Landlord complaints/issues

elljay

I live in a rented house too that I love in a great area which is now home and have some of these issues. Although the landlord never fixes anything I report (in writing as you are supposed to) I've now just about given up. It drives me mad that they're happy for us to maintain their asset as well as pay rent. However if I want to stay here then it's what I have to do.

Chimney - I've stuffed a pillow into a bin bag and shoved it up the chimney. There's a bit hanging down to remind me or anyone else it's there but the fire is unusable anyway as the liner is shot. I then cut a bit of hardboard to cover the hole at the front, use velcro, magnets or just wedge in in place, whatever works for your fireplace, then paint it and put a big plant in front of it. I had to take out the grate, but it's in the shed and will be replaced when I move.Makes a huge difference. I know you're supposed to ensure airway but the house is so draughty anyway and the chimney freezing, I'm not suffering for that!

Blown plaster - either hack it off and fill with filler, or chip it off and paint and stick a chair/bookcase etc in front of it. I've loads of this. Unless of course you have a mate who's a plasterer. Similarly cracks in ceiling. As this house is so old, cold and draughty, I don't know about damp. Depends how bad it is really - if it's causing mould, running walls etc, then environmental health need to see. However it doesn't sound like that.

Carpets, just hire (beg/borrow) a vax and do it yourself. Carpets look (and smell) wonderful afterwards. No reason to tell him, nothing to do with him, it's in the same league as any other cleaning, you wouldn't tell him you were planning on cleaning the windows!

My feeling is that however much these should be the landlord's problems to put right, if I want to stay here in a very old house in the most gorgeous part of the country, I just have to do whatever hacks, as cheap as possible, that I can to make it into a nice home for me.

And tell them that 3 monthly inspections are ridiculous outside of the first few months/year of tenancy. I believe there's some sort of law against landlords chucking you out because you've complained too much, but haven't really looked into it as I can't imagine it has much clout. He's very unlikely to anyway as you're a good tenant, it would cost him a fortune in readvertising, new agreements, void period and so on. Good luck, I really feel for you, renting is a pain sometimes!

Comms69

elljay wrote: »

I live in a rented house too that I love in a great area which is now home and have some of these issues. Although the landlord never fixes anything I report (in writing as you are supposed to) I've now just about given up. It drives me mad that they're happy for us to maintain their asset as well as pay rent. However if I want to stay here then it's what I have to do.

Chimney - I've stuffed a pillow into a bin bag and shoved it up the chimney. There's a bit hanging down to remind me or anyone else it's there but the fire is unusable anyway as the liner is shot. I then cut a bit of hardboard to cover the hole at the front, use velcro, magnets or just wedge in in place, whatever works for your fireplace, then paint it and put a big plant in front of it. I had to take out the grate, but it's in the shed and will be replaced when I move.Makes a huge difference. I know you're supposed to ensure airway but the house is so draughty anyway and the chimney freezing, I'm not suffering for that!

Blown plaster - either hack it off and fill with filler, or chip it off and paint and stick a chair/bookcase etc in front of it. I've loads of this. Unless of course you have a mate who's a plasterer. Similarly cracks in ceiling. As this house is so old, cold and draughty, I don't know about damp. Depends how bad it is really - if it's causing mould, running walls etc, then environmental health need to see. However it doesn't sound like that.

Carpets, just hire (beg/borrow) a vax and do it yourself. Carpets look (and smell) wonderful afterwards. No reason to tell him, nothing to do with him, it's in the same league as any other cleaning, you wouldn't tell him you were planning on cleaning the windows!

My feeling is that however much these should be the landlord's problems to put right, if I want to stay here in a very old house in the most gorgeous part of the country, I just have to do whatever hacks, as cheap as possible, that I can to make it into a nice home for me.

And tell them that 3 monthly inspections are ridiculous outside of the first few months/year of tenancy. I believe there's some sort of law against landlords chucking you out because you've complained too much, but haven't really looked into it as I can't imagine it has much clout. He's very unlikely to anyway as you're a good tenant, it would cost him a fortune in readvertising, new agreements, void period and so on. Good luck, I really feel for you, renting is a pain sometimes!

What does that even mean? It's a law that stops eviction, how much more clout do you want it to have?!

elljay

Comms69 wrote: »

What does that even mean? It's a law that stops eviction, how much more clout do you want it to have?!

How would you ever prove anything? If I took my landlord to court claiming revenge eviction, he could say the eviction wasn't anything to do with that, it was cos he wanted the house back (to sell, for his granny or whatever). I'd still have to leave. Lots of laws don't have clout these days!

Comms69

elljay wrote: »

How would you ever prove anything? If I took my landlord to court claiming revenge eviction, he could say the eviction wasn't anything to do with that, it was cos he wanted the house back (to sell, for his granny or whatever). I'd still have to leave. Lots of laws don't have clout these days!

Because the law prevents the use of s.21 notices; assuming you follow the guidelines when reporting.


You wouldn't take him to court (not sure why you think that you would, do you understand how eviction works?); it would be a defence for you to use when the LL goes to court to seek possession.


So no, you wouldn't have to leave. Your 'reasons' are not legal reasons to require possession.


So what you actually mean is 'I have no idea how the law works'.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

LLs that ignore serious damp problems that will cause expensive structural damage to their house are confirmed idiots.

LLs that visit their garage regularly are annoying.

Is the house really nice enough to put up with this? I don't think the behaviour is going to change.

Marvel1

domgreenslade wrote: »

He's able to check up on the garden whenever he wants to,he'll just come round to use his garage connected to the garden, and then we will get an email from the letting agent telling us that the buddleia could do with a trim, or similar.

Do you then do it?

elljay

Comms69 wrote: »

Because the law prevents the use of s.21 notices; assuming you follow the guidelines when reporting.


You wouldn't take him to court (not sure why you think that you would, do you understand how eviction works?); it would be a defence for you to use when the LL goes to court to seek possession.


So no, you wouldn't have to leave. Your 'reasons' are not legal reasons to require possession.


So what you actually mean is 'I have no idea how the law works'.

:kisses:Whatever the mechanics, if the landlord wants you to leave he will get his way in the end, and get another poor tenant in who doesn't question his care of the place. Hopefully the OP will get proper advice rather than from a forum, if it ever came to that.

Lots of landlords and tenants have no idea about their rights and responsibilities, else why is this forum so active? My landlord wouldn't know a S21 from a jar of jam, and he's obviously not the only one to know how to behave in his business role! However I've also just remembered why I stopped posting on this forum, the poor OP has genuine worries about the house and the landlord/agent yet has been accused of writing a 'wind-up' and generally been put down. My response was as a result of having been there and done it but the constant put downs and 'holier than though' attitudes means that it'll probably be another few years until I venture here again!!

Good luck OP

EJ
X

FBaby

OP, you need to read about your rights... and lack of. You are letting the LL overstepped on his position but at the same expecting things from him that you can't demand.

The cracks on the walls. Well old houses (and not so old) do tend to crack. Unless it's a huge one that threatens the structure, it is something that most people live with.

The issue with the chimney again is not something he has to sort out. Ideally, he would but then his view might depend on the rent you pay. Is it under market, has he increased it every year. If not, he might consider that you are getting a good deal as it is (and indeed, you seem not to want to move). Surely there is something you could do yourself at low cost?

The rising damp is another matter. Are you sure this is what it is rather than condensation? How bad is it? Your LL is a fool if it's been evidenced to be rising damp and he is doing nothing about it because it will only get worse. If so, surely you'll be moving at some point anyway. Make sure you keep evidence of you having raised the issue, chased and had confirmation from the LL that he won't do anything about it.

The point is that when it comes to these grey areas, you need to pick your battles.

Cakeguts

elljay wrote: »

:kisses:Whatever the mechanics, if the landlord wants you to leave he will get his way in the end, and get another poor tenant in who doesn't question his care of the place. Hopefully the OP will get proper advice rather than from a forum, if it ever came to that.

Lots of landlords and tenants have no idea about their rights and responsibilities, else why is this forum so active? My landlord wouldn't know a S21 from a jar of jam, and he's obviously not the only one to know how to behave in his business role! However I've also just remembered why I stopped posting on this forum, the poor OP has genuine worries about the house and the landlord/agent yet has been accused of writing a 'wind-up' and generally been put down. My response was as a result of having been there and done it but the constant put downs and 'holier than though' attitudes means that it'll probably be another few years until I venture here again!!

Good luck OP

EJ
X

There are a number of posts on here that come up from time to time where tenants complain about the repair of their property which was like it when they moved in. I don't know about you but I wouldn't rent a house that was damp and looked to be in bad repair with cracks in the walls and ceilings. I would find a different one that was in good repair. There generally isn't much difference in the cost of the rent of a house in good repair and one not in good repair in the same area. It is always better to go for a smaller house in a less expensive area that is in good repair than a larger one in a poor state of repair in a premier area. You can have bad landlords in all areas. Having the money to buy a house in a top area isn't the same as being a good manager of a rented property. Basically buying space to live is the same as anything else you buy. You get what you pay for.