catch 22

pether2907

hi everyone advice please

my girlfriend rents a two bed house for 55 a week privately basically its a dump. it needs living windows double glazing so i asked ll if he does it she will renew contract she can give notice this week the money she saves in rent is goin out in heating. he has refused but my girlfriend wants to rent off the council but if she gives her notice to ll she will be making herself intentionally homeless and not be a priority. meanwhile shell have to sign 4 another six months til she finds sumwere thanks in advance andy

MrShed

Shes doesnt have to sign for another 6 months, she can continue renting the property on a periodic basis(commonly called a "rolling" tenancy). Then, should the landlord wish to evict, they would have to issue a Section 21 notice giving 2 months notice, and then take the issue to court, giving your GF at least another 3 months living there should she so wish.

Running_Horse

£55 a week for a 2 bed house is pretty good value; it would cost 3 times as much here. Not sure what a living window is, but if the house is substandard, won't that put her up the council waiting list? Or could the council force the landlord to improve the property, especially if there are kids.

maninthestreet

The cost of replacing the living (room?) window with double glazing is probably not a worthwhile investment for the landlord, given that the rent being paid for the entire house is only £55/week. I suggest your girlfriend bites the bullet, signs up for another 6 months, and then actively starts looking for another property to rent. Unless your girlfriend has any children, she will not be a priority for a council house.

silvercar

The lack of double glazing doesn't make it sub-standard.

Sounds like a basic property at cheap rent.

Your GF has three choices:

a) stay where she is
b) find somewhere better and pay a higher rent
c) wait for council to allocate housing

option (c) could take 10 years unless she is considered needy.

CB1979_2

or she could always pay the £150-200 for the window??

if she really wants to stay there, and i'm sure the LL wouldn't mind that!

pether2907

the landlord has refused to renew window it is a bay window.

SquatNow

B&Q do cheap glazing panels that can be used for secondard double glazing.

If you buy the biggest sheets you can do a bay window for around £100.

They attach with plastic strips that you tack onto the frame.

Works great... I know I just did my GFs bedroom.

If it's just the window that bothers her then do that.