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Jsummers123
Posts: 9 Forumite
Hey all,
My energy supplier was fitting a smart meter on Wednesday when they discovered the fuse had caught fire at some point in the Ryefield Board. Both UK Power Network and my energy supplier have put a safety cover over the fuse. I've informed my landlord and an electrician has come out and said it'll take about 4 weeks to get the specialist parts fixed.
I have no hot water or electricity in any form lights, plug sockets etc. Which makes the flat uninhabitable. My landlord won't provide me with alternative accomodation, do I still need to pay rent?
Thank you all for your help!
My energy supplier was fitting a smart meter on Wednesday when they discovered the fuse had caught fire at some point in the Ryefield Board. Both UK Power Network and my energy supplier have put a safety cover over the fuse. I've informed my landlord and an electrician has come out and said it'll take about 4 weeks to get the specialist parts fixed.
I have no hot water or electricity in any form lights, plug sockets etc. Which makes the flat uninhabitable. My landlord won't provide me with alternative accomodation, do I still need to pay rent?
Thank you all for your help!
0
Comments
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Just to clarify the landlord owns the Ryefield Board and I haven't done anything to cause damage as this is in the corridor, it has just been poorly maintained
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"It is prudent when shopping for something important, not to limit yourself to Pound land/Estate Agents"
G_M/ Bowlhead99 RIP0 -
have a look at the shelter website on reporting issues and on evironmental health:
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/complain_to_environmental_health_about_rented_housing
Shelter reporting disrepair to environmental health
Just fixing the link above for you.
You should read your tenancy agreement carefully, from what i remember either the contract is frustrated or more likely you continue to pay rent but the Landlord should provide other accommodation when the property is uninhabitable.When using the housing forum please use the sticky threads for valuable information.0 -
Thanks all for the help.
Could you please clarify what you mean by the contract is frustrated? I've read through my tenancy and it's very bare-bones. It doesn't seem to mention about what to do when the flat is uninhabitable 0 -
'frustration' of a contract means it is impossible for one side to fulfill it, through no fault. In a case like this, if it genuinely will take 4 weeks, then it really depends how long the tenancy has to run.
eg, if it's a 12 month contract with 11 months left, then 4 weeks is a temporary period of time after which the contract can continue, so the contract is not frustrated. In that case, rent is still due, but suitable accomodation must be offered. The LL should re-house you for the 4 weeks.
If the contract was, say, 6 months, with 4 or 5 already passed, then a 4 week interruption would be significant and might constitute 'frustration. In that case, no further rent would be due, and no accomodation provided. The tenancy ends.
However, 'frustration' is
* rare, and
* impossible to define accurately - it requires a court decision based on the precise circumstances.
https://hallellis.co.uk/blog/frustration-legal-contracts/0 -
"By ‘frustration’ – this is a legal rule of contract which may or may not apply to tenancies.If it does it will probably only apply if the property is rendered entirely uninhabitable – for example if it burns down."
It is obviously better to agree with the Landlord a solution and this might be one way. Your Landlord needs to pull his finger out and rehouse you until the issue is fixed or get it fixed quickly which is usually something that can be done within a week even if that means replacing the fuse board rather than wait for parts.
I highly suggest you contact your local council ASAP, leave a message if you have to. You should also detail your losses so keep receipts of extra expenses during this period and ask the Landlord to reimburse you in writing. Might be a good idea to run it past us before asking.When using the housing forum please use the sticky threads for valuable information.0 -
Thanks everyone this has been most helpful!
I've got a six month contract which started in August.
I was told to try and keep communication via email so there is a record of it but he tends to answer his phone more. He is away till the 19th I believe but will try and get a solution sorted with him one last time if not I will inform him that I will get someone like the council involved. 0 -
Jsummers123 wrote: »Thanks everyone this has been most helpful!
I've got a six month contract which started in August.
I was told to try and keep communication via email so there is a record of it but he tends to answer his phone more. He is away till the 19th I believe but will try and get a solution sorted with him one last time if not I will inform him that I will get someone like the council involved.
Good luck with getting the council involved after the 19th of December. Don't use the phone, put everything in writing the good old fashioned way, at the address on your contract.0 -
Jsummers123 wrote: »Hey all,
My energy supplier was fitting a smart meter on Wednesday when they discovered the fuse had caught fire at some point in the Ryefield Board. Both UK Power Network and my energy supplier have put a safety cover over the fuse. I've informed my landlord and an electrician has come out and said it'll take about 4 weeks to get the specialist parts fixed.
I have no hot water or electricity in any form lights, plug sockets etc. Which makes the flat uninhabitable. My landlord won't provide me with alternative accomodation, do I still need to pay rent?
Thank you all for your help!
How can you be without any electricity when you making posts on here? obviously you could use the library PC but last post you posted was at 7.02 and library don't open so late.0 -
Hi there.
I'm round my partners mum's house as I have been since Wednesday evening. But it would be rude of me to stay any longer so I'll see if I can stay at my aunty's for a few days and go from there 0
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