Advice Needed- Landlord refusing to fix something

devil1236

Hi, I'm new to the forum and it's my first post but maybe somebody will be able to help me. It will be a bit long but will try to explain it the best way possible.
A bit of a background which may looks not related at first but will make it easier to understand.
My girlfriend needed to move out quickly from her place due to the disagreement with her friend and didn't had much of a time to do, luckily for her there was an flat available which she could afford, was close to town centre, which was important for her due to not having a car. During the viewing everything was fine and place looked good and she was happy.
She decided to rent it. On the day she was signing the agreement she was told that unfortunately there was some accident and loundry room in the building is out of order but will be fixed and available as soon as the landlord will return from holidays next week, not so great but 1 week with me doing loundry for her didn't sound so bad so she signed it. Week or so later wasn't still fixed so she decided to contact landlord as advised by the agency and replied she received wasn't something she expected, copy below:

Hello. The main Issue with washroom was despite the notices in English and Polish to keep the door locked for health and safety legislation it was not.
A bicycle owned by tenant was stolen and the coin meter to Operate washing machine costing 300£ plus was smashed and the money taken. Other persons who were not tenants were using the machine without permission.
All tenants and Domlets were advised that the wash room would not be fixed or be put in operation because the tenants were not locking the door.
Under health and safety legislation and our insurance policy this had and in future was grave concern if not complied with. So it was decided to withdraw this facility.
Perhaps we can discuss this when we meet further.

Domlets were told about this.

So long story short it won't be fixed.
According to landlord, agency knew about it but said something completely different and now my girlfriend is left without a washing machine. I can and will help her anyway I can but with me living 45 minutes away from her and not having a car is a bit annoying for a long run.
So the question is, is there anything she can do to force them to fix it otherwise it will be very long 6 months because that's for how long she signed the agreement for.

Thank you and hopefully someone will be able to help.

need_an_answer

What does the tenancy agreement say about the communal use of the washroom,is it mentioned?

It would appear hat the facility has been withdrawn for all so its not just your girlfriend who is inconvenienced.

Its a situation where something is provided for tenants convenience but charged for separately should she choose to use it and may not be part of the tenancy agreement she signed.

A little bit like there being a very useful corner shop next door that is run by the LL but when it closes down there is no redress for the tenants.

Launderettes may be available locally that she could use and are often actually cheaper than facilities charged within HMO or student type accommodations.


When she looked round the property what sort of state was the laundry room in at that point,did she see evidence of vandalism?

If it is any consolation my child at university lives in a property of studio flats with a similar set up,although the washing machines function,in the year that they have lived there its almost impossible to get one that's not in use unless you want to wash during the night,hence finding the local launderette that actually has better facilities and is cheaper

[Deleted User]

As it is a paid for service rather than a washing machine provided as part of the tenancy and mentioned in the tenancy agreement, I don't believe your gf has any come back.

Hopefully she has enough clothes to last a week (assuming she sees you once a week) or can hand wash in an emergency. We've all done it. If she asks around she might be able to find a local launderette as already suggested.

I am sympathetic, it is a pain for your gf and not what she thought she was getting but we have all had to manage without laundry facilities in our early independent days.

devil1236

need_an_answer wrote: »

What does the tenancy agreement say about the communal use of the washroom,is it mentioned?

It would appear hat the facility has been withdrawn for all so its not just your girlfriend who is inconvenienced.

Its a situation where something is provided for tenants convenience but charged for separately should she choose to use it and may not be part of the tenancy agreement she signed.

A little bit like there being a very useful corner shop next door that is run by the LL but when it closes down there is no redress for the tenants.

Launderettes may be available locally that she could use and are often actually cheaper than facilities charged within HMO or student type accommodations.


When she looked round the property what sort of state was the laundry room in at that point,did she see evidence of vandalism?

If it is any consolation my child at university lives in a property of studio flats with a similar set up,although the washing machines function,in the year that they have lived there its almost impossible to get one that's not in use unless you want to wash during the night,hence finding the local launderette that actually has better facilities and is cheaper

Thank you for replying.
As far as I've seen there is no mention about washroom in the agreement apart from conversion with agency before signing the agreement. My GF wasn't able to inspect it prior because it was locked and agency rep didn't had a key and just explained her that it will be fixed after landlord will return and she will be able to get a key than, which looks like was a lie as well.

G_M

Either access to and use of the laundry room is part of the tenancy agreement, in which case she can enforce the contract and /or sue for her financial losses.


Or access to and use of the laundry room is not part of the tenancy agreement, in which case she can not enforce the contract and /or sue for her financial losses.

It is unclear which from your post, though it seems like the second.