A "stranger" has a key to my house. Martin and Co don't care.

[Nodiggidy123]

Because Martin & Co are breaking the law (or what ever you want to call it) by renting out a property that is "unfit for purpose" I think you have a right in not paying them rent until the damp problem is fixedt

Wrong.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_a..._private_lets/landlord_refusing_to_do_repairs.

 

[El Pew]

Wrong.

Depending on the management company he may be able to ask them to withhold rent from the landlord until things are rectified, but he cannot stop paying rent to the management company. Sometimes just the threat of doing this is enough.

Of course this is assuming that the management company aren't incompetent ****wits themselves, which they seem to be in this case.