Not happy with Rental accomodation

alexneale88

A few weeks ago, I was shown around a beautiful house in Camden, London, an old church conversion as it happens, and was thoroughly impressed with the place. The price was a tad steep at £1,000 for a shared house but I figured for premium property comes with a premium price, and as work were subsidising it I was happy to sign.

Since moving in however it has become clear there is a massive problem with the room, I have discovered two large hot water tanks just through my room (technically in the fire exit), that services not only our flat of 5 people, but a short term let next door that serves up to 13!

This was never stated in the contract and wasn't advised to me before I signed. I did question the door whilst viewing the flat and was indeed informed it was a fire exit, and there was no mention of two big hot water tanks.

The tanks are noisy, and buzz and whistle at all hours, and on top of that I am very concerned about the heat they produce and consequently how hot the room will be in the summer. Something I am told that the previous tenants complained about to my current house mates, confirming my fears.

I have expressed my unhappiness to my landlord via e-mail stating I wished the problem to be resolved or my contract to be broken however they have replied they will not release me from my contract.

They have suggested I could find someone else to fulfill my contract, however I feel it unlikely that someone would want to move in given this new information, or they have also offered me alternative accommodation. I would be happy to accept alternative accommodation, but the letting agent has absolutely nothing remotely similar, either quality or price, so it seems i'm rather stuck.

Is there any thing I can do to get out of my contract?

Any help would be hugely appreciated. (P.s. I plan to visit the CAB tomorrow morning.)

BitterAndTwisted

The alternatives they have proposed are reasonable as they don't have to do anything at all. You have signed legally-binding contract so you have to fulfill it or pay the consequences.

theartfullodger

Re...

Is there any thing I can do to get out of my contract?

Getting out of the contract is easy & simple: Just pay the rent due to the end of the contract & leave right now!!

alexneale88

Maybe I should have worded that better...

Given that I feel I have been mis-sold the room, i.e. I wouldn't have taken the room had I been told about two massive boilers, is there anything practical I can do to end my contract without losing additional rent and my deposit with it.

tbs624

How long is the Fixed Term?

You say the LA has offered you alternative accomodation - what exactly have they offered?

You'll learn from this one - ask to see behind doors and always talk in detail to the other property occupants *before* signing up, espeically if one T has moved out. If they're on a joint and several liability contract then obviously the other Ts may not be upfront, because they need to get a replacement in pronto ,but those on individual agreements are usually honest enough.

Trying to picture how massive boilers are situated "in the fire exit"...

BitterAndTwisted

alexneale88 wrote: »

Is there anything practical I can do to end my contract without losing additional rent and my deposit with it.

Without your landlord's agreement, no there isn't.

olly300

alexneale88 wrote: »

Maybe I should have worded that better...

Given that I feel I have been mis-sold the room, i.e. I wouldn't have taken the room had I been told about two massive boilers, is there anything practical I can do to end my contract without losing additional rent and my deposit with it.

You haven't been mis-sold anything.

Unfortunately in the property market in the UK it's a case of caveat emptor

Whenever you are shown a property whether renting or buying and you see something you need to demand to see exactly what it is.

In your case you should have demanded to see exactly what is behind the "fire door" as if it is a real fire door you should have been shown where it leads to and so would have seen the tanks.

This however isn't enough to get you out of the contract. You just need to put an advert up for someone to take your room and get one of your flatmates to show them round. The excuse for doing this is that they are going to be living with the new person.

alexneale88

So the best way of getting out of this is to con someone else into falling for the same mistake?

Epic English laws. Gotta love them.

Whenever you are shown a property whether renting or buying and you see something you need to demand to see exactly what it is.

Wise advise.

Fire_Fox

So your fire access is blocked? Just contact Environmental Health at the local council and the Health and Safety Executive. EH also deal with noise and possibly temperature but IMO concentrate on any major safety breaches because these will get the fastest response.

Are these properties legally let to that many tenants? Sounds potentially unsafe, are they correctly registered as Houses in Multiple Occupancy? Again contact the HMO licensing section at the local council.

ETA what exactly do you mean by hot water tanks, immersion heaters? If so these can go onto timers, they don't need to be on 24/7.

dimbo61

The fire service and council would be very interested if the fire escape is blocked by two boilers.
They can force the landlords to move the tanks ASAP or fine him thousands.
Speak to the council first and check if its a HMO and how many tenants is it licensed to have !
Ask for an inspection and write a LETTER OF COMPLAINT about the hot water tanks.
Can you move the bed away from the wall the tanks are behind ?
Can the LL fit more insulation ( or maybe you could do this) to isolate the heat/noise from your room.
I fitted sound block plasterboard and 4 inches of thick insulation to keep the noise down in one bedroom.

theartfullodger

Fire_Fox wrote: »

So your fire access is blocked? Just contact Environmental Health at the local council and the Health and Safety Executive. EH also deal with noise and possibly temperature but IMO concentrate on any major safety breaches because these will get the fastest response.

Are these properties legally let to that many tenants? Sounds potentially unsafe, are they correctly registered as Houses in Multiple Occupancy? Again contact the HMO licensing section at the local council.

ETA what exactly do you mean by hot water tanks, immersion heaters? If so these can go onto timers, they don't need to be on 24/7.

As FireFox says. In your shoes I'd ask the landlord/agent for a copy of the HMO license,.... then they will know you understand the regulations & law a bit more than most tenants.. and might then allow you to go....