Drafty Windows.

hb2

OP, how far away from the property are you? It does sound as if you need to visit and check this out in person if possible.

Incidentally, where in the UK are you? Cos we haven't seen anything approaching 'freezing cold' here this winter yet, temps are still in double figures most days!

Retireby40

Again thanks for the responses.

Unfortunately I work abroad a lot so I wont be back until June.

The house is in Northern Ireland so while it is cold it isnt freezing. Somewhere between 7-10oC.

I will have a chat with the management company and see what is what.

Cakeguts

I would say that the chance that she has spent the rent money on Christmas is very high. Some people are just totally unable to get their priorities correct. Some people seem to think that their children get more benefit from having lots of Christmas presents than from having somewhere to live.


She needs to know that you cannot not pay the rent especially for a problem that she didn't report. No one can read her mind.

Skiddaw1

Retireby40 wrote: »

Again thanks for the responses.

Unfortunately I work abroad a lot so I wont be back until June.

The house is in Northern Ireland so while it is cold it isnt freezing. Somewhere between 7-10oC.

I will have a chat with the management company and see what is what.

I think that's the right approach. As it sounds as if there's not been any particular issues with the tenant previously, it's possible there's more of a backstory (not necessarily just that tenant overspent at Christmas). If so, tenant obviously needs to come clean (so that you/the agent can see if anything can be done to work with the problem if there is one). Hope it pans out...

Slinky

Ask the management agency to make sure their contractor takes photos of anything that they deem to be an issue and needs replacing, rather than just taking their word for it.

G_M

N. Ireland.
You need to find out what the law in N Ireland is with regard to

a) renat arrears and

b) repairs


My advice earlier is irrelevant as it applies only to England & Wales.

Retireby40

So the contractor went on and advised the management company that some of the hinges on the windows are rusty and therefore the windows arent closing completely.

It could be possible so I have advised the agency to get a quote and let me know the situation.

However I wont be acting until the tenant has paid as I would be held to ransom in the way. I have always promptly repaired anything when told.

Smodlet

Rusty hinges? On uPVC double glazing? If they are still under guarantee (less than 10 years old, usually) I suggest contacting whoever fitted them.

I love that all the LLs (and whoever else) on here just assume the tenant has overspent at Xmas and that can be the only reason for non-payment of rent! How do you know she even does Xmas?

If she has never withheld rent before, my first assumption would be that there really is a serious problem and she is getting nowhere with the letting agent. Yeah, @$$-u-me, right?

You have not seen the property for 3 years by your own admission, OP, yet your first thought is the tenant must be at fault when she has never failed to pay the rent before now. Maybe she is just sick of being ignored when she reports problems... Again with the @$$-u-me.

Unless you actually go and see for yourself or kick your agent into touch and tell them to visit and send you pictures, you will not know the state of the place so are in no position to make these assumptions, imho.

... And it's spelt draughty in English, not "drafty".

Retireby40

The reason I was unsure as the tenants had a visit from the agency 6 weeks ago and didnt bring the issue up.

She did not make contact with the agency regarding the problem.

She just decided she wasnt going to pay rent and it wasnt until the agency called her to ask her where the rent was that she complained.

Retireby40

Plus anytime she has contacted the agency with a problem it has been fixed within a week. So she has no reason to withhold rent to get what she wants.