At wits end.....

dawn35

Hi Guys

Could really do with some advice here. I moved in to rented acoomodation in June after quite a few personal and financial crisises. Anyway I probably should have not rented this place but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

On signing the AST (has a break clause in 6 mnths, dec i think) i noticed a number of things that needed attention. I was assured by the LL that he would come round within the week and fix them, its oct now and after many calls im still waiting. Also when i first moved in i couldnt get the hot water to work. I called him and he told me what to do. Little did i know at the time that he was telling me to put the emmersion on. After recieving a massive bill i pulled him on this and he said that the emmersion doesnt work and he would come and look. Still no contact. Its bone cold in this house unless the emmersions on. I have cracked glass above the doors in the bathroom and sons bedroom. Damp in my bedroom. Constant condensation even when its not cold, a hole in the roof which isnt isulated,a cracked plug socket in the kitchen which has already given me a shock, a dishwasher that worked for a week, a cooker (hob) thats on a slant god the list goes on and on.

Now thats just half of it. When i first moved in, never rented before, i kept asking him for his bank details so i could set up a standing order. He put me off for 2 months and kept coming round for the rent in cash. Last month he called a week late for his rent, due on the 15th and I said that i dont want to pay cash anymore and i need his bank details. So i have set up a standing order and the last one went through at the end of last month. This one is due on friday. So i guess in effect im 2 weeks behind, but thats only because he didnt call me and i refused to pay him cash. He called my mobile last night to check when he was getting his rent and gave me a hard time about the 2 weeks behind.

This guy is driving me mad. My house is so cold unless i use this boiler which i cant afford. The gas saftley cert i was given says that the boilers not earthed or something but they passed it anyway. Me being and idiot didnt pick up on it.

Im also frightened of complaining too much in case he kicks me out. I have a 17 year old son and a dog and a cat. Its almost impossible to rent with animals and i dont know what to do anymore.

D x

dawn35

Oh i forgot, (dont now how) hot water doesnt work unless the emerssions on as well, plus the shower attachment doesnt work so know showers which drives my son mad.

Guy_Montag

You have a break clause, use it. Check what notice you need to give & give it.

This is an obvious example of a LL that doesn't give a toss. Find one that does, this one won't change.

Good luck.

ps. once you're out & you've got your deposit back (I'd be tempted, in this case, to leave you last month's rent in lieu of rent), shop him to HMRC anonymously.

moneysavinmonkey

Hi there. Sorry to here about your problems looks like you have got yourself a bit of an amateur landlord there. I think you need to make few phone calls...

Shelter (0808 800 4444) are fantastic with pretty much every kind of housing issue and will advise you of your legal rights as well as practically what you need to do. They have even offered to write to my landlord on my behalf.

I would also recommend calling your Council housing officer (private tenancies) about the damp + heating problems - if you landlord doesn't have a gas safety certificate or the furniture doesn't meeting the fire regulations they will contact the landlord about this.

Another thing to check is did you landlord take a deposit and if so has he provided you with details oh which protection scheme you money is registered with. If not you can get compensation from him of 3x the amount of the deposit.

I would advise you to look for somewhere else to rent & check your tenancy agreement so you can give you notice in and move somewhere else asap!

Make sure you keep paying your rent and on time, as you don't want to give your landlord any ammunition to defend his actions!

dawn35

Thankyou so much for your responses.

I have been looking around but im stuck as i have no savings and people want money up front , plus i have the animals. Theres no way I could get the money together to move right now, the rent heres £900.00 pcm. I feel really stuck. Id love to tell him to stick the house.

Guy_Montag

Try to find out if there's a local bond scheme (click here).

Have you considered housing association accommodation?

I think you need to consider which is more important to you: animals or a nice place to live. You may be able to get both, but it makes it harder.

dawn35

Thanks for the link. There is no way Id get rid of my dog or cat, its out of the question. I know a few people who think this way but my animals are a part of my family.

Thanks again

lynnexxxo

I'm sorry if I am being thick here, but is the emmersion that you talk about not the hot water heater? If you don't use it then how do you get hot water?

dawn35

Hi Lynne

Dont really understand the whole emmersion thing myself but ill try to explain. I can only have the hot water OR heating on, not at the same time. I have to switch it to priority of which one i want or either one doesnt work.

Unless the boilers on upstairs then the boiler which seems to be hanging on by a thread in the kitchen doesnt fire up. Ive hasked the LL to come and show me what to do. He always says he will and never shows.

lynnexxxo

That doesn't sound to healthy!

It definately passed its safety checks?

dawn35

apparently something or others no 'earthed' but he got a cert anyway, he probably promised to sort it. I cant get him to tell me whats going on because he never comes over unless he wants his rent.