Landlord being a **** - what would you do?

doopydug

doopydug

doopydug

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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Fife
Hi guys - we are selling our house and meant to be moving into rented accommodation for a while. Signed a lease for a house one month ago but haven't moved in yet. There were a couple of issues with broken and sunken slabs meaning the entrance to the property was unsafe to walk on and the downpipe had come away from the guttering on one corner of the house. The smoke alarms in the house are hanging down and wires showing but I think they are easy enough to pop back in.

However, a month later and the reported problem wit the path / slabs has still not ben fixed and we didn't want to move in particularly with the dark nights drawing in.

Today I messaged the landlord that we wished to void the lease due to the unsafe path not having been fixed yet so we are unable to move in and he messaged back "*" Off - lol

What would YOU do??
 
Find somewhere else. Finding places isn't particularly hard, as long as you dont need to move within 14days due to references etc.
 
If you can, just find somewhere else.

They're probably not used to people having high expectations. Best case scenario, it remains a tip. Worst case scenario, they make your life a misery. I wouldn't bother.
 
I think what you should have done, is rented a different house. However, since you've signed the lease, you really need to move in and pay the rent.

The world is littered with broken paving slabs. Just keep your eyes open.
 
If the postman breaks a leg, I am sure I will be liable too, for the inevitable litigation, as I knew about it.

Its not just a broken paving slab - the support underneath it has been washed away and it has dropped 8 to 10"

Stretch said:
I think what you should have done, is rented a different house. However, since you've signed the lease, you really need to move in and pay the rent.

The world is littered with broken paving slabs. Just keep your eyes open.
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doopydug said:
There were a couple of issues with broken and sunken slabs meaning the entrance to the property was unsafe to walk on and the downpipe had come away from the guttering on one corner of the house. The smoke alarms in the house are hanging down and wires showing but I think they are easy enough to pop back in.
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Why the hell would anyone sign a lease to move in to what can only be described as a neglected **** hole?

Did these things not scream out that the landlord doesn't give a **** about the property or the people?

:confused:

Bet your deposit hasn't been handed over into TDP scheme either. Get your money back and run, you'll have nothing but issues here.
 
AHarvey said:
Why the hell would anyone sign a lease to move in to what can only be described as a neglected **** hole?

Did these things not scream out that the landlord doesn't give a **** about the property or the people?

:confused:

Bet your deposit hasn't been handed over into TDP scheme either. Get your money back and run, you'll have nothing but issues here.
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The previous tenants had been in for 2.5 years and we saw it and took it the same day that they left as there was so much demand for this area / house. Had we waited one hour more, it was going to another tenant - it is next door to one of our best friends who gave us the nod.

It was agreed that the repairs would be carried out before we moved in. Later we got a message that the builder was on holiday until the 14th September and it would be done upon his return
 
Hmmm, I get the feeling you may be a bit screwed.

Given the circumstances I'd be inclined to put up with it until you can get another place. No guarantee he'll give you a penny back if you leave.
 
Slabs - is it that bad?

Guttering - it happens and is easily fixed with a ladder and some epoxy, landlord should fix because it'll get damp in the walls, but equally he may need to employ a tradesman to do it so can understand his reluctance.

Smoke alarms - they've pulled out the square batteries while it's empty, just push them back in. Maybe the last tenant robbed the batteries :o Wilko's do them cheap :)

I think you're making a fuss over it tbh, and while the landlord should just suck it up, maybe he's thinking he doesn't need a 'problem' tenant.
 
Dave M said:
Slabs - is it that bad?

Guttering - it happens and is easily fixed with a ladder and some epoxy, landlord should fix because it'll get damp in the walls, but equally he may need to employ a tradesman to do it so can understand his reluctance.

Smoke alarms - they've pulled out the square batteries while it's empty, just push them back in.

I think you're making a fuss over it tbh, and while the landlord should just suck it up, maybe he's thinking he doesn't need a 'problem' tenant.
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The slabs ARE that bad - the rest is nothing really. Coming home in the dark or, even after a sherry or two, could cause a real risk of physical harm - the ground below them has been washed away - its not just a cracked slab

The smoke alarms have been hauled off the ceiling and wires are exposed - there are no batteries that I can see - they are mains powered.
 
My advice - get a bag of sand and level the slabs yourself. He won't do it.

Give him until the end of October to fit new smoke alarms, tell him he might as well do monoxide while he's at it: http://blog.sdfirealarms.co.uk/fire...-landlords-smoke-alarms-in-rental-properties/

The guttering I'd get up there and glue it in, don't want to risk damp getting in as the weather turns, he'll only try to use it against your deposit and anyway, mould is hideous for your lungs.
 
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