Landlord problems, what to do?

WelshY

Hi,

We live in a 3 bedroom house rented back 2 years, When we move into the house it seem okay. But after living here so long we have notice repairs need doing. At first we contacted the landlord to report repairs, then we had a letter not to contact landlord anymore and pass inquiries though an agency, we reported some repairs. To agency and still sent letters to the landlord

• Old light socket in kids bedroom no cover wires hanging out (NOT LIVE)
• No window handles on the kids bedroom window can't open (fixed)
• Back gate frame rotten and needs replacing (fixed)
• window with single glaze that suppose to be a double missing layer of glass, and got no handle to open
• heating system always needs bleeding, air getting into system some how.
• boiler annual check hasn't been carried out (carried out after 2yrs) still need bleeding regular
• water leaking in landing roof (fix)
• landing/stairs need replastering as the wall is crumbling/blast after striping walls of wallpaper from leak in roof. (The plan was to re-wallpaper till we saw how bad walls were)
  (Badly fix with a dry board in small area Rest was polyfill)
• when we moved in carpets was left from the old tenant up stairs and down stairs, down stair carpet was laid on wood flooring in 2 reception rooms. Old tenant had cats and the carpets smell of cat urine.

The recent repair we ask was for the landlord to Rip the flooring up and self level the floor so we can lay new wood flooring or carpet as the floor is badly unlevel and the flooring that is down now is coming up in some place due to level. We also told him we was going to pay out our own pocket £1400 to get new carpets upstairs and new flooring down stairs after this work has been done and we need it done before 26 march 2013 as that's when we got a booking for it be laid giving him 5 months to get it done.

As you can see some has been done but the rest has been laid to be forgotten about. We have contacted him about other repairs and he has not mentioned about outstanding repairs.

dancingfairy

Some of your comments/complaints sound reasonable, other less so.
Double glazing -was this ever promised? Whilst it is annoying I'm not sure there is much you can do to get the landlord to 'fix' this.
The same could be said for removing the carpets - I'm not sure why you think the landlord should pay to rip carpets up and get the floor levelled? Seems a bit bizare to me.
You saw the state of the house when you took it on so to be demanding improvements (floor levelling etc) seems a bit odd to me.
I also wouldn't be spending that much money on flooring, knowing that the landlord could potentially give you notice to move on when you have improved his property.
Sorry to be harsh but you are treating the property as a home and wanting things that are perhaps unrealistic in this rental (ie decent flooring etc). If the landlord cared that much then he/she would likely have fixed it before you moved in, now you pay the rent they probably care less (and if you hadn't taken it in that state someone else would).
I'm sorry but I don't think you can get a landlord to suddenly start caring

In terms of some of your other complaints like no gas safety check - now that is a problem. Your landlord has a duty of health and safety and is required to get an annual check. Hopefully one of the experts can advise you what law(s) /regulations he/she is breaking so you can advise the in writing.
I suggest you have a look at the Shelter website in terms of enforcing repairs.
Also you may want to consider your local council's environmental health for things that are unsafe.

Check your tenancy agreement to see what notice is required as sadly once you start enforcing your rights (boiler checks etc then you may find yourself been given notice (and Iwouldn't spend money on new carpets given the situation either .
df

ognum

I agree some of this stuff should have been fixed and finished.

But, I really don't know about this flooring, not sure as a landlord I would be too happy about tenants asking about floor levelling and then paying themselves for carpets etc.

How do you know you won't be evicted tomorrow? Can life in this house really be so bad if you want to put so much of your own money in with a chance you will get an s21!

dancingfairy

What notice period are you on?
Can you cancel the carpet order/fitters?
What have you got in writing from the landlord to say they will level/sort the flooring issue out?
df

WelshY

dancingfairy wrote: »

Some of your comments/complaints sound reasonable, other less so.
Double glazing -was this ever promised? Whilst it is annoying I'm not sure there is much you can do to get the landlord to 'fix' this.
The same could be said for removing the carpets - I'm not sure why you think the landlord should pay to rip carpets up and get the floor levelled? Seems a bit bizare to me.
You saw the state of the house when you took it on so to be demanding improvements (floor levelling etc) seems a bit odd to me.
I also wouldn't be spending that much money on flooring, knowing that the landlord could potentially give you notice to move on when you have improved his property.
Sorry to be harsh but you are treating the property as a home and wanting things that are perhaps unrealistic in this rental (ie decent flooring etc). If the landlord cared that much then he/she would likely have fixed it before you moved in, now you pay the rent they probably care less (and if you hadn't taken it in that state someone else would).
I'm sorry but I don't think you can get a landlord to suddenly start caring

In terms of some of your other complaints like no gas safety check - now that is a problem. Your landlord has a duty of health and safety and is required to get an annual check. Hopefully one of the experts can advise you what law(s) /regulations he/she is breaking so you can advise the in writing.
I suggest you have a look at the Shelter website in terms of enforcing repairs.
Also you may want to consider your local council's environmental health for things that are unsafe.

Check your tenancy agreement to see what notice is required as sadly once you start enforcing your rights (boiler checks etc then you may find yourself been given notice (and Iwouldn't spend money on new carpets given the situation either .
df

Double glazing is with just the top part of the window it was a double glazing before but it broke and only one layer remains from the last tenant.

The house we lived in now at the time we move in was way better than the old cold damp house we move from and was a rush move as it was not good for the kids chests *(private rented)

WelshY

ognum wrote: »

I agree some of this stuff should have been fixed and finished.

But, I really don't know about this flooring, not sure as a landlord I would be too happy about tenants asking about floor levelling and then paying themselves for carpets etc.

How do you know you won't be evicted tomorrow? Can life in this house really be so bad if you want to put so much of your own money in with a chance you will get an s21!

The house is lovely it just the problems outlined the house would be perfect if they were done. As we move in he said he get some of the repairs listed done.

We cant say we want get notice but you can get that any where you rent.

dancingfairy

I'd be checking my contract was water tight before parting with such sums for carpets.
I hope someone can help you with regards to the boiler issues etc.
df

WelshY

dancingfairy wrote: »

What notice period are you on?
Can you cancel the carpet order/fitters?
What have you got in writing from the landlord to say they will level/sort the flooring issue out?
df

We are on the long term tenancy agreement.
We have contacted the company and cancel today as it don't look like it be done.

Nothing in writing. he said he take a look then sent builder in to inspect job and give him estmate in November. Then contact in December to say there won't be a step by kitchen after work has been done. I said that be okay. And reminded of laying date.