First time renting, probably just learnt a massive lesson.

[Fubsy]

I've just this week entered (read, signed) into a joint tenancy agreement for a 2 bed flat, and we got the keys yesterday. Today we stumbled into the neighbours who loathed to tell us their stories along with the previous tenant of the flat we've just taken on.

Cut a long story short, the flat and building is fantastic in summer weather (hence why it was on the market now), however it's a totally different picture in the winter. Apparently there is no bloody insulation in the walls or the ceiling despite previous tenants requesting, the under floor electric heating is of no use whatsoever and hasn't been serviced or repaired so effectively the flat has no heating provided, the roof has a tendency to leak and there is a serious problem with mould and damp due to the lack of insulation and inadequate heating.

This is pretty much a rant more than anything to get it off my chest. I can't believe how stupid we've been, we thought we had the perfect little place for us to try for a year only to be told (thankfully) what sort of **** we are going to have to put up with is disappointing. I feel so stupid and I'm beating myself up about it, knowing there's pretty nothing that can be done due to the tenancy agreement and with the fact none of these problems are visible yet.

 

[Fubsy]

So you have taken on a 12 month tenancy? And what is your break out clause - 2 months?

Yep, and not to sure...

The whole building has just been freshly decorated (7 out of the 8 flats.) so there is little to no evidence of what has happened. However I have seen the evidence of what has happened over the hall in the neighbours who have been there over a year.

We did it through an agency, and tbh it was the best flat we saw over about 10 others, but obviously we didn't spot these flaws and didn't take them into consideration which is the lesson I've learnt personally.

However we could have a mild winter, it might not be as bad as described, during the decorating improvements/repairs may have been done (i doubt it, costs money.) can't be certain until we live through it.

Apparently the landlord knows of the problems and has had people round to assess for cavity wall insulation and was told it wouldn't be possible without removing plaster board walls, or doing it from the outside and taking off tiles (the flat is pretty much in the loft space of a flat roofed building and only has 3-4 space above the ceiling) and he's said no to both options.

EDIT: Ha, didn't realise there was a forum section for his stuff, maybe if I did this wouldn't have happened!