Agricultural workers rental rights

[YourKidsYourRulesHunXxx]

Hi there, I was just wondering if anyone knows whats rights people have when they are given accommodation as an agricultural worker (regarding maintaining the home?) My parents have lived in their house for about 15 years and in all that time they have only ever had new windows put in by an outside contractor- everything else has been financed by my folks/ my father has done DIY. The reason why I am asking this is because they have so many problems regarding heating, hot water, and shoddy fixtures. My dad tries his best (he can put off jobs, I think it overwhelms him tbh) but I thought that it would be up to his employer, who provides the house? I keep telling them that they should get the boss to sort it out, but my Mum just says 'Your dad won't ask.' I think he's scared. I'd really like to help them. I've already checked out the gov.uk site regarding basic tenancy rights, but there is nothing there re maintaining the place.

Thanks

[Lonecatwithkitten]

As you can see from this it not as simple as one type of agricultural workers tenancy. It will depend on when the tenancy started and what type of tenancy was created. Shelter maybe able to help.

[coalscuttle]

I think regardless of what sort of tenancy, the landlord still has the usual landlord responsibilities. I used to live in army quarters and we were licences occupies, not tenants, but the mod still had exactly the same responsibilities as a private landlord.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Its a very complicated situation.

What factor comes into play is that your home is your work and your work is your home.

Imo, farm workers are reluctant to 'rock the boat' with their tenancies in case that impacts on their employment.Its great to have rights but not so simple to stand up for them/enforce them.

I think your parents should speak to the other farmworkers and guage what they've had done in their tied cottages, and how the landlord/farmer treated their request.They may be worried for nothing.

Regardless, they need to look into this particular aspect of housing law (to be forewarned is to be forearmed) and if not already in a union, join one (obviously assuming one or both parents are farmworkers).You can join as an independent member.

[midgeymum2]

I know that in Scotland the owner of the house is responsible for ensuring that the property is maintained at least to the tolerable standard, which is statutory. I expect this will be a similar in England. The NFU or shelter should be able to advise. However the occupier of the property has a responsibility too, to report issues the owner so that they can carry out repairs. Do your parents have a contract that sets out what is expected from each party?

Your parents should try and take the view that their house is part of their wage and by not ensuring that the property is maintained they are effectively taking a pay cut year on year. It is in the owners interest to ensure that the property is maintained, how approachable are they? Would your parents put together a list and approach the owner with the aim of agreeing a timescale to get work underway? Perhaps this could be encouraged by pointing out that the owner will not want to be left with a wreck when your parents leave/retire.

It should not be your parents responsibility to do the repairs or maintenance, certainly to plumbing and heating systems at their own expense.

This might help. Good luck, my parents are similarly reluctant to speak to their (non agricultural) landlord about repairs etc, it's very frustrating!

[ThatBloodyWoman]

The other thing to beware of is that if the tenant undertakes work the landlord may then say its the tenants job to maintain the areas improved/ repaired, since the landlords agreed handyperson(s) did not carry out the work.

[YourKidsYourRulesHunXxx]

Thanks midgeymum. I am in Scotland

[midgeymum2]

Try here and follow the links to the info regarding the repairing standard. My first port of call would be your parents contract but, whether they have one or not, the statutory provisions for repairs still apply, a landlord cannot contract out of these.

[YourKidsYourRulesHunXxx]

Thanks again to those who replied. Armed with information, I tried to talk to my mum about it but she just said 'Its out of my hands, your dad is going to fix the heating himself.' She was getting annoyed at me so I'm just going to leave it. The house is really cold but oh well. I rent a flat and there is no way I would undertake those kind of tasks myself- it is up to the landlord to maintain the home to the standard THEY deem acceptable, and it up to you as a tenant to communicate about the issues so they know about it.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Try to be understanding.Its can be living in a different reality bubble in tied housing.