rental complaint - Do I push for more?

nicolelh

We moved into a new house on Thursday 30th May, and were pretty annoyed to find the toilet didnt work, and there was nothing in the heating system. they came out and sorted this on the Saturday afternoon, then Saturday night (after moving this was the first time ee'd gone to make food) we realised the cooker didnt work. pulled it out to find it wasn't plumbed into the gas and was missing the pipe. looked about 100 years old so we think it was just put there when it was rented out. no numbers for the estate agents for out of hours/sundays so we were left without a cooker till we could get in contact with them on monday morning, and they then didnt sort us out a cooked till wednesday morning. some of the food we had already bought went out of date, and we had to go out for food/buy microwave meals.
We've asked them for a refund of rent for the days we were in a house not as described (we'd never have moved into a house with no cooker and no working toilet!) and they've apologised profusely but now turned round and said they'll refund our alternate food arrangements but not the rent for the time the house wasn't fit for purpose.

Would you push for the rent back, or just the food? We did initially ask in our complaint for both back. The thing we're most annoyed about is the fact we've found a gas certificate dated 19/04/13 in the house saying the cooker is not safe for use or functioning, and we gave them the deposit on the 18th April, nearly a month and a half before we moved in. So not only did they know about it, they had ample time to sort it and it made the stress of moving 10x worse.
So yeh, would you ask for a bit more from them or be happy with food?

pmlindyloo

This is my opinion.

If there was no other toilet in the house that you could have used then I believe that you have a claim for some compensation.

If there was no other means of cooking (like a microwave) or no other means of heating water (like a kettle!) then I believe you have a claim for some compensation.

They have offered compensation for spoilt food etc so they have accepted responsibility.

Shelter have this to say:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/disrepair_in_rented_accommodation/compensation_for_disrepair

Personally I would telephone Shelter and seek their advice. It is always useful to quote a professional body 'I have sought advice from Shelter'...........

Then write to LA and ask for a suitable amount of compensation (be guided by Shelter)

Also very important - CC your letter to landlord. Keep copies of letter and receipt of posting.

Shoddy service from LA - they should have done an inspection before you moved in) so it is important that the LL is aware of how his/her money is being spent to use LA's services.

Of course the downside of this is if they will not pay compensation then you would have to take them to the Small Claims court and argue it out there. To do this you would need evidence so make sure you put in your letter what was wrong when you moved in and what has happened since. (plus any other paperwork)

The other side to this is that you can't be 'evicted' within your fixed term tenancy but the LL may not want to renew it if he takes affront at your demands/requests.

Good luck.

Let us know how you get on.

Since the LA already seems to be somewhat useless do check that your deposit has been protected and you receive the prescribed information and that an inventory has been done and you have been through it with a fine toothcomb.