Windowgate

Milli1017

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AdrianC

Milli1017 said:

...
Let’s not forget - we informed the EA 3 days ago a piece of slate had fallen from our roof due to the weather which is a serious H&S hazard and had anyone been outside when this happened, could have been a serious if not fatal injury. She brushed passed this and said she’d take a picture and let the LL know. We cannot exit our property from the back or side door and this is still on-going and nobody has been in contact!

OK, so the agent was over-zealous with the inspection. It's irrelevant, because short of the landlord giving you notice (they almost certainly won't, so long as you pay your rent on time and aren't a complete PITA - and if they do, you're better off without 'em), it makes no difference to anything.

As far as the tile goes... yep, tiles do come off roofs in weather like we've had. No, it can't be prevented. No, melodrama helps nobody, nor does some self-imposed avoidance of doors. And, yes, roofers are going to have been Quite Busy lately...

Simple rule of thumb... If you owned the place, rather than rented it, would the tile have come off (yes) and would you have managed to get a roofer out yet (nope)...?

pinkteapot

Be glad your inspections are only 6-monthly. We had them every 8 weeks in our last rental. I cleaned before each one - just look round the house and wipe anything obvious like that. I cleaned like I do when I'm selling a house and having viewers round.

To be honest, I think you're over-reacting to both things. Sure, some EAs wouldn't have noted the sticky mark on the window, but it doesn't matter that they have. The window will be clean next time they come - brush it off. No-one looks at the inspection reports - no need to be mortified. 

Lots of tiles have come off lots of roofs in the storms. It doesn't mean more tiles are about to fall. There's some smashed tiles from off the building I work in outside our door but we're still going in and out to work. Your EA/landlord will get someone out to replace the tile when they can but there'll be a lot of people waiting for roofers right now. A couple of people have been killed by falling trees but no-one by a falling tile. 

Milli1017

Understood. 

The point I am trying to make is, surely the EA should be in contact if there is a risk to tenants living in the property? LL have inspections in place to prevent their property of damage, but as tenants surely we can expect our safety to be paramount.

The inspection came and still nothing about the roof but quick to comment about a hand print.  

Roofers not available? Then find another.. 

AdrianC

Milli1017 said:

Understood.

I don't think you have.

The point I am trying to make is, surely the EA should be in contact if there is a risk to tenants living in the property?

What is this "risk"? Another tile coming loose? Are you suggesting the weather is the LL's fault? Or even within their power...?

Roofers not available? Then find another.. 

Ah, you're funny.

Milli1017

A tile coming loose is the risk surely? 
I am suggesting, the roof is the LL and EA responsibility. 

I think this is a valid concern, I’m not trying to be argumentative but a valid point I thought... 

amandacat

I think the letting agent has let the power go to her head. Back when I was renting they’d come and look around but generally it was a quick visit to check I hadn’t wrecked the place. The standard of my cleaning was never questioned and I wasn’t the best with housework. It was a different agent each time, one did decide to look in the garage once which made me chuckle but I guess she had to check I hadn’t gone all breaking bad in there. 
I’d have been annoyed in your situation too and would give the agent grief about it tbh. The LL will not want to pay costs to get a new tenant if you pay your rent timely and the biggest concern is a hand print on a window. 

pinkteapot

Just chase the EA regularly about the roof. One tile coming down doesn’t mean any more will. And seriously, it’s going to take them quite a while to manage to get a roofer out at the mo. 

Slithery

Have you written to the agent (paper, stamp etc) about the loose tile yet? Until you do then legally it hasn't been reported yet.

Milli1017 said:

Roofers not available? Then find another..

Um, the reason that it's difficult to get a roofer in at the moment is that they're all busy...

Milli1017

I have, yes. 
What would happen if my child was injured during the slipped tile? Do you think in a court of law it would hold up to say “there were no roofers available?”  I am absolutly not saying this is anyone’s fault but ultimately there is accountability and liability which does not sit with me. 

Maybe I’m totally wrong in this, but I cannot believe I am having to justify a concern like this! 

davidmcn

Milli1017 said:

What would happen if my child was injured during the slipped tile? Do you think in a court of law it would hold up to say “there were no roofers available?”

I suspect a court of law might ask you what steps you'd reasonably expect your landlord to have taken if there were no roofers available. And in any event, one tile slipping doesn't mean the rest are at all likely to follow.