Landlord tactically hid damage

kentrel

I just moved into a property that I rented through an agency. It seemed okay when I viewed it, though there was a tenant already there, so options for examining everything is limited. I've now discovered lots of little things that are broken.

I've also discovered the bed is riddled with woodworm. There's a smell of dampness that I can't get rid of, and worst of all...

I moved the couch and it was covering a couch-sized hole in the floor. I went into the bedroom and moved one of those temporary Ikea cloth clothes hangers and it was also covering a huge hole in the floor. When I say hole, I mean the rest of the floor has floorboards, except for a huge patch which is just bare concrete.

It was completely deceptive, and I'm incredibly upset. I just moved from up the street and this is not even close to what the other flats are like. I want to get out of the lease. What are my options?

pmlindyloo

Have you signed a dual inventory and noted all these problems?

Take dated pictures of all these defects and write to the agent copying into the landlord and asking for them to be repaired. (keep copy and free receipt from post office)

You have signed a tenancy agreement and as such you are legally required to stay until the end unless you make some agreement in writing with the landlord to end it early.

There is an excellent link to the Shelter website as to the procedure in these circumstances. I will post it for you and then you can follow it.

pmlindyloo

Here you are:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/disrepair_in_rented_accommodation/repairs_in_private_lets/steps_to_take_to_get_repairs_done

kentrel

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Have you signed a dual inventory and noted all these problems?

Take dated pictures of all these defects and write to the agent copying into the landlord and asking for them to be repaired. (keep copy and free receipt from post office)

You have signed a tenancy agreement and as such you are legally required to stay until the end unless you make some agreement in writing with the landlord to end it early.

There is an excellent link to the Shelter website as to the procedure in these circumstances. I will post it for you and then you can follow it.

I noted some of them on the inventory but the woodworm and holes in the floor I only discovered afterwards. I never thought to move the couch to see if there was a hole there.

Mr_Moo_2

Do what has been said above - write a good old fashioned letter to the Landlord (at the address for serving of notices on your tenancy agreement) outlining the problems you have that are not on the inventory. By all means copy in the LA but make sure the LL is aware.

If the problems are not enough to be injurious to health, you might have a fight on your hand to get the LL engaged, but there is no harm in asking - the Shelter stuff posted by pmlindyloo is really helpful for this sort of thing. Many damp issues can be rectificed by some lifestyle changes - do a search on here.

fluffymuffy

A hole in the floor sound like a potential trip hazard. That would be quite injurious to health.

Errata

The woodworm is probably long gone, unless you've seen little piles of sawdust. The concrete floor in the bedroom may be there because that's where the old fireplace was. The hole under the couch? If it's the same size as the couch why hasn't the couch fallen into it?
Are there any visible signs of damp?

kentrel

Errata wrote: »

The woodworm is probably long gone, unless you've seen little piles of sawdust. The concrete floor in the bedroom may be there because that's where the old fireplace was. The hole under the couch? If it's the same size as the couch why hasn't the couch fallen into it?
Are there any visible signs of damp?

Yes, some discolouration on the ceiling of the bedroom, and the plaster in the bathroom. And the smell. It's a strong odor, like a wet forest, but not pleasant.

The concrete floors were hidden intentionally from me. It's irrelevant to me why they're there.

AndyBSG

Is there not some sort of 28 day get out clause in a rental agreement?

BitterAndTwisted

The defects you note would not render the property uninhabitable and therefore will not give you any scope whatsoever to claim that your legally-binding contract is "frustrated". Therefore you are tied by the terms of your contract unless you can persuade your landlord to agree a mutual surrender and get that in writing.

Put everything in writing to your landlord now, and keep the property heated and ventilated properly so you can avoid blame for causing condensation and consequent damp when you leave.

Meanwhile get preparing for your onward move when your tenancy expires.

BitterAndTwisted

AndyBSG wrote: »

Is there not some sort of 28 day get out clause in a rental agreement?

No, there isn't.