Problems with landlord

Murphybear

Another problem, hope you can help

It has turned cold here suddenly and we discovered in the middle of the night that we had no water, either hot or cold.
We spoke to the landlord who lives next door and he told us he had turned the water off :eek:. His insurance company told him to because it was very cold, below freezing. We don’t know what time this happened but he said it was late so couldn’t let us know.

Surely this must be wrong, turning a tenants water off without telling them? Or even turning it off at all? His reasoning is that we don’t heat the house enough which is ridiculous because we are pensioners and keep it nice and warm and he has never been inside the house once since we have been here in August.

AdrianC

He's an idiot. By all means, turn the water off on an empty property... but not on one that's occupied.

JennyP

I am totally shocked!

Has he turned it back on? He can't just leave you without water!

Do you live in an area where landlords need a license? If so, you could report.

theartfullodger

Write (yes, WRITE! - keep copy) to landlord instructing him (not asking) to turn the water back on as turning water off is harassment, a criminal offence. See
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/harassment_by_a_private_landlord

Report turning off water to Police: They will probably say "nah, civil matter innitt": Point out harassment is a criminal matter. Get a CRN (Police reference number).

Contact council housing department, point out water cut off & request "HHSRS" inspection.

In your letter to landlord point & list any other repair issues.

What else has this landlord "forgotten" to get right? Gas safety certificate, declaring the rent to tax man, serving you with an EPC? How do you pay rent - please don't tell us cash no receipt.

Hope this is sorted soon. Best wishes

Murphybear

Thanks guys.

We live on a farm, the landlord (who is an idiot) lives next door. The stopcock to our property is not in our house but in the boiler house which we do not have access to, it is under lock and key.

I have contacted the council by email but they can take 5 days to get back to us. We might go and see them, West Devon is quite good.

Thank god we are leaving this miserable house and ratbag of a landlord (sorry I don!!!8217;t normally speak like that but on this occasion ...) on 16 th March. We have been offered a 3 bedroomed over 60s property, no fees, no referencing and no deposit. Can!!!8217;t wait

Ps has anybody reported the annoying apostrophe?

fairy_lights

Do you know where the stopcock is? Is it somewhere that you can access to turn it back on?
What a prize winning twazzock!


Edit: never mind, just seen your update.
Is he refusing to turn it back on?

Murphybear

JennyP wrote: »

I am totally shocked!

Has he turned it back on? He can't just leave you without water!

Do you live in an area where landlords need a license? If so, you could report.

He doesn’t need a license. Can’t even complain to SW Water because the water supply is from the landlords well

Murphybear

fairy_lights wrote: »

Do you know where the stopcock is? Is it somewhere that you can access to turn it back on?
What a prize winning twazzock!


Edit: never mind, just seen your update.
Is he refusing to turn it back on?

He said he wanted to come into the house to check all the radiators work and the house is warm before he turns it back on. He said we would have to wait until he had his breakfast.:(

Murphybear

theartfullodger wrote: »

Write (yes, WRITE! - keep copy) to landlord instructing him (not asking) to turn the water back on as turning water off is harassment, a criminal offence. See
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/eviction/harassment_by_a_private_landlord

Report turning off water to Police: They will probably say "nah, civil matter innitt": Point out harassment is a criminal matter. Get a CRN (Police reference number).

Contact council housing department, point out water cut off & request "HHSRS" inspection.

In your letter to landlord point & list any other repair issues.

What else has this landlord "forgotten" to get right? Gas safety certificate, declaring the rent to tax man, serving you with an EPC? How do you pay rent - please don't tell us cash no receipt.

Hope this is sorted soon. Best wishes

Thanks for this, very useful.

One of the ensuites has no hot water, we reported it 4 months ago. Just a minor inconvenience as we have other bathrooms. One of the bedrooms had an old leak in the ceiling. When he reported it he said it would keep until we left.

Rent is paid by standing order, waster is paid by cash to him (his well), refused to give receipts hence major arguments and incorrectly servespd S21.

[Deleted User]

So sorry this is happening to you. Wish there was something legal you could do to make his life difficult. Waiting to have his breakfast while you can't even make tea/coffee is totally unbelievable.

Take your kettle round to him and say you need water to drink, and remind him leaving you without water is a reportable offense (to environmental health).

Out,_Vile_Jelly

Great that you're leaving next month, but your LL needs to realise that he's done something seriously stupid.