Cracked window in our daughters flat...

BertieUK

Our daughter and her partner rent a 'third floor' flat in Portsmouth and have been there for at least two years.


Recently one of the windows has cracked in a couple of places on inside pane of the double glazing, the pane has suffered from condensation during their period renting this flat, and has been misted over.


The cracks appeared first thing one morning when they got up and must have cracked during the night.


The pane that has cracked is situated directly above an electric heater, which is a fitment in the flat.


The couple contacted the Landlord to report the matter and they were visited by a maintenence man who checked the pane and said that they would need to pay for any work required.


We would like some advice please in how to approach this matter.


Thank you...

MobileSaver

BertieUK wrote: »

The couple contacted the Landlord to report the matter and they were visited by a maintenence man who checked the pane and said that they would need to pay for any work required.

We would like some advice please in how to approach this matter.

Unless their tenancy agreement says otherwise, normally broken glass is the responsibility of the tenant unless they have compelling evidence the LL was responsible in some way?

So the approach would be to arrange for the repair and then pay the man, I'm afraid.

BertieUK

MobileSaver wrote: »

Unless their tenancy agreement says otherwise, normally broken glass is the responsibility of the tenant unless they have compelling evidence the LL was responsible in some way?

So the approach would be to arrange for the repair and then pay the man, I'm afraid.

Thank you for your advice in this matter.


The fact that this and another window has blown, I find it as a home owner, quite difficult to accept that the tenant should have to do the repairs and not come under general maintenance of the property as it and another window seal has blown, from what looks like the age of the windows.





Regards...

G_M

Well if you believe the landlord should pay, what advice do you want here?

Best thing to do would be to write to the LL at the proper address stating your claim.

BertieUK

G_M wrote: »

Well if you believe the landlord should pay, what advice do you want here?

Best thing to do would be to write to the LL at the proper address stating your claim.

Thank you for your advice which seems to be rather abrupt if I may say so, not what I would expect from this Forum.

MobileSaver

BertieUK wrote: »

quite difficult to accept that the tenant should have to do the repairs and not come under general maintenance of the property.

Many repairs are the landlord's responsibility but unfortunately "replacement of broken glass" is normally a specific exemption where instead the tenant is responsible.

G_M

BertieUK wrote: »

Thank you for your advice which seems to be rather abrupt if I may say so, not what I would expect from this Forum.

I was responding to your post apparantly rejecting the advice given by MobileSaver.

I'm also unclear whether you issue is with the broken glass, or the misting. My own view is that a broken pane would be down to the tenant. Failed double glazing resulting in misting, would be down to the LL, though I'm uncertain a tenant could enforce a repair - it's hardly a major issue, more a slight inconvenience not being able to see out clearly.

Mardle

Was the landlord aware that the windows were misted due to blown seals?

HardSpend

Don't agree that broken windowpane means T responsibility, it depends how it broke! The way you describe it it is down to thermal stress and LL responsibility. Was this maintenance man speaking on behalf of the LL or just assuming that any windowpane break means tenant pays or what. Has the LL said to T they have to pay because any breakage is T responsibility or perhaps that T actually broke this windowpane? You might need to get your own glazier in, someone with experience may be able to tell from where the cracks have formed.

FBaby

they were visited by a maintenence man who checked the pane and said that they would need to pay for any work required.

I wouldn't take the word of a maintenance man. What does he know who should pay what. He might have just meant that he was expecting his money there and then, from whoever.

Contact the LL or the agency and say that you're contacting them to confirm they will be paying for the work and see what they say. How old are the windows?

Slinky

BertieUK wrote: »

The pane that has cracked is situated directly above an electric heater, which is a fitment in the flat.
..

Most radiators/heaters are situated below windows