Drafty Windows.

Smodlet

Retireby40 wrote: »

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

Maybe it was not an issue then...

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.

Then she must have had a reason, as I already "assumed" before. I would start by asking her, not the letting agent but heaven forfend you should be proactive in dealing with your tenants; after all, that is what you pay your agent for, right?

Retireby40

My tenant has had problems before. She has always contacted the agency and I have agreed the repairs.

She has never complained of cold. So how would I ever know there was a problem?

Even though she states she has experienced this problem she hasnt thought to contact the agent. The only way me or the agent found out was when the agency called to ask why the rent was 8 days late.

She stated "I'm not paying rent because the windows let cold in and me and my family all have the cold solely because of this". That was exactly what she responded according to the agent. How she can judge that unless she doesnt go to work, kids dont to to school or they dont leave the house i dont know.

She has been a reliable tenant and I have been a reliable landlord. There has never been anything that she has asked that I haven't done.

This is out of character hence why I thought something could have happened.

She has requested things in the past without withholding rent so to do this all of a sudden when she has a request draws my attention.

Smodlet

Retireby40 wrote: »

My tenant has had problems before. She has always contacted the agency and I have agreed the repairs.

She has never complained of cold. So how would I ever know there was a problem?

Even though she states she has experienced this problem she hasnt thought to contact the agent. The only way me or the agent found out was when the agency called to ask why the rent was 8 days late.

She stated "I'm not paying rent because the windows let cold in and me and my family all have the cold solely because of this". That was exactly what she responded according to the agent. How she can judge that unless she doesnt go to work, kids dont to to school or they dont leave the house i dont know.

She has been a reliable tenant and I have been a reliable landlord. There has never been anything that she has asked that I haven't done.

This is out of character hence why I thought something could have happened.

She has requested things in the past without withholding rent so to do this all of a sudden when she has a request draws my attention.

Then again, as you say, she must have a reason. It sounds as if your agent may not be doing their job.

Why don't you contact the tenant yourself? I'm sure she would appreciate it. Agents are known for complicating matters between LLs and tenants; I really don't know why anyone uses them, personally. From what I read on these boards, they are more trouble than they are worth.

One thing I do know is effective communication can resolve all kinds of problems; it can even prevent wars...

[Deleted User]

Smodlet wrote: »

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".

The tenant's behaviour doesn't stack up. If all repairs have been carried out promptly after reporting them in the past why would the tenant decide to withhold the rent this month and then say nothing until chased by the letting agency? Even if during the period between the last inspection (where nothing was reported as wrong) and the rent due date (only a matter of a few weeks so not a long term issue that has gone unresolved), the tenant does not have the right to withhold the rent in Northern Ireland. Even if the repair had been reported and the OP was dragging his heels about it she still wouldn't have the right to withhold the rent.

As for a draught giving her family the cold, that's just utter !!!!!!!!.

Retireby40

Update:

Work was approved to be complete last week. However tenants still refused to pay rent.

Tenant today decided that she would pay the rent for January despite the work not done.

Clearly was a money issue. The work will be completed next week as I was holding of until rent was paid.

Let's hope Febs rent isnt delayed by a month.

G_M

Retireby40 wrote: »

...
Clearly was a money issue. The work will be completed next week as I was holding of until rent was paid.

Let's hope Febs rent isnt delayed by a month.

If it is:

S8 Ground 10 &/or 11.


Personally, I'd have more sympathy, and allow more leeway, if the tenant said "I have money issues this month beause xxxx, do you mind if I .... and things should get better next month because... [new job/whatever].


But using the window as an excuse is taking the p***.

Retireby40

Yeah look while I am not rich i am not desperate for the payments i can cover them in emergencies and as you say if they had said look 2-3 weeks late do you mind i would have said no.

Mainly because they are decent tenants.

However now the windows are costing me nearly £800 to fix and while they may need a servicing it probably isnt anywhere near what she claimed.

I guess that's one of the cons of being a landlord however it was forced on me rather than my choice although it has been something I have investigated a lot.

Live and learn.

ThePants999

Trying to figure out whether these are windows that haven't been finalised yet, windows that order the payment of money, windows that are being conscripted into the military or windows that are choosing players for their team. Any of them sound better than draughty windows, though.

I'll get my coat...

Retireby40

There's always one banker who runs around like the grammar police. Sad individual.