Some problems in tenancy, how would you react?

FBaby

You're a mature student, so surely your studies are a bit investment. You must have made sacrifices to be able to do them. Yes, you are prepared to give it all up because of issues that are totally typical of these experienced by pupils. Surely it is a case of reminding you of the importance of getting your degree so you can get a better paid job afterwards, which mean that you will be able to afford better quality accommodation.

Re. the noise next door, are you sure you are not exaggerating? Because that's must amount to many floor boards pulled up if it's been going on for months. Surely that means that it's bound to be coming to an end now.

Vibrations from the road? Very common, be grateful you are not next to a overhead underground or train line. Those are the things you have to put up for cheaper accommodation, or in your case, a larger than average room. Most people in this situation say that you get used to it after some time and barely notice it any longer.

Wifi? Buy a booster yourself, even if it costs a bit. You'll be able to take it with you anyway, so not wasted money.

In any case, none of this is the Landlord's issue, so for you to sort out.

zamasu

essjae wrote: »

If your housemates find the wifi sufficient for streaming and gaming, than that suggests to me that the router is fine.

If the location of the router suits the majority of them better than where you want to move it to, why do you think your preference should take priority?
It's really not very wise falling out with the people you live with over such a trivial matter - why not sit down with them and have a reasoned discussion?

You can get a powerline kit for £20 on amazon - no need for running cables.

Actually the person in room next to me (well theres a bathroom in between us) complains all the time about the internet being unusable for long periods every day, so its not just me, the ones downstairs complain but only because they go from streaming quality (at HD) to being able to stream but buffering if router is moved a litte, and being able to stream SD if its in living room.

But me and the guy who was complaining about the wifi upstairs we also discussed other housemate problems like me and him only have 1 cupboard each for food (I was first to move in) as others have 3 cupboards each one person even had 4 to himself.

Its these same housemates who decided the router should go next to their room, so the house is literally devided depending on where you stay with the people in the front thinking they have it worst.

I even said when the internet was first connectd keep it in living room and buy a cheap booster as putting into an extension will cause speed issues and the guy just went "well its in the front now, it works so im not going to mess about with it"

So its a case of if its in the socket its meant to be EVERYONE can connect, I can connect the best person next to me almost as good, people in front of building get enough to stream but with some buffering.

Right now they get everything full speed, people at back like me get nothing or constant disconnections.

Its not my "preference" its where the router was meant to be in the first place, they moved it from where the engineer put it, in a location next to front door that people keep tripping over it due to cables all over floor (so a safety issue) by moving it then I can often not connect for hours at a time, another tenant cannot make skype calls to his family.

So in terms of numbers theres 2 people that cant connect, 2 that can and get fast speed and 1 person that can connect ok and isn't bothered where the router is, and in the original location 2 people can connect perfectly, and 3 can connect ok.

It makes the most sense to put the router back in its original position and have a extender in the hall, that will stop the safety risk of cables, mean everyone can connect, and also means there will be wifi in living room and kitchen.

Onto next person, well the "larger than average room" is smaller than the bedroom I had in a flat I meant larger than some other shared accomodation, to put it into perspective the biggest bedroom in house is over 3 times what I have, the next one up from mine is 2 times the size, we all pay the same rent.

So I have lived in smaller rooms over the years, its more like a small hotel single room size, it fits in bed, small desk, chest of drawers and a large wardbone and no free room.

And yes I haved lived next to busy roads quite a few times in my life, even across from a train line once and on a main bus route another time guests heard the noise at those properties but I never did so says how loud it is, put it into perspective I have my wifi aerial on my desk, when a large vehicle goes past it falls over.

Its not earthquake level, but again everyone in house complains about it.

About the neighbours it has been getting less common, it used to be almost all day every day, now its 30-60 minutes here and there and from what I can see the floorboards are down, and the skip at front is now gone.

The accomodation is only "cheaper" as it was flooded out last year (same reason why neighbour getting in new floors) so LL was boasting how he got everything new for free so he doesn't need to charge higher rent this year, his normal rent level which he will put it back to next year is £10-£15 more per week than other landlords.

The whole reason I wanted LL involved originally is because hes the account holder, and we depending on how you see it are paying the internet costs plus he told me when I viewed he wanted internet situation to be perfect for everyone.

That reminds me, a small issue with the light sensor at back of house, the on/off switch is in my room but the issue being it only comes on for like 5 seconds each time meaning if I go to take bins out I need a torch and defeats the purpose of an outside light.

Also I should mention I don't like one of the flatmates hes always intimidating other tenants, he bought a tv license when he moved in and knocked on everyones doors demanding they pay up or he will report us for watching tv without a license despite the fact none of us own a tv and I know I don't use Iplayer or watch live streaming.

So hes one of the two people who moved router and refuses to move it back because it works for him.

melanzana

Time to go back to Mammy a la Brendan O'Carroll methinks. She will listen to all your problems.

Nothing else will do.

I have never read such a catalogue of trivial issues before now.

FBaby

(I was first to move in)

So why or why didn't you pick the bigger room with the better wifi connection? Was your room cheaper and that's why you picked it?

In any case, as stated, your issues are with your housemates, not your landlord.

I don't want to be judgmental, but is it really a real nuisance that you need to use the torch to take the bin out (when of course you could do that during the day since as you say, you are in the house a lot during the day). All this is indeed very trivial and I can't imagine you've never faced worse conditions to cope with than this if you are a mature student.

vqmismatch

You can get a 50m ethernet cable on ebay for under a tenner. That should solve the problem for less than two pints and a packet of crisps cost when I left uni.

Also why don't you adjust the timer on the light...

shaundiamonds

Maybe buy some earplugs and go out more?

zamasu

melanzana wrote: »

Time to go back to Mammy a la Brendan O'Carroll methinks. She will listen to all your problems.

Nothing else will do.

I have never read such a catalogue of trivial issues before now.

I am disabled, my god what nasty individuals on here that love to talk down to people, maybe if you actually thought about it you would realise that 99.9% of everyday life I have no problems with but hear about the few things I do and I am somehow precious.

Just to let you know I have lived away from home for 10 years and worked until recently and decided to retrain myself as work dried up,

You think they are trivial because you are not looking at them in the same way, I am not thinking its the end of the world as much as explaining the reasons behind things but all you see is the end result.

Or to put it in language you understand, road noise, doesn't bother me that much just annoying when things can fall over if not careful, even neighbour noise more awkward and it shouldn't happen rather than me freaking out.

And when did I say these were the only reasons I was thinking of leaving the course? When in fact its that I had other problems such as health that have gotten worse just to let you know.

And wow my IT knowledge means I can find a non existant timer, and wow I never would of thought to look for some form of timer would of I?

By the way yes I can take bins out earlier but as its dark early and im not home from 5-6 most nights at this time of year its dark by time I get back or when I go to class, and as the bins go out on a weekday I can't do that at weekend and council won't let you put them out before 7pm the night before anyway.

For Shaun, yes if you read back I said I had a wired network at previous property, but the issue is unless I put the cable under carpet or staple it to the walls it will be a safety hazard, I can get ethernet cable for free from the uni due to my course but I'd rather not do that unless I have to.

I was thinking of contacting LL originally mentioning is it ok to do something like that but I doubt he wants his brand new carpet lifted to put some cable under.

Fbaby I said in previous post rooms were the same price, the reason I got this room as it was the last one left unless I went to his other house where it was even smaller, just a single bed, desk and a small bedside cabinet in room. I actually wanted that house more than this but its a squeeze as is as I need a lot of space to take stuff apart.

Finally I never intended to let this get out of hand, I was just discussing reasons for things, it was other people who made assumptions on the situation to which I replied such as if someone said why do I think things should go my way, well I am saying that others have decided its their way with no compromise, and thus I gave compromises and was ignored. so it can get agrivating when the assumption is I am the one who has to agree with the majority when there is no majority.

D_M_E

WIFI - have you tried logging in to the router's admin and setting the wifi channel to afixed option, such as one of the first 3 or one of the last 2 channels - there could be interference from a nearby router broadcasting on the same channel.

Prothet_of_Doom

If I was your Landlord, I would refuse to get involved in the Noise issues.
And I wouldn't have provided Wifi, but would have charged less for the room, and told you to sort it yourselves.
Something like this : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bt-broadband-extender-500-kit-/172403047181?hash=item282405bb0d:g:5yUAAOSwnbZYIpkH

[Deleted User]

1) Try a wired connection, I know wi fi is usually a lot worse than wired so always use wired connections. Cable can be purchased cheaply from ebay (I've purchased 10 and 20M lengths) and then either put under carpet using a cable rod, or clip to skirting board.

2) You seem, from what you are saying, to have half a required conversation with the LL. If you are complaining about the wifi and he is telling you to phone ISP then have you asked him for the account details so you can sort it? He will probably also need to phone the ISP to give you authority over the account. If he won't, say the service is defective, ask for a refund. Might work, might not.

3) Or use the library

4) Or find another way to access the internet (buy your own service). Not ideal but surely better than leaving your course (think of the thousands wasted in student loans for fees etc).

5) If really unhappy there, do the coffee/cake approach recommended by GM and see if he'll release you from the tenancy agreement. You might have to find an alternative tenant.

But I hope the wired connection suggestion will help.

6)Can't do anything about traffic noise/vibrations.

7) I'm afraid there's no instant solution to the building noise. What you can do has already been suggested, but unless you are working night shifts it shouldn't be disturbing your sleep. When I had a similiar problem when doing nights as a nurse, I spoke to the builders and they were probably more understanding than they would have been if I had been doing some other job (might be worth mentioning this). I'd be knocking on their door at 10pm if there was noise at that time.

I can see you have looked at some of these suggestions since I started writing and discarded them. Unfortunately, these are the solutions available to you. BTW you don't have to lift carpet to put cable under it. I haven't with a carpet rod. I've even been known to use a metal rod I had available to trace cable under a carpet!