to think this is not acceptable?

[lill72]

Hi, Ive just had the maintenance guy from the company that does the maintenance on our rental property hang up on me. For no reason other than I dare to try and tell him that there is a problem with something which I guess he reads as he has no done his job properly.

He installed a new toilet seat as the last was slipping and cracked. The day the new one was installed I noticed it was also slipping and emailed them.No reply. Emailed again as it is getting worse. I get an email back saying it was ok when he checked it and they will come and look at it, but if it is damaged they will charge us. WTF.?? how did we do any damage. Bit accusatory.

Then I wanted the hems on curtains fixed. He said the curtains were dirty and greasy so he could not put backing tape on? Again WTF? they are not either of these and there is no reason they cannot be fixed. why dont they sew them anyway and actually they are too long to begin with so easy to get dust on bottom as they do. So he passed onto the LL that they are dirty and greasy. Ah they are not.

When I called to dispute this he gets very defensive and then says someone will attend and hang up. I have let the lettings manage but how I handle this ongoing? They have accused us of any things but dot follow through on charging us when I kick up a fuss. why - because their accusations are utter BS.

I kick up a fuss. They dont like it as I call them out.

Oh to handle these people. They are so unprofessinal.

[HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone]

As someone who has rented I would never have considered calling about the loo seat, why cant you just replace it if it was cracked? In terms of the curtains I assume they belong to the property? Again why not ask if it is ok for you to put the backing tape on, as long as it is done via email and you have permission it would be fine, either that or take them down and replace them with your own curtains.

I don't see them as being hugely unprofessional more fed up of you having issues which they probably like me don't see as being that important in the grand scheme of things. What else have you rang them about out of curiosity for them to have complained about you so often?

[Nicknacky]

You posted about the toilet seat a few weeks ago, didn’t you?

Can’t you do any minor maintanence youself? Toilet seat and curtain hems?!

[Pickleypickles]

Maybe you come across as aggressive rather than assertive on the phone?

[ALiensAbductedMe]

Having managed rental properties I would just be annoyed that you aren't dealing with minor things yourself. Don't like the curtains because they are too long? Replace with your own but keep theirs for when you leave. Replace the toilet seat yourself, if your that bothered get permission and ask for the cost to be deducted from rent, they will no doubt agree as it saves them the expense and time of the maintenance person. I once had someone call because their lightbulbs needed replacing!!!

[Nicknacky]

ALiens There’s a good chance that might have been the op that called about lightbulbs.......

[Fattymcfaterson]

Just tighten the toilet seat? You don't need a man to come round to do it for you

[HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone]

I once had someone call because their lightbulbs needed replacing!!!

I am now idly wondering if you are my old letting agent who also spoke of his horror at grown men asking him to come and replace the lightbulbs. There cannot be that many people who would call and consider it a reasonable request surely?

[ReservoirDogs]

Is this a reverse because surely noone would think these are legitimate complaints?

[bluebeck]

I agree with PP. When I rented properties I wouldn't have called an agent about this sort of thing, and I am disabled.

They probably think you are very high maintenance.

Have you rented in UK before?

[Gazelda]

Maybe he's frustrated about frequent calls and emails over such small issues. Has the curtain hem come undone, if so could you not repair it? Could you not tighten the toilet seat?

[MarthasGinYard]

Have you posted about this before?

[Fruitcorner123]

i think normally a landlord would be responsible for the cost of a toilet seat but it eould be reasonable to fix it yourself. It sounds like they are fed up of you calling about minor things. Are the curtains nice?Personally I would replace anything like that with ones to my taste. I don't think you can expect them to take up hems to be honest. They have provided usable curtains, taking them up is a cosmetic project and therefore you should do it yourself or live with them as they are.

[ALiensAbductedMe]

The thing is, everytime you complain about something, your landlord has a call out fee for the maintenance guy, plus his materials and labour. So the toilet seat to him is probably £60 call out, £20 seat - so minimum £80... And you could sort it by tightening a bolt yourself. Do you see why that might infuriate them? Same with curtains, £60 call out fee for something you could do cheaply that would take no time. I know Landlords have a responsibility but they are not unreasonable to expect adult tenants to manage minor things like this. If you are worried about changing things without permission then get permission. They are you landlord, not your parents.

[chipsandgin]

YABU & Wow, unless you are living in hotel you are being ridiculous. So glad we have lovely tenants. We live 300 miles from our house, can’t imagine tenants calling because the new toilet seat needed tightening or sone tape needed putting on curtains! Have you rented before!?

[ikeepaforkinmypurse]

I suppose if you have very high ceiling and not the right tools to reach the ceiling, you could have a point about asking for help to change lightbulbs.

In RL, some tenants are just unreasonable, see nothing about drying their clothes on a radiator but call for the most mundane thing. It's only a matter of time before someone clean about dirty dishes in their rental place

[KittyVonCatsworth]

I’m with everyone else here, these are very simple jobs to do without the need to call anyone out. I’d suggest taking before and after photos though in case anything is disputed in the future.

[Nicknacky]

What is actually the issue with the curtains?

[feathermucker]

I've always rented. I might be able to manage a toilet seat or ask someone I knew who was a bit handy. The phoning and asking for taoe for the curtains is ridiculous. You can easily do that yourself.

In the past, things I've phoned about are a leaking toilet and a jammed lock (meaning the property was insecure)........oh, and broken heating in the middle of a freezing winter.

I wouldn't dream of phoning and asking a tradesman to come out and put tape on my curtains!

[crazymumofthree]

We have just moved into a property and replaced the toilet seat ourselves at own cost, we also have their curtains which I think were meant for the upstairs bedroom so they are a little long but atm just living with it until I have time to buy our own or see them myself. I wouldn't bother calling out for small things like this tbh. I am pretty sure in our contract lightbulbs are our responsibility too haha

[SoddingUnicorns]

Toilet seats and curtains aren’t a reason to get someone out. Unless you’re disabled and can’t do it yourself, that would be different. But if there are no reasons why you can’t reasonably do it yourself it’s a very silly reason to call out a maintenance man.

[lill72]

Sorry but does no one think it unprofessional to hang up on someone?

The toilet seat you cannot just tighten - it needed a contractor to put it in.

It requires everything to be unscrewed!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I did post a few weeks ago as they were trying to charge us. Surprise they have not as I pushed back. They are BS artists who just try it on.



Where can you just hang up on people in business? He surely wouldnt do this if he was try to garner favour with me but because I am a lowly tenant they think they can treat you like crap.

Not sure why the curtain is bad to ask when they did such a crap job in the first place???

I dont ask for lightbulbs just for the record.

Ah yes have rented before.
Aliens is this not how the maintenance of a property works??? Arethey not supposed to maintain it? Obviously I deal with the basics but the toilet seat is not a basic job - I do not have the skills for this. Other ones may be easier but not this one.

[SoddingUnicorns]

Oh and the loo seat could be the way you sit on it. My brother has a really irritating knack of being able to dislodge even the most competently fitted loo seat! Fuck knows how.

[Nicknacky]

He answered your query, said someone would attend then put the phone down. What more was needed to say?

[Nicknacky]

What is wrong with the curtains?!

[lill72]

So when does it become something they need to look at?

The point is - The email was accusing me of damaging seat and telling me curtains are greasy which are both untrue. This is what I am objecting to.