you for prompting him to protect himselfe from a damages claim if the wall fell on someone).

tim123456789

inklove wrote: »

Does anyone have any advice?

what solution do you want?

I very much doubt that not having a garden wall is a fault that you can force your LL to fix

BICBW

ognum

I am aware that it is difficult to force the landlord to fix this in a timely manner but I my sympathies are with the tenant.

The cost of rebuilding a wall is expensive but the landlord should at least remove the bricks and maybe put up some fencing to secure the property.

I guess it is down to how much the landlord wants the tenant to stay!

jbainbridge

ognum wrote: »

I am aware that it is difficult to force the landlord to fix this in a timely manner but I my sympathies are with the tenant.

The cost of rebuilding a wall is expensive but the landlord should at least remove the bricks and maybe put up some fencing to secure the property.

I guess it is down to how much the landlord wants the tenant to stay!

Indeed ... might be fairly difficult to find a new tenant with the collapsed wall!!

marathonic

inklove wrote: »

What can I do?
I can't afford to have it done myself.

The landlord could be on the same boat dependant on location and whether he bought at the peak.

In my area (Northern Ireland), property prices have halved since 2007.

There are a lot of people I know with £250,000 properties now worth £125,000 and rentable for £600 per month including rates.

If you assume £200 per month for rates and maintenance, the remaining £4,800 only covers a £100,000 mortgage at 4.8%. Some of these landlords have more than double that for a mortgage.

inklove

I did not call the police, a member of the public reported that the wall was falling into the public footpath.

I only moved into the property a month before the wall fell down. The landlord is responsable to repair and rebuild the wall, or he could put up a fence or anything, I don't mind what as long as my garden and home are secured.

I am just looking for advice as to how I can get my landlord to do the repair quicker than he has been doing so far.

I have sent the LL a letter, i wanted it in writing when the wall fell down and everything else that had happen. But I did not send a letter "to the addressee for the purpose of serving notice" as you suggested.

G_M

inklove wrote: »

I did not call the police, a member of the public reported that the wall was falling into the public footpath. i trust the LL knows this!

I only moved into the property a month before the wall fell down. 6 month AST? 12months?
The landlord is responsable to repair and rebuild the wall,
see my post above!
or he could put up a fence or anything, I don't mind what as long as my garden and home are secured.

I am just looking for advice as to how I can get my landlord to do the repair quicker than he has been doing so far.
A balance between formality (hence the letter) and freindly discussion/compromise.

I have sent the LL a letter, i wanted it in writing when the wall fell down
good for you. Hope theletter was friendly,not confrontational or demanding
and everything else that had happen. But I did not send a letter "to the addressee for the purpose of serving notice" as you suggested.

send a duplicate now to the correct address.

As an aside, I never understand why tenants don't use the correct address. It is there (by law!) on the tenancy agreement (usually, or elsewhere but in writing), precisely so that tenants know how to write formally to the landlord.......

inklove

G_M wrote: »

As an aside, I never understand why tenants don't use the correct address. It is there (by law!) on the tenancy agreement (usually, or elsewhere but in writing), precisely so that tenants know how to write formally to the landlord.......

Yes the landlord knows that I did not call the police, he was the one who told me that a member of the public had called the police to report the wall, and the police in turn contacted him.
My tenancy agreement states that the LL is responsable for all repairs. And the LL had already accepted responsability and agreed to repair.

My letter was formal, it was not friendly confrontational or demanding.
And it was definitely sent to the correct address. The landlord has told md that he received the letter.

G_M

inklove wrote: »

My letter ......
And it was definitely sent to the correct address....

But I did not send a letter "to the addressee for the purpose of serving notice" as you suggested.

So which is it?

poppysarah

Council tenants usually have long waits for fences and gates. They are not considered priority repairs by them.

I know you're not a council tenant but I can't see a LL being keen to rush spending money on a wall.