Problems with landlord

murrays2

Hello all,

I have been renting a flat for 3 months. I had to send a letter, with a list of damages noted in the place. This was accepted.

One of the items listed was the carpet was fraying at the sides in places. In one of the bedrooms the carpet is actually fraying up in places, not just the sides.

The vinyl flooring in the kitchen is also blistering in places having washed it. He said it was air bubbles and he wasn't fixing it.

So he won't fix the carpet, nor the vinyl. The washing machine developed a leak and flooded the kitchen last month. He is not interested.

Tenancy agreement says if I leave early I forfeit my deposit. Do I just have to ride this out until it ends?

I can't hoover the carpet as pieces of carpet are fraying up. Its obviously cheap rubbish and I can't wash the vinyl as it will make the floor worse. He isn't interested in sorting it. He tried to fob me off when the carpet was fraying round the sides, saying it was just laid. Utter rubbish.

Do I just bite my lip and stick it out? I don't want to lose my deposit, equally I don't want him accusing me of damage to the carpet and vinyl. What do I do? I have sent a letter which he says he accepts. I suppose if he tried to keep my deposit, I would dispute it and show evidence of the letter being sent and emails, as proof.

Thanks

Slinky

Stop vacuuming the carpet and washing the floor! Become less house proud.

G_M

Providing you are reporting these issues properly (in writing to the address provided) you are covering yourself. So your deposit should not be affected.


If the LL chooses not to repair/replace, that is his choice I'm afraid. It is a false economy by him in my view, since you are likely to leaveand he willhave a 'void' with no rent between tenants. As a landlord - far better to keep your tenants happy so they stay long-term. But that's his choice!


The Landlord & Tenant Act 1985 S11 does not require him to maintain any of those items.

11 Repairing obligations in short leases.

(1)In a lease to which this section applies (as to which, see sections 13 and 14) there is implied a covenant by the lessor—

(a)to keep in repair the structure and exterior of the dwelling-house (including drains, gutters and external pipes),

(b)to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling-house for the supply of water, gas and electricity and for sanitation (including basins, sinks, baths and sanitary conveniences, but not other fixtures, fittings and appliances for making use of the supply of water, gas or electricity), and

(c)to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the dwelling-house for space heating and heating water.

murrays2

Thanks. Looks like I will just have to stick it out until May, when I go for my own mortgage.