Issues with rented property

LocoLoco

OP, it might be worth checking with your council to see if any of the things you've mentioned get you moved up the list a bit?  Policies vary from area to area but we got moved up a band because our horrendously noisy neighbours have had a negative effect on my health.  Struggling to pay your basic bills might change your category as well (it's not the same in every area but a friend of mine got bumped up a bit when her rent was put up and it meant she struggled to pay gas and electric).  And a negative report from Environmental Health might improve your chances as well.  It's not likely to be a magic wand as demand is so high but it might be worth checking it out just in case it puts you up the list a bit.  I do feel for you; it's horrible having to live like that and there aren't many landlords who will take on unemployed tenants (you don't mention whether you're working but I'm assuming you're not in a position to easily move either way).  If you can afford something on just your wage - maybe just a studio for now?  And you can move somewhere better once your hubby is working again.  I hope you can sort something out.

Wheretostart90

Grumpy_chap said:

When renting a property at full market rent (i.e. the OP), the return for the rent should be largely hassle-free living.  The OP is not getting that so they need to decide to stay and tolerate or move.  

Regarding the electric, the OP can just switch everything off, one circuit at a time, then just switch back on the ones serving the house.  It is quite likely there is old wiring where the farm buildings are fed from the house.  The LL cannot switch off the electricity to the tenant farmer, but that is not the OP's problem.  If the feed to the tenant farmer is proven to be from the house, the OP can then seek refunds of the excess electricity bills.

The LL has two options with this property.  Sort it or sell it.
I don't think the LL will ever sort this property for all the while the OP remains as a tenant.  There is an amateur LL ignorant of what they need to do and, likely, not with the liquid funds to sort the property.

Considering everything shared so far, I don't see that the OP has much choice other than to move.

The LL definitely has the money to put the property right. They will never sell as it's been in the family for generations. However, when her father passed away, it was left for years which is why the problems have got so bad. Pests have had years to essentially make this there home. The hole house was full of stuff, food items included. 
The land lord is also an estate agent herself.i have definitely looked into moving, viewed properties however I cannot afford these since my husband lost his job due to Covid. 
I also have a ccj so not many landlord will accept even though I can prove I've always paid on time. 
Thank you for taking the time to comment and help 

Wheretostart90

LocoLoco said:

OP, it might be worth checking with your council to see if any of the things you've mentioned get you moved up the list a bit?  Policies vary from area to area but we got moved up a band because our horrendously noisy neighbours have had a negative effect on my health.  Struggling to pay your basic bills might change your category as well (it's not the same in every area but a friend of mine got bumped up a bit when her rent was put up and it meant she struggled to pay gas and electric).  And a negative report from Environmental Health might improve your chances as well.  It's not likely to be a magic wand as demand is so high but it might be worth checking it out just in case it puts you up the list a bit.  I do feel for you; it's horrible having to live like that and there aren't many landlords who will take on unemployed tenants (you don't mention whether you're working but I'm assuming you're not in a position to easily move either way).  If you can afford something on just your wage - maybe just a studio for now?  And you can move somewhere better once your hubby is working again.  I hope you can sort something out.

I would definitely move somewhere else however we have young children so it's not so simple to just find any where for the time being. 
My husband lost his job due to Covid so would really struggle right now to move, and afford any where dearer. 
I will definitely call council tomorrow and see what they say. It's got to be worth a try. I'm just trying to make things better for me and family. I'm really grateful for the advice. Thank you. 

AdrianC

Wheretostart90 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

The LL has two options with this property.  Sort it or sell it.
I don't think the LL will ever sort this property for all the while the OP remains as a tenant.  There is an amateur LL ignorant of what they need to do and, likely, not with the liquid funds to sort the property.

Considering everything shared so far, I don't see that the OP has much choice other than to move.

The LL definitely has the money to put the property right. They will never sell as it's been in the family for generations. However, when her father passed away, it was left for years which is why the problems have got so bad. Pests have had years to essentially make this there home. The hole house was full of stuff, food items included. 
The land lord is also an estate agent herself.

Well, that rules out "can't afford to" and "doesn't know any better".

So we're just left with "doesn't care".

Slithery

Your LL is never going to pay what's needed to get the property into a decent condition. If the council do agree that it's not up to scratch then probably all that will happen is the tenancy will be frustrated and you'll have to move. Holding out for any other outcome is foolish IMHO.

Wheretostart90

Slithery said:

Your LL is never going to pay what's needed to get the property into a decent condition. If the council do agree that it's not up to scratch then probably all that will happen is the tenancy will be frustrated and you'll have to move. Holding out for any other outcome is foolish IMHO.

I understand what you mean they have paid for the water tank, insulation and pest control in the past no issues to be fair so I just keep hoping it will get better. 
It worried me because she questioned the latest quote and hasn't messaged us since so I feel like I'm to worried to bring up the other issues as I know it's going to cost more money  😔
They either have to fix the house or it will literally be no good to anyone. Which is such a shame because it could be beautiful. 

Grumpy_chap

AdrianC said:

Wheretostart90 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

The LL has two options with this property.  Sort it or sell it.
I don't think the LL will ever sort this property for all the while the OP remains as a tenant.  There is an amateur LL ignorant of what they need to do and, likely, not with the liquid funds to sort the property.

Considering everything shared so far, I don't see that the OP has much choice other than to move.

The LL definitely has the money to put the property right. They will never sell as it's been in the family for generations. However, when her father passed away, it was left for years which is why the problems have got so bad. Pests have had years to essentially make this there home. The hole house was full of stuff, food items included. 
The land lord is also an estate agent herself.

Well, that rules out "can't afford to" and "doesn't know any better".

So we're just left with "doesn't care".

I would not be 100% sure.  The LL is an EA - not all EA's do rentals...  Is the LL actually the EA, or just works at the EA?  From the description in the OP, the LL certainly sounds to be ignorant of the requirements for letting a property...

It is clear that this property needs substantial investment to put it right.  Just because the LL has substantial equity does not mean that they have liquid funds that allow the property refurb that is required.  To raise the liquid funds, the LL would need to sell something (maybe the property?) - but the LL won't sell because of "sentiment" and all the while the property is deteriorating and the asset value decreasing.

On top of which the LL probably doesn't care.

Murphybear

Firstly you have my utmost sympathy.  We lived in a house on a farm for 7 months and things didn’t go to plan but more about the total pillock who owned it rather than any defects with the house.

This was near the edge of Dartmoor so fairly south of the country.  We had oil central heating and a log burner in the lounge.  The house was very old and the walls 3 ft thick so wasn’t too bad to heat although mobile reception was almost non existent.   There were the odd one or two rats but that is common on a farm.  The worst problem we had was flies, they were a nightmare.

I noted in your OP that you were low priority on the council list because you already had a house.  Is that something you could move into or sell?  

Wheretostart90

Grumpy_chap said:

AdrianC said:

Wheretostart90 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

The LL has two options with this property.  Sort it or sell it.
I don't think the LL will ever sort this property for all the while the OP remains as a tenant.  There is an amateur LL ignorant of what they need to do and, likely, not with the liquid funds to sort the property.

Considering everything shared so far, I don't see that the OP has much choice other than to move.

The LL definitely has the money to put the property right. They will never sell as it's been in the family for generations. However, when her father passed away, it was left for years which is why the problems have got so bad. Pests have had years to essentially make this there home. The hole house was full of stuff, food items included. 
The land lord is also an estate agent herself.

Well, that rules out "can't afford to" and "doesn't know any better".

So we're just left with "doesn't care".

I would not be 100% sure.  The LL is an EA - not all EA's do rentals...  Is the LL actually the EA, or just works at the EA?  From the description in the OP, the LL certainly sounds to be ignorant of the requirements for letting a property...

It is clear that this property needs substantial investment to put it right.  Just because the LL has substantial equity does not mean that they have liquid funds that allow the property refurb that is required.  To raise the liquid funds, the LL would need to sell something (maybe the property?) - but the LL won't sell because of "sentiment" and all the while the property is deteriorating and the asset value decreasing.

On top of which the LL probably doesn't care.

She owns the estate agency. We relocated from England to a property here based on the fact that the landlord lived in Dubai and was never coming home, however after 18months changed his mind and that's how we came to live here because it's her family farm she grew up in, she knew we couldn't find anywhere and helped us at the time. Which is why I feel bad for bringing up all this work that needs doing 

Wheretostart90

Murphybear said:

Firstly you have my utmost sympathy.  We lived in a house on a farm for 7 months and things didn’t go to plan but more about the total pillock who owned it rather than any defects with the house.

This was near the edge of Dartmoor so fairly south of the country.  We had oil central heating and a log burner in the lounge.  The house was very old and the walls 3 ft thick so wasn’t too bad to heat although mobile reception was almost non existent.   There were the odd one or two rats but that is common on a farm.  The worst problem we had was flies, they were a nightmare.

I noted in your OP that you were low priority on the council list because you already had a house.  Is that something you could move into or sell?  

Sorry I meant I'm low priority as I have this house now so I'm not deemed to be in need of housing fast. 
Thank you for your kind words. Oil heating is a nightmare. Hate it. 
The rats I can deal with outside. It's just how it is on a farm but when they are coming up through the carpet at night where my children live it's just awful.