Next door's landlord refuses to do house repairs

pippa_r

I live in a semi next door to a rented property. The tennants have to repeatedly kick their back door to make it shut because, they say, the door and window frame is collapsing. Not only does this knock my pictures off the wall, but there are now also crack appearing in the back wall of the house, level with the window frames between my house and theirs.
I spoke to their landlord today to ask him to look at it and he told me to get lost. He says there's nothing wrong with the property and to take up any grievance with his tennants. He said he's a builder so he knows what he's talking about and I don't. So we've reached a stalemate and I don't know what to do.
I don't want to have to pay out for a survey or anything if possible, so can anyone suggest what I can do?
Thanks

drc

According to this link, the landlord is responsible for "repairs to the structure and exterior of the property..." therefore he is talking rubbish and probably is hoping that he intimidated you enough so he doesn't have to repair his property.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/LettingYourHome/DG_4001391

I think there is normally a way you can report private landlords to the council if they are causing problems. Look up your council and see if they have any kind of housing information pages. If not, phone environmental health and report it to them as a potential danger to both his tenants and yourself (i.e. injury caused by falling pictures). If they can't help they should be able to point you in the right direction.

lindens

Not sure but maybe SHELTER might know about these things too.

cattie

I don't think you can do anything to force a neighbour/landlord to repair their property.

However, the tenant themselves can try to action necessary repairs. Shelter would be the best people to advise them I'd have thought.

mlz1413

The landlord is responsible as the tenants pay rent to live in the house and for it to be kept in good repair. (if the tenant is a builder then he may well do a 'deal' with the landlord but this is the landlords responsibility to organise).

Before paying for a survey call out a general builder and ask them to quote you for the repairs that need doing to YOUR property they should talk to you and say what is causing it. This should give you the information you need to contact next door (maybe do that in writing).

If you still don't get anywhere you will probably need a survey and legal advise.

Good Luck

pippa_r

Thanks for all the good advice. Yes, he was trying to intimidate me. The tennants are a rough lot. They beat up their kids, never clean up the dog mess around the house, shout & swear all the time, so it's no surprise that they're not interested.
I've arranged for a builder to look at it so I'll see where it goes from there.
Thanks

mlz1413

Just a thought if your building is damaged then check your buildings insurance policy, you probably have a legal advise built in and if you do claim the insurance company should take over all communications.

silvercar

You can't force the landlord to repair his property unless you can prove it is causing damage to your property. If repairs are needed to his property that is a matter between his tenants and him. It may be that the tenants aren't bothered or are getting a cheap rent for a "don't hassle me" deal, this is not your concern.

When the damage affects your property, you need to claim off him or your insurance policy depending on the cause of the damage.

There is no obligation on someone (whether resident or landlord) to repair their own property.

roses

Go through your buildings insurance and they will take legal action against him. Phone them up & say you have had a crack appear & they should sort it out. That's what I did when I got a crack on my wall which was caused by my neighbours builders.

TJ27

I'm guessing that next door will be a HMO and that the following statutory instrument is enforceable.

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20060372.htm

If this is the case, then it is absolute nonsense to say that you (or the council) cannot force a landlord to maintain his property. Scroll through it and see what you think. It's not opinion, it's law. Pay particular attention to the bits which start, "Duty of Manager to........."

Duties of tenants are also noted by the way. Indeed my department recently received a complaint from a tenant's mother regarding damage to her son's bedroom, asking us to take action against the landlord. We are currently considering prosecuting her son, as we believe the damage is his fault.

nelly_2

Kick their back door in