HELP!** Nightmare letting Agent Changing Lounge to Bedroom & entering without notice

Kastanie

KatyJohnstone25 wrote: »

Next time i will go with an ARLA registered company FOR SURE. :-(

Just wanted to chip in here and say ARLA registration is NO guarantee of reliability, unfortunately :mad: Our LA was ARLA registered and was completely unaware of the basics such as 24 hours notice for inspections, even though it was a standard clause in their own contracts! They also screwed up on numerous other issues around repairs and landlord's/tenant's obligations. I've never contacted ARLA so don't know how well - or even if - they resolve disputes involving their members, but I wouldn't rely on them. Best to get clued up about your own position as a tenant and make sure you thoroughly read and understand anything the LA asks you to sign.
Hope you get things sorted

darren_clarke

what was you renting according to tennancy, a room or house

duchy

This sounds like a flat with a shared living area including lounge. Can I just ask -why did you assume you would be able to use the lounge to work in -especially as you moved in before the other tenents so have no idea when they would be there/if they also "needed" access to the lounge when you planned to work. Surely if another tenant wanted to also work in there-or play music or entertain friends or whatever this might cause some problems for you working ?

On that basis if the flat was let to you as having a lounge -and that facility is now removed -and the landlord has offered the rent reduction in writing so acknowledging it is a major change-you'd have some grounds to break your contract and not accept the changed terms -and that would be reasonable ....but to say it is unreasonable because you can't work in there- wouldn't be reasonable as the primary use of a lounge is to "lounge" in not work in -so best to avoid that reason for objection.

persa

Were you ever allowed to work from home?

I think it's standard to have clauses for no business use. Does your rental agreement say anything on these lines?

duchy

Depends on the business.
I work on a fairly large work from home project and about 50% of the staff rent -some private and some social housing so it's certainly not all rented properties.

persa

duchy wrote: »

Depends on the business.
I work on a fairly large work from home project and about 50% of the staff rent -some private and some social housing so it's certainly not all rented properties.

There's a difference between what people do and what they should do. I've seen 'no business use' as often as 'no pets', so it's worth double checking the OP isn't complaining about being prevented from doing something she was never technically allowed to do.

The above aside, it's a crappy thing for the EA/LL to do. I wouldn't be happy.