Hi everyone! Never posted on MN before but have seen the good advice you all dish out, so I'm hoping you can help me (on the advice of DM, who herself is an avid MN user!)
I've been renting a flat in Manchester for nearly a year now with a good friend (we're students) and all is going well on that front. However it's coming up to a time where we'd be thinking about renewing our lease... If it weren't for a couple of things!
- We were promised a parking space and have battled all year to gain access to the private car park (fob entry and permit needed), we're pretty sure we've seen someone using the space allocated to our flat, could it be the landlord?!?
- There has been a leak in the bathroom that has caused some rotting on the floor (it has been noted in the inventory as it was like that when we first moved in) , making us worried about the safety of the flat. LL has refused to cough up for repairs, although 3 contractors have come and gone with quotes, saying that it isn't necessary! Is there anyway we can force him to do the repairs??
- My poor flatmate has been left without a closing bedroom door all year too, it's too big for the frame and there's no handle.... Just a large hole where there should be one! And as she has a bf I think we'd both like a little privacy
- Despite all rent having been paid on time and in full he has complained to the agents that we are very demanding and messy tenants and that he'd like proof that we haven't trashed his flat. Given that we have never met or had direct contact with him I want to know where his insinuations are coming from, as two girls on our own we take pride in keeping the flat clean, especially after a year of living with 4 disgusting (although lovely) boys!! He is now demanding that the rent be increased by £50 a month, which we aren't willing to pay after a year of no repairs! He is apparently demanding to come round to the flat and talk to us, although we have so far refused to let him do so without both of us being present as well as the agent. Were we right to insist this??
The agents have treated us like dirt and we have had barely any contact with them, despite repeated calls, emails and personal visits to them there's rarely anyone available to talk to us and when we do get in contact we usually get fobbed off! We love the flat and we've made a little home for ourselves, but should we let ourselves be forced out?
(Sorry for the rant)
Please help, glorious ladies of Mumsnet!!
