Couple of questions about useless landlord

neo1607

To cut a long story short, my "landlord" is useless, we have been in the property since December, he didn't put my deposit in a safe scheme and he didn't provide us with an EPC or a Gas safe certificate.

Anyway... My local council are onto him, Health and safety are onto him and Private Renting Housing Panel are onto him about getting repairs and such done, he had 14 days to respond to my request to do repairs which he has ignored (I actually sent him an informal repair request over 6 weeks ago which he also ignored).

He is being an !!!!!! about things because he knows I want to move out as he is failing at being a landlord and I have 7 months left so Im basically trying to annoy him as much as I can so he will throw me out.

I am due to go see a court advisor on Wednesday because since he didn't put my deposit into a safe deposit scheme within the initial 30 days I can claim up to 3x my deposit back which is £1350. Apparently I have a strong case since he is under fire for a lot of other things he also failed to do as a landlord.

My question is:

1) He is deliberately sending workmen round when I am supposed to be at work and there is nobody home so I am having to take time off work to be in for the repairmen, Can I file a claim against him for the wages he is costing me as a result of this since it's intentional on his behalf?

2) I am writing another letter to him today to notify him about a couple of other things, should I mention in the letter that I will be seeking legal advice about getting compensation for my wages he is costing me (hopefully it will stop him doing it).

Is it worth me trying to claim compensation for also having no working gas fire for over a week as well? (He sent the gas safety engineer out last week, 5 months into my tennancy and the gas fire was condemned as unsafe), It is affecting the health of my 3 week old son who is already under pediatric care because he is cold all the time

RAS

Which country are you in; Scottish law is different?

Pixie5740

I don't think you have a case for loss of earnings. If you work Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 then you'll find that the majority of tradespeople will want to come to the property during your working hours.

You have a couple of choices. You don't have to be there whilst the tradespeople are there so could go to work. If you don't like the idea of them being in the property whilst you're not there then refuse access. Your LL would then have to go to court to try and get access to the property which would be a pain in the backside for him but would delay any repairs that you may want done.

PasturesNew

neo1607 wrote: »

... so Im basically trying to annoy him as much as I can so he will throw me out.

...

Which he probably can't do due to your rights.....

You're both being 4rseholes now

jackomdj

Confused. You are moaning as he isn't getting things done, then moaning as he is arranging for trades people to come during their working day. Unfortunately you can't have it both ways.

neo1607

Scotland it's in

I work most days but have Mondays and Wednesdays off so I'm sure he could find some tradesman to come during those days

And Citizens Advice recommended using that method to try and get out of the tennancy since he agreed verbally 8 weeks ago to let us out but he refused to put it in writing and now he "can't remember agreeing to that"

neo1607

I should also mention it's a very small area I live in where everyone knows everyone and he isn't actually getting just random tradesmen in to do the work he is getting his friends to do it as a favour so he doesn't have to pay for the repairs so I'm pretty sure he can ask them nicely to come on a day that I'm off

Pixie5740

Just write to him saying that you won't allow access to the tradespeople Tuesday, Thursday and Friday but either a Monday or a Wednesday will be suitable because I don't see you getting anywhere for loss of earnings.

Your landlord has to give you at least 24 hours notice that someone is coming round and if you refuse access he will have to get the sheriff to grant a court order allowing access. If you are reasonable and supply the LL with days that are suitable for you then it's unlikely the LL will get a court order for a sooner date or that the sheriff will grant the court order.

Out of interest do you have an Assured Tenancy or a Short Assured Tenancy?

neo1607

Short Assured.

Also am I able to formally request the landlord only corresponds via written letters rather than text or phoning me? As in the past the landlord has proved his word cannot be trusted unless I have it in writing.

I have requested 3 times now in seperate letters he only corresponds via written letters but he just ignores it and attempts to phone me or text me which is getting annoying.

Okydoky25

By no way do I condone what your landlord is doing. I would be peeved to but if you have a 3 week old surely you are not at work?

neo1607

I just started back at work this week. However our son spent the first 10 days he was born in neo-natal care as his lungs were not fully developed.

Which is why my partner won't be in either as she will be taking our son out since we can't get a babysitter. We do not want our son in the house If there is going to be dust flying about and loud noises which would distress him. Which I'm assuming there will be plenty of both if a gas fire is being ripped out and replaced with an electric one