Tenant Repairs

ollyver27

Hi chaps,

Can anyone point me in the right direction for letting agent's/landlord's responsibilities when it comes down to repairs?

And also point me in the right direction about inventory check-outs.

Basically, my letting agent is trying to charge us for a call out that we would have to pay for, and THEN if it is found not to be caused by us (it is a blocked sink) she will refund. I'm a bit concerned that we will obviously get blamed for it (who is the independent adjudicator in these cases!) I reported this to her ages ago.

Also, they are trying to charge us for a check out. There is no mention of her fees in her contract.

Ever since I challenged them on the renewal fees, she has been massively funny with us, including saying that my housemate can't continue (renew contract) in the property after the 6 month AST has ended, even if she finds a new tenant!

I also KNOW that she'll try to get as much from our deposit as possible. I'll be time-stamping photos of the property when we leave, and thank the lord for the laws about registered deposit schemes.

I know I asked for advice before on this forum, and essentially didn't take it (because of the security of my housemate), but now I know I am on an AST, and that she's going to be kicking us out at the end of it anyway, I want to fight every unfair charge that she puts on us (not fight fair charges may I add)...

Thanks for your help again

G_M

Can anyone point me in the right direction for letting agent's/landlord's responsibilities when it comes down to repairs?

1) For statutory responsibilities, read

Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 sections 8, 10 & 11

2) For contractual responsibilities, read

your tenancy agreement

my letting agent is trying to charge us for a call out that we would have to pay for, and THEN if it is found not to be caused by us (it is a blocked sink) she will refund.

so don't pay! If on investigation it is shown you were responsible, you will e charged.

Also, they are trying to charge us for a check out. There is no mention of her fees in her contract.

Check the documetation when you moved in: teancy agreement; terms & conditions with agent etc. If you have not signed/agreed to pay for this, do not pay it. If you have signed/agreed........

ollyver27

Thank you very much, will read the relevant info.

Nothing in the tenancy agreement, so will probably be a case of submitting a dispute with deposit protection scheme.

Cheers again

camptownraces

On a practical level, how long has the sink been blocked? How long have you lived there?
Has it happened before?

Sinks usually block because of fat and grease in the pipe, which mixes with food bits and blocks the waste pipe.

What have you tried to unblock it - sink plunger? Caustic soda? Wire thing?

Basically,you are expected to behave in a tenant-like manner, and you may not win on this one. It will be cheaper to buy a plunger than to pay a plumber's bill.

Please tell us.

anselld

Blocked sink is highly likely to be responsibility of the tenant. It is not rocket science to unscrew the trap and remove debris. (a bit mucky though!)