Friend in the Wrong?

quidsy

Maybe your friend needs to think that if she had paid all her rent up to date & also the rest of the deposit, her LL might have enough money to fix the airing cupboard?

How is he supposed to pay for it? Monopoly money? I hope she gets evicted.

WestonDave

In an ideal world all repairs should be done, but your friend has put herself in a very weak position to argue for this given her numerous failings. What in effect she is wanting to say to the landlord is this :-


"I know I haven't paid the deposit, or the rent, and have broken windows, turned the garden into a tip, and let the dog wee over the house whilst failing to clean it, but I think its disgraceful that you won't fix this insignificant leak" - doesn't really work as a statement does it?


The other problem is that the only real back up to enforce anything is the councils housing or environmental health departments who would be far more concerned about her self inflicted issues than this minor leak.

The_Hurricane

I'm going to try to talk some sense into her as she wants me to call her. In relation to the minor leak that the LL wants to postpone for one year, should she let it go?

Bantex_2

Is she druggie, alky or something similar?

LocoLoco

The_Hurricane wrote: »

I'm going to try to talk some sense into her as she wants me to call her. In relation to the minor leak that the LL wants to postpone for one year, should she let it go?

I think once she's paid her deposit in full, cleared her rent arrears, repaired the broken windows, cleaned the place, emptied the garden and stopped the place smelling of wee she could speak to her landlord and ask him to sort out a repair then.

beecher2

What impact does the leak actually have on her? Is it just the perceived hassle of emptying the container which annoys her?

The_Hurricane

beecher2 wrote: »

What impact does the leak actually have on her? Is it just the perceived hassle of emptying the container which annoys her?

The fact that it's there I think, the airing cupboard is still dry and stores clothes, there is a damp patch on the floor where some water has leaked from the copper cylinder.

tom9980

The_Hurricane wrote: »

Is the LL not culpable at all? I know she is not innocent but there were snagging issues.

Which he then sort to fix. personally i would have patched the minor leak and left the bowl which i suspect is what the plumber may have already done.

The_Hurricane wrote: »

My friend has just got back to me as the EA has been back out with a list of conditions and by next Friday the following has to be carried out:

1. The two smashed window panes must be repaired.

2. There is some damage to the paintwork on the walls and doors, again the EA has requested that this be repaired/re-painted. My friend is not happy about this as the damage was caused by her daughter who is in a wheelchair. My own opinion is that this shouldn't be used as an excuse.

3. Deposit must be paid in full, I queried this one with my friend and the LL let her move in with £100 of a deposit originally as she couldn't afford anymore. She then paid £100 more two months later and by that time the LL had given up asking.

4. All rent arrears have to be paid in full, the LL has said the the Benefit office have paid him all they are going to and that the rest needs to be paid by the tenant.

5. The house is going to be fully inspected and needs to be cleaned and the smell of unrine removed. I think my friend has a dog that lives in the house and does it's business there too.

Seems reasonable to me.

The_Hurricane wrote: »

I know there is friction between the LL and my friend's partner, the LL whom I haven't met is quite popular in the area and this is one of three properties he rents out. His tenants all seem to stay for very long periods of time and he maintains a good relationship with them. I think one of the key problems is the LL is only 30 and my friend and her partner are in their 40's so I know that there is some resentment here.

I know they feel he is too young to be where he is and a bit blase about the single glazed window and more importantly the hotpress tank leak. The LL has now said that it's unlikely this will be repaired within the coming year as it's not serious - my friend is furious on this matter.

I have fed back to her what has been said here and she is going to log on to see (she is not familiar with this site).

He is popular because they are probably treated quite well the pay-off is he gets long term tenants and minimal voids. The single pane window is a non issue, his obligation is met.

If your friend ever reads this she better understand as a benefit claimant with disabled daughter she is way down the list of desirable tenants. None of the Landlords demands are unreasonable and he undertakes repairs. If she has to move it will cost far more than what she is being asked for. She would be VERY lucky to find a landlord who is decent who will take her in, her next move would likely see her in worse accommodation.

beecher2

The_Hurricane wrote: »

The fact that it's there I think, the airing cupboard is still dry and stores clothes, there is a damp patch on the floor where some water has leaked from the copper cylinder.

Do the broken windows which are her responsibility to fix not annoy her more? That and the smell of urine and rubbish outside is surely more of an issue?

Hope you can get her to take a step back and see it from the landlord's point of view. I don't really understand why they think he's too young to be where he is either - he's 30 not 12.

Bantex_2

Does she realise she is likely to get evicted?