Landlords refusing to carry out repairs?

Ash-Lee

Ash-Lee

Ash-Lee

Associate
Joined
26 Jul 2008
Posts
143
I'm having a right game trying to get my landlord (local housing association) to carry out some outstanding repairs. So much so that I dumped it all on a blog in, admittedly, a bit of a rage.

http://sshaappreciation.wordpress.com/

On a more serious note though, can anyone advise on what to do? We have an appointment made with the Environmental Health officer from the council who is coming to look at the property this week.

We did send a formal complaint in to the housing association about the inspector who said there was nothing wrong with this house. After a week I called to see what progress has been made on the complaint only to be told "I've only just found it" which is frustrating in itself. :mad:
 
We are responsible for interior decoration from paintwork up to minor plaster cracks, which I have no issue with. The cracks in the ceiling are more then minor though and there are several of them.

The bathroom floor needs to be made good again with concrete (downstairs bathroom) but the operative who came to do it discovered 'Marley' tiles which more then likely contain asbestos so he packed his stuff and went, we are still waiting for this repair.

Plaster work is, literally dropping of the wall in both the living room and kitchen where the damp is. I appreciate that older buildings, especially this time of year will suffer from condensation. But having looked at the brickwork outside of the affected areas I think it's something more involved.
 
ColdAsIce said:
Why stay in a place like that? Move on.
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It might very well end up that way.

For just ~£100 more a month we could be private renting a nice 3 bed semi. For a bit less we could get our own mortgage, however, while I might be earning a decent wage at the moment I'm still on a temporary 'on-going' contract. I wouldn't feel comfortable until I had the security a proper permanent contract would give me.

Just a bit stuck at the moment.
 
Regarding the plaster flaking off/ cracking it's likely the landlord had the entire house replastered/ skimmed at some point and the house is a lime construction. Lime houses are built to breathe and flex, gyproc doesn't do this so when the house moves slightly the plaster just pops off/ cracks badly. Not to mention damp issues.

Seen this in so many older rented properties it's unreal.

And like all landlords he's probably a clueless moron who thinks it's ok to let the house fall to bits.

Got any pictures of the damage?
 
Your place is in a similar condition to my flat. I have not been able to use the Bedroom in 3 years, the housing association blames it all on condensation.

Our block is for people in ill health and the conditions only make us worse. The building has severe subsidence and many of us have been forced out to live in B&B's to allow the walls to dry out after plaster is removed.

I have however got them to take the problems more seriously and they have assigned a surveyor to tackle the issues. It was not easy but I will tell you how I did it.

It is worth contacting environmental health and getting them to do a report. However the sided with the Housing Associations view on it was merely condensation. Don't get too disheartened if this happens I felt they were in the pocket of them.

You have done the right thing by making a formal complaint. Ask for them to detail out reasons for not repairing and if they are agreeing to do any repairs the timescale they expect to complete it in.

Make an appointment with your MP and ask them to right a letter to the CEO explaining why they are not doing the repairs. That was very effective in my case.

Once you have followed all the correct complaints procedure escalate your complaint to the Housing Association Ombudsman. That is usually the icing on the cake and in many cases just threatening them with it is enough to get the ball rolling.

http://www.housing-ombudsman.org.uk/
 
I would not recommend withholding rent regardless of the circumstances. There are a few things you can do. First off, have a look here which is a fairly good guide as to how to proceed.

It is worth noting that, since you are a tenant of an housing association, you should be able to rely upon the Right to Repair scheme which sets out fixed compensation when a LL fails to rectify issues that are affecting your health, safety or security. Worth having a chat with your local CAB about this.
 
Finally there has been some movement.

A company dealing with asbestos removal is coming as soon as next week to remove the bathroom flooring.

I have had acknowledgement of my formal complaint, the letter states it was made a week after I actually did make the complaint but still, at least there is some progress.

Council inspector came, he said because the bathroom is an extension to the original building it 'should' of been insulated when it was built, he has given me some advice on dealing with the mould in the living room and will be contacting the housing association with regards to the peeling plasterwork.

Still no updates about the ceiling yet but I'm just glad that at least something is getting done.
 
Ash-Lee said:
It might very well end up that way.

For just ~£100 more a month we could be private renting a nice 3 bed semi. For a bit less we could get our own mortgage, however, while I might be earning a decent wage at the moment I'm still on a temporary 'on-going' contract. I wouldn't feel comfortable until I had the security a proper permanent contract would give me.

Just a bit stuck at the moment.
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Quick question - if you're made redundant and can't pay your bills then you'd still be homeless whether you rent or buy, no?
 
Ash-Lee said:
I'm having a right game trying to get my landlord (local housing association) to carry out some outstanding repairs. So much so that I dumped it all on a blog in, admittedly, a bit of a rage.

http://sshaappreciation.wordpress.com/

On a more serious note though, can anyone advise on what to do? We have an appointment made with the Environmental Health officer from the council who is coming to look at the property this week.

We did send a formal complaint in to the housing association about the inspector who said there was nothing wrong with this house. After a week I called to see what progress has been made on the complaint only to be told "I've only just found it" which is frustrating in itself. :mad:
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You my friend, live in a complete DUMP. Can't blame the landlord. You saw the place and took it on, even in its disgraceful condition. Now you're expecting him to turn into something nice?

Here's a tip, if you see a dump, don't take it. Or if you do, then don't whine about it afterwards.
 
From what I've seen, there is little choice when it comes to housing association properties.

I am conflicted however ... I know there are parasites in society who don't even deserve that **** poor quality of housing. They would wreck anything nicer to well below that state.

Unfortunately, for the OP, it isn't legal to discriminate against such parasites, so others who do deserve much better have to suffer. Meanwhile the parasites are often the most vocal and clued up on how to play the game - as they've nothing else productive they are willing / capable of doing for the society that has to tolerate them.

We urgently need a clear out, desolate Australia style and an enforced reintroduction of the behavior setting standards that accompanied the Parker homes.

Any party that made a we'll deliver or quit pledge to the above, would get my vote.


thedoc46 said:
You my friend, live in a complete DUMP. Can't blame the landlord. You saw the place and took it on, even in its disgraceful condition. Now you're expecting him to turn into something nice?

Here's a tip, if you see a dump, don't take it. Or if you do, then don't whine about it afterwards.
Click to expand...
 
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Night mare tenant, i'm out of here.:p

a lot of those problems really aren't so bad. Its social housing so don't expect the world but you should push for a satisfactory conclusion. That means you won't get the place re-plastered but the cracks and odd walls can be.

It looks like it needs a good bit of decorating, that falls to you.

I see 1000's of properties like this a year and what really gets me is, when i get a mouthful of abuse about how there is mould everywhere, its disgusting and against human right blah blah and infact the place is a TIP! regardless of there being these issues.

basically, paint the place up yourself because the landlord won't (we wouldn't) actively clean the mold off before it get bad (sucking eggs?) and be carm and polite whilst getting your point across.

If i walk into a nice property that is looked after i'm more inclined to help them keep it that way, if its not then...well.
 
Aside from the external issue which is probably causing the damn/mould, the rest of it should be fixed by you, its social housing, you are responsible for making your place nice to live.
 
I would think if you spent as much time sorting the house out as you do moaning and capitualting (nice fancy blog that one) about it you might well live in a really nice house.
 
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