Rented home problems - HELP?

MickeyDaMouse

Luckily the council tax isn't that big an amount until April when my lease runs out. I can pay that off in one go.

I complained about most of these things recently in several messages but I was often ignored.

red40

MickeyDaMouse wrote: »

I complained about most of these things recently in several messages but I was often ignored.

Assuming this is a HMO. Then as a last resort you should contact your councils Environmental Health or Private Rented Sector section that deals with rented properties. Hopefully it is a HMO and there are specific Management Regulations that apply to the manager of a HMO. If you are paying the agents, then under the Housing Act 2004 they are the managers and responsible.

If it isnt a HMO as per my previous post the council can still instigate work schedules under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, this consists of category 1 (duty to act) or category 2 (power to act) hazards, and if works are required then it becomes the owners responsibility.

So there are options for you to still go down.

HTH

dancingfairy

You need to write (not email) to your actual landlord at the address on your tenancy agreement, setting out your issues and ask for them to be addressed.
Note: just because you have issues it does not mean you are allowed to break the contract or stop paying the rent except in extreme circumstances (And these are probably not those). 2 wrongs does not make a right (if that makes sense).
I personally would skip the bit about the letter box, You have enough legitimate complaints that are of far higher importance than a letterbox.
If the landlord does not take action to remedy these serious faults then you can involve you local councils environmental health team who can issue a notice to get the landlord to do the work or you can invoke the procedure on the Shelter website for getting repairs done.
In terms of the council tax you will be liable for the council tax at both properties. You may be able to claim an empty home discount (depending on whether the flat is furnished or not) or you may be able to claim a 2nd home discount. The rules have changed this year so you would need to check with your local council what the situation is on that front.
Best of Luck
df
Edit: Just because you are stuck in a contract does not mean you can't ask the landlord (not the letting agents) whether you can be released from your contract early. They may be prepared and they may have certain conditions. WHo knows if you make enough of a pain of yourself by legally enforcing your rights then they may decide to let you go early

*Robin*

dancingfairy wrote: »

I personally would skip the bit about the letter box, You have enough legitimate complaints that are of far higher importance than a letterbox.

Not saying a letter box is as important as dangerous wiring and the other faults OP mentions, but surely a tenant can expect a reliable method of receiving / keeping his mail safe?