have i done the right thing?? private renting

[als30]

this is my first private let and its been a nightmare from the beginning money was a big issue but now I feel the property is not worth the 550 rent ive recently had to make a decision and have gave my notice in I think ive done the right thing but get other people telling me different ill now tell you why im leaving the house and see if im right

when I viewed it I seen no reason not to take it the last tenant was in showing me about (which I thought was weird as all the other places id seen had letting agents showing me about) all she said was wrong was the shower screen was broken and a wardrobe door and she had said it was reported so theres me thinking it will be fixed by the time I moved in hahaha no
took 3 weeks to fix a toilet seat and the shower screen including a small leak from under the sink in kitchen
mirrored wardrobe door still broke heating is rubbish and ive reported other problems its now been 9 months and nothing has been fixed

the last two problems that really sealed the deal to leave was I had a small leak from the toilet while I was on hols in july plumber was phoned no one came out had to pay one my self then last week shower burst water pouring out of it after a hour bathroom floor was soaked top of the stairs was too plus had started to leak into kitchen into sockets etc into living room and a cupboard under the stairs were the fuse box is lucky for me it never touched that

im leaving the house as I no longer feel safe now and have to think of the safety of myself and my kids cant live in a house were I could be putting our lives and health at risk

am I doing the right thing????

[BucktoothedGirlinLuxembourg]

Regardless of anything, if you don't feel safe in the property then yes, moving out seems like the sensible thing to do. It sounds atrocious.

[Missunreasonable]

It sounds like you should leave but out of curiosity; when the shower burst why didn't you isolate the water at the stop cock to stop it flowing out?

[als30]

the stop cock wouldn't move I tried it even had one of neighbours in to help me and he couldn't get it

think of it as a clock would only go from quarter too to quarter past and that was it wouldn't budge anymore also tried to find the switch for the shower to turn that off that wasn't handy was up the loft the plumber I had phoned had managed to get it off and stop the water just in the nick of time

[LIZS]

Well in some areas £550 would be a good deal for any house so that kind of depends. However if you have issues with repairs not being done then yes you are right to move if you have a chance. Unfortunately you will get problems from time to time even in the most well maintained of properties. However you might want to look up some basic diy skills to help mitigate damage from minor problems like a leaky sink or shower while you wait for a repairman.

[als30]

this was not the first leak that property had there was one before again was upstairs no idea how bad although the stains from the water are still there also the shower was fitted two years ago and was told it should
not have went like it did

[RenterNomad]

Who has been trying to tell you you were wrong to give notice?! Why don't they move in, then?

[als30]

a few folk ive been talking to plus my dad seems to think I should stay but as my mum has already told him im not moving cause of the money im moving cause if anything else was to happen in that place and it was to put my kids life in danger then I wouldn't be able to live myself knowing I had a chance to get out

im not worried about money right now im worried for all our safety and health I know there will always be problems with private lets but they cant all be as bad as this one found out the last tenant left after 8 months as she was having pretty much the same problems as iam

[specialsubject]

isn't this about the third thread you've started on this subject?

just give notice and go. Stop wasting time and money.

you don't ALWAYS get problems with private lets. you ALWAYS get problems with houses but they should be fixed.

[als30]

Does the landlord/letting agents have to accept the notice to quit??

It's not going to put me off looking for another sublet just this time I know what to look for and what questions to ask

Too much has went wrong since I've got the place and it's one of those things where you don't know who's to blame - the landlord the letting agents etc nothing adds up ive got a stopcock that won't budge heating rubbish no gas safety certificate not been a good experience fingers crossed next house/flat is better looked after xxxxx

[specialsubject]

no gas safety certificate???? That is illegal. Report the landlord, this is their legal duty.

you should never have even moved in. GIVE NOTICE AND GET OUT. And yes, they have to accept the notice, you said you were coming to the end of your six months.

before signing for the next one, ask to see a current gas safe certificate. No excuses, ALL rental properties must have one. Any excuses - walk; the landlord is a crook.


Ask who will the deposit be registered with. Test taps, flushes etc etc. Basically look at it as if you were buying. Don't rent dumps.

[als30]

I've been told they have one in the office but I thought I was to have a copy as well

It has opened my eyes being in this private rented home now I know what to look for etc thanks for all the advice and help my first time at going it alone and didn't go quite to plan but as they say lessons learned

[RenterNomad]

When is your tenancy due to finish? If it's a 6-month one, find out from Shelter how to report all the problems, so you're protected from retribution . If it's a 12-month tenancy,.you may also need their help to report to the correct authorities (your council's environmental health, or similar), to have it declared uninhabitable, so the LL/agent can't claim you are breaking the tenancy and try to claim extra rent for tge remaining months.

[als30]

It's due to finish in jan but can't last that long I gave my notice 2 weeks ago my moving date is the end of October

[specialsubject]

yes, there must be a tenant's copy of the gas safe cert given to you; for my rental it is in the folder of information left in the place, as well as a copy being with the agent.

there's no excuse at all.

I think you've started several threads on this. Get out of the place.

[todayisnottheday]

If you've observed the notice period set out in the tenancy agreement they have to accept. However I'm not sure you have if the tenancy ends in January? It's unlikely you could break the agreement early without a fight. Is there a break clause or something? If not you'll still be liable for rent.

[als30]

Now I'm not too bothered about what rent I would still have to pay place has just got worse new shower was fitted this afternoon and now no water in taps in bathroom toilet makes a horrible sound once you've flushed it and light on boiler keep going out when I turn on hot water tap in kitchen no idea if the tanks empty etc has anyone any ideas as to why??

Glad I getting out of here and will be going sooner than expected preferred the hole in wall least things were working lol x

[RenterNomad]

Look, get the place classed as uninhabitable, report the gas cert and anything else you can, check for whether your deposit is protected.

Under no circumstances should you agree to pay money for a shithole which was too uncomfortable, and possibly dangerous, to live in!

Have you reported ANY of this stuff?

[als30]

Yes everything has been reported and I've took photos from the things that are still to be fixed to the leak from shower 3 weeks ago new shower fitted yesterday and same thing it went this morning but no leak this time xx