Right to claim alternative accommodation during building work in rented property?

Professor_De_Worms

Hello everyone. I'm a renter on an assured shorthold tenancy. Building work (improvements, rather than repairs) is due to start on the house in the next few weeks. These include; new counters and sink for the kitchen, new shower and carpeting for the landing. Possibly some new doors as well.

My question is, can I legally claim for alternative accommodation, or at least reduced rent, from my landlord while all this is going on? Part of the issue is, I work nights - 2 weeks out of every 4, so the work will likely clash with my sleeping patterns. I was, in fairness, told some of these renovations were due to go ahead before taking the property, but half of them seem to have come from out of no one. Any advice on this please?

anselld

You do not have right to alternative accommodation or reduced rent unless the property is deemed uninhabitable.

However, you do have right to decline access to the property for the work.

No harm in *asking* for a reduction, but no entitlement.

eddddy

In general, you can claim 'rent abatement' if the work is very disruptive. (Google 'rent abatement' for info - and make sure you're looking at UK websites.)

If it went as far as court, it would be assessed on the basis of the amount of the property that was unusable.

e.g. if 40% of the property is unusable for 2 week (because it's being worked on), you should get a discount of 40% of 2 weeks rent.

I believe that rent abatement is often claimed retrospectively, once you know how much disruption has taken place. (Maybe keep a diary and take photos.)

Beyond that, I guess it's all down to negotiation.

Professor_De_Worms

Thanks for the quick replies. I think what I'll probably do is contact my landlady in writing and get her to list all work to be carried out, with an estimate of how long the work will take. From there, I can work out how disruptive the work is likely to be, and sort out any negotiated rent decrease (or rent abatement) as appropriate.

I've also just found out a landlord/lady must give 24 hours notice before entering a property, so I'll be having a word about that as well!

Argghhh

i feel sorry for you however most tenants complain that their landlord wont do repairs, wont replace kitchens, showers, carpets etc. I would go carefully here
if you asked me for a rebate i would say ok i will knock off £100 for inconvenience, then on tenancy renewal increase rent on a permanent basis.
Why not ask for assurances that the rent will not be increased after these improvements have been made? Landlady will be more ameniable to that i would say

MisterB1959

in my opinion you agreed a contract verbally, that the landlord could do the works, if you had said 'no' prior to renting then you may not have been allowed to take the property on, so it seems as though your option would be agree a time scale etc to reduce disruption to your sleep pattern