three weeks to change a window?

lilavienna

I live in a rented attic flat, and the living room dormer window has been in a bad state for quite a while (rotten frames, drafty etc.) Now the landlord has finally decided to put a new window in.

Yesterday, the old window was taken out, and it is now all boarded up with wood. Initially, I was told ordering the new glass would take a week, and that everything should be finished within ten days or so..

But now I'm being told that part of the glass will be fitted on August 19th, and that only once that is done, the remaining part can be ordered, which will take another week, which means I can't expect everything to be finished before August 28th, at the very earliest, so that's three weeks to change one window.

It's not great looking at boarded up wood for three weeks, plus it's drafty and noisy, plus it's a hassle to move furniture backwards and forwards for the days when work is actually done on the window, but I can put up with that.

The real problem is that I've got family coming to visit at the end of the month, and I'm really not sure how I'm going to fit them in if work on the window is still on-going. I've got a one bedroom flat, and with people coming to stay I really need the full use of the living room. What makes it worse is that my parents already suffered a lot of disruption when they visited two years ago, and part of the kitchen ceiling fell down.

What I'm wondering is, do I have any grounds to demand a rent reduction if they don't finish the work within a reasonable time, and I cant' put my parents up in my flat? I don't understand why my window is so much more complicated than the one in the first floor flat, which was changed within a day.

Thank you very much!

Amber_Sunshine

Sure. Ask for a rent reduction. Do report the landlord's exact response ...

pmlindyloo

lilavienna wrote: »

I live in a rented attic flat, and the living room dormer window has been in a bad state for quite a while (rotten frames, drafty etc.) Now the landlord has finally decided to put a new window in. That's the good news

Yesterday, the old window was taken out, and it is now all boarded up with wood. Initially, I was told ordering the new glass would take a week, and that everything should be finished within ten days or so..

But now I'm being told that part of the glass will be fitted on August 19th, and that only once that is done, the remaining part can be ordered, which will take another week, which means I can't expect everything to be finished before August 28th, at the very earliest, so that's three weeks to change one window. A nuisance but that happens to house owners too.

It's not great looking at boarded up wood for three weeks, plus it's drafty and noisy, plus it's a hassle to move furniture backwards and forwards for the days when work is actually done on the window, but I can put up with that. Happens to us all - think long term - no more draughts - reduced electricity bill

The real problem is that I've got family coming to visit at the end of the month, and I'm really not sure how I'm going to fit them in if work on the window is still on-going. I've got a one bedroom flat, and with people coming to stay I really need the full use of the living room. What makes it worse is that my parents already suffered a lot of disruption when they visited two years ago, and part of the kitchen ceiling fell down. Put them off - visit them instead -not your LL's problem. Visit them. Place sounds a dump - why not move?

What I'm wondering is, do I have any grounds to demand a rent reduction if they don't finish the work within a reasonable time, and I cant' put my parents up in my flat? I don't understand why my window is so much more complicated than the one in the first floor flat, which was changed within a day.
Why not ask them why there is a difference ?
Thank you very much![/QUOTE

Certainly you can ask for a rent reduction if the repairs take an excessive length of time - i.e. compensation for inconvenience living in a room with no natural light (if that is the case). The 'law' is that repairs are done in a 'reasonable length of time - you would have to prove (in a court, if you went that far) what is reasonable. The part about having your parents' visit is a complete red herring.

G_M

It seems extraordinary.

It can take time to arrange quotations, decidewhich contractor to use, place order and wait for window, but the actual job...?

I'm planning to replace 2 windows in myown house, and every contractor I've had round has said its a half-day job.

No reason all the necessary frames, glass etc cannot be ordered in advance.

fart

Legally i'm not sure you can do anything.

If the window wasn't broken, then your landlord is a numpty. Window's should be taken out and replaced at the same time, not boarded up for weeks before replacements arrive. He should have ordered the window ready, and then had them swapped round when it arrives - half a day's work.

lilavienna

Thank you for your reply everyone!

@pmlindyloo, I appreciate your opinion, but not the arrogance in some of the things you say, which seems to again underline the fact that renting in England is really something to be avoided at all cost if you can possible do so.

Moving is expensive, and a hassle, and my parents booked their flight, which cost them 500£ in total, months ago. I do realise this may well not make a difference legally, I just mentioned it to explain the situation I'm in at the moment for the purpose of this thread...

My landlord is lucky that going to court is even more hassle than moving...

fart

lilavienna wrote: »

My landlord is lucky that going to court is even more hassle than moving...

I doubt you can even do anything in court to be honest - the Landlord is a bit of a muppet but he's trying to change the window in good faith. What do you want him to do, leave you with a bit of plywood for a window because it's not convenient for you? He should have done it all in one day but it's a bit late for that now, unless you ask him to replace the old window and hang on for a bit? Try speaking to him..

jc808

Is the window a means of fire escape?

ACG

I dont understand how it can take 3 weeks.

3 days would be a long time in my books. I would be fuming to be honest.

I used to be a landlord, tenant told me that the wood in one of the windows had started to rot. Called a joiner i know and he went in 2-3 days later took out the window MADE a new frame for it and fitted it within the day. I went down the next day and painted it. 2 days work at most - and even that is pushing it.

fart

ACG wrote: »

I dont understand how it can take 3 weeks.

3 days would be a long time in my books. I would be fuming to be honest.

I used to be a landlord, tenant told me that the wood in one of the windows had started to rot. Called a joiner i know and he went in 2-3 days later took out the window MADE a new frame for it and fitted it within the day. I went down the next day and painted it. 2 days work at most - and even that is pushing it.

One day is far too long to fit a window. I've seen joiners on site that can fit 6/7 a day easily.

ACG

He could have been there an hour or 5 hours - i have no idea. He basically told me he would go down on such a day and on that day i received a call to say it had been done.

However, my understanding is that they tend to make a template which then allows them to do future windows in double quick time?

Either way im not having a my joiner is better than yours competition, my point was that 3 weeks is beyond a joke. I would be asking my landlord if i can put his window through and replace it in 3 weeks once hes done mine? See how long hes prepared to live with a boarded up window for.