PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Hello Forumites! In order to help keep the Forum a useful, safe and friendly place for our users, discussions around non-MoneySaving matters are not permitted per the Forum rules. While we understand that mentioning house prices may sometimes be relevant to a user's specific MoneySaving situation, we ask that you please avoid veering into broad, general debates about the market, the economy and politics, as these can unfortunately lead to abusive or hateful behaviour. Threads that are found to have derailed into wider discussions may be removed. Users who repeatedly disregard this may have their Forum account banned. Please also avoid posting personally identifiable information, including links to your own online property listing which may reveal your address. Thank you for your understanding.
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Rented property 20+ years - neglect

Options
So my mother has rented her property for over 20 years. Landlord has never done works, no gas safety check, repairs, nothing. Only fitted a new boiler after 20+ years, 3 days ago because council ordered him to.

Mum has suffered over the years, now has been discharged after being treated for pneumonia.

After a bit of advice, can we legally sue landlord for neglect?
«134

Comments

  • theartfullodger
    theartfullodger Posts: 15,685 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 27 May 2016 at 5:55PM
    Sorry to read your story. Is this England? Is the landlord a private individual or council or housing association (or the crown, or a housing co-operative....)

    Does your mother have an Assured Tenancy??
    http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/private_renting/private_renting_agreements/assured_tenancies
    (That she has signed an Assured Shorthold Tenancy may not mean she has one..)

    What actual financial losses has your mother suffered?

    I would start with a calm polite letter from mum to landlord (yes, WRITE! - keep copy) listing issues. See here for draft...
    http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets/reporting_repairs_to_a_landlord

    Why did she not take action over the past 20 years, please?

    "We" can't sue: Mum could: She might not win. I CAN sue Dave Cameron for being a smarmy PO fella.....
  • paddedjohn
    paddedjohn Posts: 7,512 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    Why did she put up with it for 20 years?
    Be Alert..........Britain needs lerts.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    No she can't sue for neglect.

    She can however force the landlord to undertake certain repairs & maintenance, but seemingly she knows this already since she has apparantly got the council to force the LL to install a new boiler.

    What ese needs doing?

    See also

    * Repairing Obligations: the law, common misconceptions, reporting/enforcing, retaliatory eviction & the new protection (2015)
  • dancingfairy
    dancingfairy Posts: 9,069 Forumite
    I don't think your mother can sue as it was her decision to stay there and continue renting it.
    It is a shame she didn't know her rights but hopefully now she will be a bit more clued up and can stand up for herself and get essential repairs done.
    Df
    Making my money go further with MSE :j
    How much can I save in 2012 challenge
    75/1200 :eek:
  • glasgowdan
    glasgowdan Posts: 2,967 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    What a stinking attitude, "can we sue"!

    Why?

    Will money make your mother better? Of course not. Move to another rented property if it's that bad.
  • fairy_lights
    fairy_lights Posts: 9,220 Forumite
    If it's that bad why didn't she move out years ago?
  • hinton7
    hinton7 Posts: 8 Forumite
    Money is not issue. What i am getting at is, the landlord has NEVER done anything to the property. He has basically let the house rot. Never abided by ANY laws in regards to Gas Safety Checks, Running Hot Water, Heating and single glazed windows... We are not after money, we are after the LL getting some sort of punishment for going back to india, collecting rent money and avoiding his tennant. I can count on one hand how many times i have seen him.

    No need for peoples snotty comments.
  • theartfullodger
    theartfullodger Posts: 15,685 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 28 May 2016 at 5:34PM
    So is there no agent? If so unless he has provided mum with paperwork from HMRC she should be withholding 20% of rent for taxman. Problem is, if that is the case, taxman will want a lot of money for past 20 years.
    (This applies regardless of which non-UK country a landlord is residing in).

    Does she have an address in England or Wales "for the service of notices" on him?? If not no rent is due.

    May I please, politely, calmly & hopefully not snottily, repeat
    What actual financial losses has your mother suffered?

    I would start with a calm polite letter from mum to landlord (yes, WRITE! - keep copy) listing issues. See here for draft...
    http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets/reporting_repairs_to_a_landlord

    Why did she not take action over the past 20 years, please?
  • Cheeky_Monkey
    Cheeky_Monkey Posts: 2,072 Forumite
    hinton7 wrote: »
    Money is not issue. What i am getting at is, the landlord has NEVER done anything to the property. He has basically let the house rot. Never abided by ANY laws in regards to Gas Safety Checks, Running Hot Water, Heating and single glazed windows... We are not after money, we are after the LL getting some sort of punishment for going back to india, collecting rent money and avoiding his tennant. I can count on one hand how many times i have seen him.

    No need for peoples snotty comments.
    I assume you are referring to people asking why she put up with it for 20 years. A perfectly reasonable question IMO and one which you seem reluctant to answer.
  • hinton7
    hinton7 Posts: 8 Forumite
    Mum had no choice to put up with it as the council did not want to know. Cannoy withold rent as the housing pay it straight to LL. There is no agent no. When we asked if he wil do the work, he used to always say, you fix i pay you.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.7K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.7K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.5K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.8K Life & Family
  • 256.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.