Cladding replacement disruption

Tizz72

Hi, wonder if anyone has any advice here, my daughters rented a flat last August in Canary Wharf and about 2 months ago scaffolding started appearing, to facilitate replacement of the cladding.  They were given no information about these works when they signed the lease and absolutely would not have taken the flat had they known.  The noise has become intolerable for working from home and for sleeping during the day for a nursing night shift and now it appears that the building is going to be covered in sheeting so they won’t be able to see out of the windows.  They have a 1 year break clause Aug 22nd which they will exercise but would they have a case for an earlier termination of the contract?
thanks

princeofpounds

Unfortunately not, although I'm sympathetic. Pretty much all they can do is try to negotiate with the landlord (which won't achieve much, most likely) or hope that the landlord has made some serious errors they can use as leverage (the main one being deposit non-protection, if it has occured).

What specifically is causing the noise? Presumably much of the time work is happening on the other side of the building. The noise may not last as long as the works do. 

Tizz72

Thank you for that, the noise currently is from the construction of the scaffolding up the block, which is directly under their windows and will rise past them, the lift for raising materials is being constructed outside one bedroom window

princeofpounds

Yeah not ideal. Scaffolding is noisy. If they are lucky, dealing with the cladding may be less noisy depending on how it has been fixed to the building.

NameUnavailable

Essential maintenance. Nothing you/they can do other than look for somewhere else but then again the work will probably be finished by the time they're ready to move.

Tizz72

I do get that it is essential maintenance and if that flat was owner occupied it would be easier to tolerate, but it certainly feels like notice of the major building works wasn’t shared when they took on the lease and if it came up for rent now, no one would take it on.

Apparently they are getting a visit from the contractors next week.  They are talking about removing things from the walls if needed for the works

We’ll see how it goes, but It’s looking like the one who wfh is going to move back with us.  I’ll attach a picture of their side of the building so far.

princeofpounds

The freeholder will have notified the long leaseholders (the flat 'owners', presumably the LL). The LL has no legal duty to inform shorthold tenants, but should - in theory at least - answer the question honestly if asked. 

Tizz72

So they’re gonna see how they cope when the windows are covered.  The nurse daughter was planning on moving back here  to Bristol when the lease is up in August anyway so could do that earlier and other daughter wfh anyway so could also do that here (obvs would still have to pay their rent).
Daughter that wfh wants to buy a flat (thinking Sydenham, Crystal Palace area). That’s a whole other area of questions that I’m sure I shall post on 😁