Want to end tenancy early - terrible letting agent

Aaaand another update. Heard from the agent again earlier - they've managed to convince the landlord to replace the hob - they'll be getting it over the weekend and getting it installed next week, Tuesday at the latest (fingers crossed).

Have done some "research" and managed to find the landlords address, facebook, myspace, twitter etc. Any suggestions on what to do with these? ;)

Also had a dig around about the "engineer" who came round earlier, and... well... neither he or his company exist!

His business card (which displays both the corgi and gas safe logos) states the registered company name, which doesn't exist on companies house, or on any google searches, the mobile numbers given don't have any hits on google, and his name doesn't show on any google, directory enquiries or electoral roll searches. Well dodgy!!
 
Haggisman said:
Aaaand another update. Heard from the agent again earlier - they've managed to convince the landlord to replace the hob - they'll be getting it over the weekend and getting it installed next week, Tuesday at the latest (fingers crossed).

Have done some "research" and managed to find the landlords address, facebook, myspace, twitter etc. Any suggestions on what to do with these? ;)

Also had a dig around about the "engineer" who came round earlier, and... well... neither he or his company exist!

His business card (which displays both the corgi and gas safe logos) states the registered company name, which doesn't exist on companies house, or on any google searches, the mobile numbers given don't have any hits on google, and his name doesn't show on any google, directory enquiries or electoral roll searches. Well dodgy!!
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I wouldn't do anything with the LL details. However, if possible, find out more about the engineer and check to see whether he is gas safe registered. Follow these links http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/gas-safe-register-check.htm
 
Tell them that you will withold rent payments until they sort out the stuff you're not happy with. If they get funny tell them you will be staying there and not paying any rent until they evict you. This can take months and they will back down first.

You can use the same tactic if you just want to get out of your 6 month contract. Miss your first rent payment and when they get onto you about it threaten to live there without paying any rent until they evict you, unless they release you from the contract.

Landlords are terrified by this because it can take time to get you evicted. It's also a good way of getting a couple of months rent free when you decide to move. You don't pay the rent for 2 months and make them an offer. Either write off the two months rent and return your deposit or you stay until they evict you.
 
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JaWalks said:
Tell them that you will withold rent payments until they sort out the stuff you're not happy with. If they get funny tell them you will be staying there and not paying any rent until they evict you. This can take months and they will back down first.

You can use the same tactic if you just want to get out of your 6 month contract. Miss your first rent payment and when they get onto you about it threaten to live there without paying any rent until they evict you, unless they release you from the contract.

Landlords are terrified by this because it can take time to get you evicted. It's also a good way of getting a couple of months rent free when you decide to move. You don't pay the rent for 2 months and make them an offer. Either write off the two months rent and return your deposit or you stay until they evict you. Works every time.
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what happens when you need a reference?
 
JaWalks said:
Tell them that you will withold rent payments until they sort out the stuff you're not happy with. If they get funny tell them you will be staying there and not paying any rent until they evict you. This can take months and they will back down first.

You can use the same tactic if you just want to get out of your 6 month contract. Miss your first rent payment and when they get onto you about it threaten to live there without paying any rent until they evict you, unless they release you from the contract.

Landlords are terrified by this because it can take time to get you evicted. It's also a good way of getting a couple of months rent free when you decide to move. You don't pay the rent for 2 months and make them an offer. Either write off the two months rent and return your deposit or you stay until they evict you. Works every time.
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Unfortunately they have my mum as a guarantor and I wouldn't want them pestering her about it =/

doofski said:
what happens when you need a reference?
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I'm pretty sure our old landlord would be happy to do so if we explained the situation to him.
 
Similar thing happened to me once.

I stopped paying and threatened to sit there until they forced me out. Everything got done very quickly but as they were such shysters I found somewhere to move to stopped paying the rent again then moved out when I had used up the deposit (one month) sending them a letter that I was releasing the deposit to them as final month payment.

Very few agencies will bother chasing you if you play hardball as it'll cost them too much time and effort.
 
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For the record (although it doesn't matter now the hob is being replaced)... At Risk means that it must be switched off by the gas operative and it then becomes the responsibility of the user if something goes wrong. Effectively it is saying "I recommend you not to use it but I can't stop you". If it was actually DANGEROUS at the time of the visit, he would have made it "Immediately Dangerous" and would have to cap of the gas to the appliance so that you would effectively have no choice (if you refuse he can contact the gas emergency service who will make access to secure it, you have no choice in that case and they can force an entry if necessary).

"At Risk" can be thought of as... it's not dangerous now, but it might be before it's next checked.

I completely agree that the landlord should replace/repair it (probably just needed a repair in reality, doesn't sound that bad) but you are over-reacting a tad by not using it AT ALL (you said yourself there were 2 rings working perfectly).
 
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