landlord not making repairs

ColinHackett

Morning all,

I am looking for some advice on where i stand with the situation that i am currently in.

I rent a house in england, it was on an AST for 12 months, i have now been here 4 years so i believe it is now a periodic tenancy.
I have never been late with the rent, and as far as i know my deposit was all done correctly through TDS by the LA.

The problems.
3 years ago the front wooden fence between my house and next door (semi Detached) fell down in the wind, the LA arranged for the LL to come out and repair. He came out and took the old one away, a new one has never appeared.

over a year ago the bathroom window started to leak from above the frame causing the bathroom to flood when ever it rains, the LA has been informed and sent someone out to have a look, and look was all they did. no atempt to repair was done as its an upstairs bathroom so scafolding will be needed.
This has got worse and worse as time has gone on and is still leaking to this day. (there was a puddle about 2mm deep over 70% of the bathroom floor last night.)

when we had the gales about 2 months ago, 5 fence post and pannels in the back garden came down in the wind, 4 more came down last night. there is currently only 3 panels left standing in the whole garden!

The LA sent someone out to do a quote but the LL said he wanted his builder to have a look as well.
I was there when they both came round and had a look and i also showed them the bathroom window again and said that it was still leaking!

The LL said that he would get his builder to put the fence back up and to fix the window, I have not seen either of them since!

Surely as he is not repairing the property he is breaking the TA in some way as im sure it says that he is reponsible for all the maintance of the building.

Is there anything i can do to make him fix it or i know i cant refuse to pay the rent but can i with hold some / all of it untill i have full use of the property that i am paying for?

Thanks for any advice.
Colin.

zarf2007

ColinHackett wrote: »

Morning all,

I am looking for some advice on where i stand with the situation that i am currently in.

I rent a house in england, it was on an AST for 12 months, i have now been here 4 years so i believe it is now a periodic tenancy.
I have never been late with the rent, and as far as i know my deposit was all done correctly through TDS by the LA.

The problems.
3 years ago the front wooden fence between my house and next door (semi Detached) fell down in the wind, the LA arranged for the LL to come out and repair. He came out and took the old one away, a new one has never appeared.

over a year ago the bathroom window started to leak from above the frame causing the bathroom to flood when ever it rains, the LA has been informed and sent someone out to have a look, and look was all they did. no atempt to repair was done as its an upstairs bathroom so scafolding will be needed.
This has got worse and worse as time has gone on and is still leaking to this day. (there was a puddle about 2mm deep over 70% of the bathroom floor last night.)

when we had the gales about 2 months ago, 5 fence post and pannels in the back garden came down in the wind, 4 more came down last night. there is currently only 3 panels left standing in the whole garden!

The LA sent someone out to do a quote but the LL said he wanted his builder to have a look as well.
I was there when they both came round and had a look and i also showed them the bathroom window again and said that it was still leaking!

The LL said that he would get his builder to put the fence back up and to fix the window, I have not seen either of them since!

Surely as he is not repairing the property he is breaking the TA in some way as im sure it says that he is reponsible for all the maintance of the building.

Is there anything i can do to make him fix it or i know i cant refuse to pay the rent but can i with hold some / all of it untill i have full use of the property that i am paying for?

Thanks for any advice.
Colin.

Unfortunately although your tenancy agreement gives an impression of some type of rights, the reality is if the landlord does not want to maintain the property due to cost, there is little you can do. If you kick up too much fuss he will simply issue a S21 and get you out.....

I really hope landlords are better licensed and regulated soon as it will weed out all of the amateurs who watch property programs and think they can rip off tenants.

pmlindyloo

There is a specific process you have to follow as regards a landlord not carrying out repairs.


The steps you have to take are outlined here:


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

Guest101

Have you written to him aboutall these problems? If not he may claim you never reported them.