Nightmare Flat, Nightmare Bills. Advice?

ProDave

Get the landlord to fix the fan.

Using just the towel rail for heating this time of the years is not enough, the room will be cold so condensation will occur especially without the fan working.

I don't see why the electricity company is being so awkward with the meter. But that is your issue not the landlords. It pays to make a complaint to the supplier and escalate the issue if you are not satisfied with their performance. Threaten them with taking it to the ombudsman.

The only gripe I see you have with the landlord is to fix the bathroom fan.

WibblyGirly

We have storage heaters in our small 2 bed house. We are on standard tariff and for about 4 months worth of electric (sept-Jan) our bill was about £260! Our storage heaters are dual ones so they do 4 hours off peak and 4 hours at peak rates.

Is the location of your house really that fantastic? In your situation, with the messing around with the heaters and very high electric bills, I'd be looking to get out of the contract and move somewhere else.

AaronPS

Hello Pixie,


I'm raising the complaint at the general service provided, appliances not working etc and the massive issues I've had sorting out the mess from the previous tenants which has left me out of pocket. I'm looking for them to fix the issues I've highlighted once and for all and offer a goodwill gesture.


In an ideal world I'd be looking for them to allow me out of my tenancy early and I'm some what shaping the conversation up for that. I'm fairly certain the landlord will be overseas and hands off as most are in my block.


I've been on the reverse side of things previously with Martin and Co and I didn't leave the place in any great state and they basically charged me for cleaning and no damages. I think they've taken absolutely no care in getting anything sorted.


In a nutshell. I want the issues fixing within good time once and for all. I want either a good will gesture and or to negotiate an early tenancy settlement. I've asked what the break fee is multiple times is but just never get an e-mail back.


I'm looking at it from my jobs perspective really and that an advisor would have a responsibility to the client but managing agents seem to be so blase that I don't think they care.

AaronPS

In response to Wibbly & Pro Dave.


Issue with the electricity is that British Gas have no as to how the storage heater system should work. I've escalated the complaint as far as it can go and have eventually settled for compensation but now that I want to move to another supplier I'm looking at 2-3 months whilst it changes again.


If the letting agent had informed me in any way shape or form how the electricity works then it would have effected my decision to move into the property and or had taken responsibility to find out what needed to be done. In essence they just told me to get on with it and I've had massive issues in the meantime (won't happen again)


I would think the managing agent/landlord would have some responsibility to check the property for electicity settings, water settings, appliances working correctly etcetc before I moved in instead of dumping a bunch of issues on me.


In an ideal world I'd love to move out of the property but we are tied in and I hope by raising a complaint we can now finally address the issues properly and I also want to express my dissatisfaction with the higher up's in Martin and Co as to how little their staff have done to help.

Pixie5740

AaronPS wrote: »

I'm looking at it from my jobs perspective really and that an advisor would have a responsibility to the client but managing agents seem to be so blase that I don't think they care.

Letting agents do have a responsibility to their client. However, you are not their client, you have no contract with Martin & Co, their client is the landlord. Your contract is with the landlord named in your tenancy agreement, that is who is responsible for necessary repairs in the property, that is who ultimately decides if you can mutually agree to surrender the tenancy, not Martin & Co.

AaronPS

Fair enough I was under the impression that they are the managing agent/broker and they have a responsibility to their client the landlord and then me.