Landlord-behaving badly, please help!

betterlatethannever

Hello.
I moved into my rented property on 7/08/06. The same day a gas safety certificate was done.
I expected to auotmatically have a test done this year in August, but nothing happened. I contacted the agent, by email, and reminded them the certificate was now a month out of date and heard nothing. I then rang and left a message on the answer phone and still nothing! its now 3 months out of date.
I have other issues that worry me as well. 5 months ago the aerial fell off the roof (its hanging upside down) and i have no TV picture. I contacted the agents who said it was my responsibliity. I checked the AST contract and there was no mention of the aerial. I then went to CAB and they have said it is the LL responsibility. I contacted the LL and, again have heard nothing.
Last December all the lights blew upstaires due to an electrical fault and it took 6 weeks of calls to get it sorted! no fun on dark nights.:eek:
I really really can't afford to move at the moment and i'm worried if i hassle him he'll just asked me to move out, but i'm fed up paying nearly 600 pm and being ignored when theres problems.
How can i politly, but firmly let him no this can't carry on (not game for a confrontation right now, and i really don't want to be chucked out if i can avoid it)

daisy_doughnut_2

hi

you can tell him you have been in contact with the acredited land lords association for advice on the issues you have raised they advised you that you was well within your right to make an offical complaint
also if you was to have a spot check (which they have been known to do) from the gas company they would automaticly turn of your supply an fine the LL
just tell them that you really dont want to go down this route but are feeling like your complaints are being ignored an you expect to have a reply asap or you will be following up on all advice given

this once happened to me an i ended up calling the local council who deal with LL they came out an did an inspection an ordered the LL to the the work required within a time frame or he would be fined an struck off as to letting his houses again

good luck

betterlatethannever

Thanks for that Daisy d.
As its private rented do i call the gas board and let them know or is it still the council ?
I'll run up a letter containing some of your useful info and see if that gets a response.
Just hope he doesn't evict me!
Thanks

bigpat

Hi,

Your situation - and your landlord - sounds atrocious. I rent out two flats and I would never treat my customers (for that's what they are) in this way.

I'll be honest I'm not certain about the TV aerial but I think it's the landlord's responsibility. It's FXED (or supposed to be) to the structure of the building, therefore it's for him to sort out. Whether he is legally obliged to provide you with the means of reciving TV siognals is another matter and I'm afraid I just don't know.

But he DOES have to provide an up to date gas safety certificate. That's the LAW as stated in the "Gas Safety (Installations and Use) Regulations 1994/96". Similar regulations cover electrical installations, like your meter etc.

I agree with daisy doughnut 2 that its time to complain. To your landlord initially but you need to let him know that you wont be fobbed off any longer and that your next complaint will be to the local authority. You should also cnsioder witholding rent (or part of)

I know the risk of him not renewing your tenancy when it comes up is hanging over you, but I would REALLY look around for somewhere else. You don't need this joker.

bigpat

I should have typed FIXED.

And I've just spotted the line in your signature about if you think nobody cares. Ha ha..very good. You should try that on yor landlord!

bigpat

Can I get smoe new fnigres plaese? My tpying has gnoe to the dgos!

daisy_doughnut_2

im not sure what area your in but i know i call tansco
just call your gas provider they can tell you
or call the councill an ask for enviromental health department
you may be best doing the later as if the gas people know where you live they will just cut your gas off an its cold out there..lol
but in saying that an not to worry you -- you never know with gas if its not been checked as they have to do a check on all gas things in the house cooker/boiler

the enviormental health will give you lots of info on where you stand an whta your rights are with out taking direct action unless you ask them to

sooz

Call your local council, and speak to someone in the private housing office.

No point in calling Transco, as they are the people to call in the event of a gas leak.

Put your concerns and problems in WRITING to your Landlord, and give him a timescale to deal with them.

thesaint

I believe that the aerial will be your responsibility to fix if you want its use.

With regards to the gas certificate, what I would do is write the letting agent and tell them if it isn't done by 'x' date then you will get it done yourself and deduct the amount from your next rental payment.

You are not allowed to do this, but they are unlikely to do anything as they would be silly to take you to court and subsequently explain why you took the action you did.

clutton_2

DO not stop paying your rent - that means he can evict you very easily and very quickly. i would go to the local council private lettings office and get them to write to the landlord for you

Debt_Free_Chick

Re the aerial ....

There is no requirement for an LL to provide an aerial for TV reception. However, if the property had a working aerial when you first moved in, then that is what you're entitled to. You rent "as is" with whatever facilities are in place at that time. (Unusually, the aerial might have been fitted by a previous tenant, with the LL's permission. In some cases, the aerial is then specifically excluded as a facility offered by the LL on the inventory. This quite rare though and I guess doesn't apply here).

As the aerial was working and you had TV reception when you moved in, it has to continue to be a feature of the property.

If the tenancy agreement states that it's your responsibility, then you need to fix it.

If the tenancy agreement states nothing, then the LL has to fix it.