MASSIVE problem with our rented apartment, don't know what to do!

tbs624

bobbarley wrote: »

Money handed over, lease signed, got a parking permit and parking fob allowing access to the car park. Didn't realise at the time the lease makes no reference to a parking space.

So are you saying that you signed a lease without reading it??

bobbarley wrote: »

We were sold an apartment with a space, and now they're telling us there was never a parking space to offer. That I can't keep my car herer any more, and will have to find somewhere else. I believe I'm under no obligation to do this, as I haven't done a single thing wrong.

Except not check a contract before signing it?

bobbarley wrote: »

Does anyone know where I stand on this? As I say the lease makes no reference to having a space, but I was given a permit and car park access fob, which is proof they gave me a space.

It's proof only that they gave you a permit to park, not that it was guaranteed, if nothing is there in the lease or you don't have a separate letter/email confirming the arrangement and that you taking up the tenancy was dependent on parking being available.

bobbarley wrote: »

What's worse is out lease is up at the end of April, and the other half and I are on holiday at the time. They might tell us we have to leave, then we'll lose HUNDREDS on our holiday!

Again, did you sign a lease without reading it? The start and finish dates are in there, so maybe you should have checked before booking your holiday?

bobbarley wrote: »

All I know for sure is this isn't our fault.

The original error may not have been but , as above, not checking that contract before signing it has contributed to the problem.

bobbarley wrote: »

I believe we've been miss sold a product. The land lady, or whoever, should have to pay for parking for my car, re-emberse ALL of the parking rent they've charged, and we believe we should get the £200 admin fee paid to the estate agent for their "work" refunded. I'm of two minds whether to sue them for miss selling a product, to try to get all our rent back.

I think people will understand why you feel angry but why should you be reimbursed for rent and car parking fees paid to date when you've had the benefit to date of the property and the parking? You may have a point about the LAs admin fee. However, is it possible that someone else who has a parking space in the complex would be prepared to hire their allocated space out to your LL/you? If they could manage that for the final few weeks of your tenancy, then you'd be free to find somewhere else, with a proper parking space.

If you do want to pursue it to the bitter end, try the CAB or a fixed fee appointment with a local solicitor (costs between £30-50 for 30 mins).

bobbarley

I did read the whole lease before I signed it, but never thought at the time to ask them to add that there should be a parking space, never crossed my mind. As mentioned they verbally agreed that there would be one.

I did speak to a friend studying business law who believes this still counts, I'm not so sure myself though.

bobbarley

bobbarley wrote: »

To be honest we've inclined to request to leave once we find somewhere else to live. The problem is we need a short term solution that avoids any fines. as mentioned I'd want the land lady to pay any fines that arise from this.

We've had nothing but trouble since we moved here.

• Car parked outside the complex one night got completely trashed
• We've still had no electric bill, the estate agent haven't sorted it out
• Only 1/3 of my Sky channels work
• Washing machine has broke - estate agent say it isn't their problem

I forgot to add, our address here is also in the middle of a fraud enquiry with the London Police!! Someone used the communal mailbox here before we moved in as a mail drop to set up a fraud ring, illegally selling properties in London without the owners knowledge!!

wymondham

not sure why this is classed as a MASSIVE problem? - lots more worse things could and do go on..... get a perspective on it, it's only a car park space?

tbs624

bobbarley wrote: »

We've had nothing but trouble since we moved here.

• Car parked outside the complex one night got completely trashed
• We've still had no electric bill, the estate agent haven't sorted it out
• Only 1/3 of my Sky channels work
• Washing machine has broke - estate agent say it isn't their problem

• Unfortunately, getting your car trashed is a possibility in any large city these days.
• Normally, tenants are responsible for sorting out their own utility bills, or is your apartment part of some kind of communal billing system that gets split down?
• Can you not talk to the people from Sky?
• If the washing machine came with the property, unless it's broken due to an act or omission on your part, the repair should be sorted out by the LA/LL.

It really does sound like you need to find somewhere else to live asap.

bobbarley

wymondham wrote: »

not sure why this is classed as a MASSIVE problem? - lots more worse things could and do go on..... get a perspective on it, it's only a car park space?

With all due respect, that's rubbish. Every day the car is parked in the complex will incur a £60 fine. How is that a small problem? I have no where else I can park it.

wymondham

true, but you have somewhere to live (even if your car does not!) - lots of people don't, I'm sure you can sort this out.

bobbarley

The problem seems to be that no one would like to take responsibility for the problem. I'm happy to try to sort it out, but no one involved wants to seem to sort it out.

I know for a fact the estate aren't going to actually do anything about it.

I may have to have a protest in their office next week, and refuse to leave until the situation is resolved

Trollfever

Welcome to Albion Mill, which has few, if any, rivals to the title of the British housing development hardest hit by the recent economic downturn. In the converted mill building itself, the repo man has struck at 28 of the 58 apartments since it opened in 2005. Eight more repossessions have taken place among the 229 apartments in the rest of the complex.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/mar/25/houseprices.housingmarket

wymondham

If it's not got the parking you thought it had and paid for, then probably best to move on if nobody is taking the problem seriously.... it's their loss if they lose rent on it - previous post's link makes interesting reading...