True, whilst I don't like moving, the process of throwing out lots of crap is cathartic.yeah but you have to admit its quite good. it stops you hoarding crap.
Difficult landlady
- Thread starter Dinomania
- Start date
I'm sorry, I've obviously got the wrong idea about this "General Discussion" thing. Why does this point keep being raised?
Exactly, withholding rent puts me on the wrong side of the law. Not where I want to be.
Well, mid-December (3 months ahead of the 12-month end) we did indeed get asked whether we wanted to renew for 6 or 12 months. We asked if we could go onto a rolling contract. Of course, the landlady being what she is, she took a long to come back to us with a 'no' and her wish to increase the rent. So now it's gone into the 2-month period with all this fannying about... We don't have news of what the higher amount might be.
If you have a bad landlady, then move. Simple as that. it is a buyers market at the moment, somebody who is not a good landlord doesn't deserve to be in business.
Our landlord is defaulting on his mortgage payments on our place and we keep getting calls from debt collectors asking us questions, we wonder how long it will be before we get a call saying the property no longer belongs to our landlord... combined wit hthe fact that when the fridge broke it took them over a month to get us a new one, same for the washing machine, we just want out ASAP.
We like were we are, a lot, but we are moving out when the contract ends in a month and a bits time. Now all we have to do is somehow get the deposit back, which is well over a grand.... This is going to be fun!
Next place is a managed property run through a well renowned letting agent. Think this will be the last time I deal with a private landlord tbh.
Our landlord is defaulting on his mortgage payments on our place and we keep getting calls from debt collectors asking us questions, we wonder how long it will be before we get a call saying the property no longer belongs to our landlord... combined wit hthe fact that when the fridge broke it took them over a month to get us a new one, same for the washing machine, we just want out ASAP.
We like were we are, a lot, but we are moving out when the contract ends in a month and a bits time. Now all we have to do is somehow get the deposit back, which is well over a grand.... This is going to be fun!
Next place is a managed property run through a well renowned letting agent. Think this will be the last time I deal with a private landlord tbh.
No my point is that if you leave it, it will still bother you as it has done untill now, enough for you to complain/ask advice here.
Not a dig at the forums, just a general point, it has bothered you so why put up with it?
KaHn
OK so I am having a bit of a Ranty McRant 
Basically the advice is Move! or (by one person) stick it out if you can take it, then Move!
Both myself and house mate are likely to move in with other-halves within a year or so, and shifting to a temporary address /again/ in the middle just feels really, well, rubbish.
Basically the advice is Move! or (by one person) stick it out if you can take it, then Move!
Both myself and house mate are likely to move in with other-halves within a year or so, and shifting to a temporary address /again/ in the middle just feels really, well, rubbish.
Soldato
- Joined
- 1 Dec 2003
- Posts
- 3,540
as said before I would withhold the rent for a month. this will send a clear signal
And I've said that puts me on the wrong side of the law. No thanks!
Seriously consider moving, if something else were to happen in the house, e.g. boiler fails. Do you really want a landlord who doesn't give monkeys?
The landlord should be looking after his investment, that's both you and the property and they don't seem to be doing either. As your tenancy is up I'd definitely consider moving out.
However, if you're happy there (and that's possibly the main thing), keep it in mind that you're in the better position here. There's quite a lot of properties on the market, all competing with one another on price, and any potential new tenant is going to be instantly put off by a leaky roof, plus the fact it'll take time for a new tenant to actually move in, meaning she'll be further out of pocket.
The landlord should be looking after his investment, that's both you and the property and they don't seem to be doing either. As your tenancy is up I'd definitely consider moving out.
However, if you're happy there (and that's possibly the main thing), keep it in mind that you're in the better position here. There's quite a lot of properties on the market, all competing with one another on price, and any potential new tenant is going to be instantly put off by a leaky roof, plus the fact it'll take time for a new tenant to actually move in, meaning she'll be further out of pocket.
Urgent things like boilers get picked up directly by the letting/management agency.
Big stuff like roofs can't.
Minor stuff which isn't urgent needs the go-ahead from the LL, who keeps saying "I'll send a friend around to do it" which never happens. Frustrating.
Yes - the crux of the matter is we're pretty happy there (for the time being at least), however this supposed raised rent has just brought all the outstanding issues to the fore.
Mmm, the thing about moving now as opposed to 6-9 months time is that /we/ will also suffer with the upheaval, shuffling deposits, admin, time, etc - AND we'll have to do it all AGAIN anyway in another 6-9 months.
Basically I am just ranting - I'm angry but I don't want to move. Not angry enough, maybe. If we knew we'd be living together as housemates for another 2 years or so, moving wouldn't be an issue.
Big stuff like roofs can't.
Minor stuff which isn't urgent needs the go-ahead from the LL, who keeps saying "I'll send a friend around to do it" which never happens. Frustrating.
Yes - the crux of the matter is we're pretty happy there (for the time being at least), however this supposed raised rent has just brought all the outstanding issues to the fore.
Mmm, the thing about moving now as opposed to 6-9 months time is that /we/ will also suffer with the upheaval, shuffling deposits, admin, time, etc - AND we'll have to do it all AGAIN anyway in another 6-9 months.
Basically I am just ranting - I'm angry but I don't want to move. Not angry enough, maybe. If we knew we'd be living together as housemates for another 2 years or so, moving wouldn't be an issue.
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2004
- Posts
- 12,387
- Location
- Jesmond
Have the agency given you advice on this?
The agency are just as annoyed at her as we are, as she's so hard to get hold of. Their hands are tied - they are supposed to be managing the let however they can't just do things without the go-ahead from the LL. And as they can never get through to her, yada yada...
to be honest - I know its a pain, but you should move. That's a terrible situation to be in.
Just yesterday we had our landlord around, and he went into my neighbour's flat without asking or any prior authorization. I told him not to, as its against the law, and he just said "nah, Colin's ok." Well, I spoke to Colin about it last night and Colin was ANGRY, as I was as well.
Some landlords just take the pee...
Just yesterday we had our landlord around, and he went into my neighbour's flat without asking or any prior authorization. I told him not to, as its against the law, and he just said "nah, Colin's ok." Well, I spoke to Colin about it last night and Colin was ANGRY, as I was as well.
Some landlords just take the pee...
Soldato
- Joined
- 19 Oct 2004
- Posts
- 12,387
- Location
- Jesmond
How frustrating!I think you only have 2 options, neither of which are very nice! Wait to see what she says regarding rent etc or move. You might be able to hurry her along to contact you if you send her a signed for registered letter though? Advise that as per all the above you need to know what is happening in regards to your renewal so you can decide what course of action to take.
She sounds like our landlord/letting agency, cant get hold of the guy, never tells us anythign (we has someone come round to put up some fire alarms last week randomly...) and were still waiting for a bathroom floor to be put down (6months late)
best thing to do is up and leave asap
best thing to do is up and leave asap
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 11 Apr 2003
- Posts
- 9,389
- Location
- London
How many rooms, and which, are affected by the damp problem?
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 11 Apr 2003
- Posts
- 9,389
- Location
- London
I believe that when a bedroom is affected by damp it is classed as more serious a problem than communal areas. There may be grounds for you to find alternate accomodation, at the landlord's expense, until the problem is rectified...though I suspect that would be too much hassle for most people to endure.
You might also get away with paying somebody to do the work, in the bedroom, then reclaiming it from the landlord in court.
Have you consulted the C.A.B.?
You might also get away with paying somebody to do the work, in the bedroom, then reclaiming it from the landlord in court.
Have you consulted the C.A.B.?
Last edited:
If it was just damp, DF, that's one matter. But it's water coming in through the roof - if we damp-proof the ceiling we'll only end up with a puddle in the loft which will find another way to come down.
I'm afraid I can't afford to pay roofers even temporarily!
Have looked up stuff at the CAB website. I'm also currently trying to sound out the letting agency, it's about time they manned-up and actually did something beyond passing messages to-and-fro.
Also, the BBC have just contacted me as I submitted my problem to this page: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox/7845048.stm
--certainly never expected a reply..! So I may get a call while they're on-air. Who knows.
I'm afraid I can't afford to pay roofers even temporarily!
Have looked up stuff at the CAB website. I'm also currently trying to sound out the letting agency, it's about time they manned-up and actually did something beyond passing messages to-and-fro.
Also, the BBC have just contacted me as I submitted my problem to this page: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox/7845048.stm
--certainly never expected a reply..! So I may get a call while they're on-air. Who knows.