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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not pay my rent..

43 replies

biddysmama · 27/06/2012 17:06

the landlord was supposed to decorate the house before we moved in, he didnt and promised he would do it in a couple of weeks, every time ive asked him hes said a couple of weeks, even giving days they will come, and then they dont, i've said we will do it if he gives us the things no no, hes a builder,he will send some lads down to do it on x day that never arrives...

we have lived here a year now and we have decorated the childrens bedrooms beccause the children that lived her before drew all over the walls..

in august dd's new nursery teachers are coming for a visit,theres no wallpaper on the stairs, we stripped it (it was mouldy) ready for the decorators that never came,ive told him and same answer as always

wibu to use this months rent to finish the decorating

im probably going to be told aibu for waiting so long but we havent got alot of spare money esp since im paying 450 a month for living here and we havent moved because its literally across the road from ds's school

OP posts:

geegee888 · 04/07/2012 08:04

But not much point for the landlord in having a tenant who doesn't pay rent StealthPolarBear?

She does have a choice - move out to somewhere better decorated surely?

GeekLove · 04/07/2012 08:06

What you could to is write a letter referring to the dates and say you are decorating and that rent for the next period will be minus the expenses - an itemised bill consisting of the receipts of whi h a copy is kept for your reference as well.

Magneto · 04/07/2012 08:08

Yes it is because we did it ourselves before we moved in.

The place we rented before this wasn't decorated, had mould on the walls and an ancient boiler that hardly ever worked. All of which the landlord promised to fix but never did, so we moved out. Problem solved. The op does have that option and if she doesn't pay her rent she will have to move out anyway.

alistron1 · 04/07/2012 08:24

Morally yanbu, however legally you would be. The law in this country is skewed against tenants.

I live in a rented property, and have been in it for 10 years. I've paid my rent on time, redecorated at my own cost, restored some original features. Apart from emergency stuff (the boiler dying) the landlord has done nothing. 3 years ago the kitchen sink unit fell apart. It has been held up by 2 planks of wood. I COULD have got a plumber out/fitted new units, but that would cost a lot of money. Last week my hall ceiling fell down. The LL sent a guy to replaster, but they haven't addressed the cause (a slow leak upstairs) and I've been left with water damage and an extensive redecoration job on my hands.

As someone who pays the rent on time I don't think I am being unreasonable to want to live in a home that doesn't look like a bombsite/slum. I've asked the LL to come out next week and inspect the property so we can negotiate about repairs. I don't want to move, I just want to enjoy the home I pay for.

StealthPolarBear · 04/07/2012 08:25

So its put up or get out, that's her choice?
Bloody hell. Thank god I'm not a tenant.

StealthPolarBear · 04/07/2012 08:26

Well this thread has been an eye opener.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 04/07/2012 08:28

Morally and legally it would be wrong of you to withhold rent.

You owe the rent because you are living there. You sleep there, you shower there, you eat there, you watch tv there. You owe the rent!

Any dispute you have over decoration is a separate issue.

RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief · 04/07/2012 08:34

If you withhold rent because the landlord is in breach of contract, then you have to pay it into a solicitor's account (think it's called an escrow account or something), so that neither of you is getting the benefit of it, whilst the dispute is resolved.

Therefore, if you need the money to do the decorating, then there's not much you can do.

alistron1 · 04/07/2012 08:36

So tenants should be happy to pay rent and put up with living in a shithole?

PrettyFlyForAWifi · 04/07/2012 08:59

OP I really feel for you. I would hate to live somewhere in a poor state of repair and I totally get that you'd be embarrassed for the nursery worker to see it like that, I would be too. You can't be blamed for taking your ll's word for it that he was going to do the work although I'm sure you now kick yourself for it!
Don't withold the rent, it's not the way to go because it leaves you 'in the wrong' and it'd be awful to lose the place because you've said you like the location. Get hold of the landlord and try and pin him down to a proper date, you could try appealing to his better nature (if he has one) and say how unhappy it's making you. and how it's not reasonable to say you can't do it and then not do it himself. You could suggest that you use this month's rent to do it yourself but I think you know the answer you'd get. Rubbish situation, I do sympathise.

Slobby · 04/07/2012 09:17

I love that this thread is completely biased towards buy to let sham artists rather than tenants.

I wouldn't withhold rent because to speculate on shelter like landlords do usually implies the person is uncaring and unfeeling and you'll be the one carrying the can, but YANBU OP.

TheSpokenNerd · 04/07/2012 09:24

we rent and in my experience you have to really bug them....phone daily OP...send txt messages. If he gives a date, old him to it by double, double checking in the days leading up...on the day keep phoning to complain they are not there yet.

You need to make it so that it is easier for him to decorate than to keep putting you off. Start today....phone him and say "I want this house decorated before we get a visit from nursery and I want a date for it to happen by 5.00pm....then if he fails, phone him at 5.00 and harangue him.

Then again at 9.00am tomorrow and so on.

TheSpokenNerd · 04/07/2012 09:28

geegee the OP has somewhere to live and does not need to ook for somewhere else...and that somewhere SHOULD be decorated to a clean and decent standard. She does not have to move....her landlord has a legal obligation to make sure the house is well maintained.

OP you could also ask SHELTER for advice...

fishybits · 04/07/2012 09:29

It's not about morals, principles or emotions. It's housing law. The OP can't withhold rent unless the property is unfit for occupation and an undecorated house doesn't make it unfit for occupation. The rules that came in April 2007 regarding the deposits mean that the OP must return the house to the LL in the same condition as it was let to her (except fair wear and tear) otherwise she will lose her deposit. If the OP takes some of the well meaning advice on here, she'll end up heavily out of pocket or worse homeless.

OP, write to your LL asking for permission to redecorate and if he says yes GET IT IN WRITING.

TheSpokenNerd · 04/07/2012 09:42

Having looked at what Shelter has to say about it here I think OP that unless the poorly decorated hallway etc is down to dampness, you might have to do it yourself.

It's a lesson in trust really....your landlord should have done it before you moved in.

Since he keeps fobbing you off, you could continue to bug him and hope he caves...or just do it yourself.

TheSpokenNerd · 04/07/2012 09:44

I see the paper in the hall was mouldy....are there signs of damp on the walls there? Your local council will come and view this and slap a legal doument n the landlord if it is....he will have to fix it then. We did this in a flat we had once...black mold in the bedrooms and a lazy landlord....the council came the same day we rang and made out some document which they sent to the landlord.

Feminine · 04/07/2012 09:56

Well this is a peculiar thread.

Poor op I'm sorry some of the posters seem to be from the school of zero empathy

It is tempting to do what you suggested, but don't -just so you are in the right.

Could you look for somewhere else? is that at all possible?

Must be upsetting to not feel at home, good luck!

FioFio · 04/07/2012 09:59

I have similar problems with the house I rent (with mould etc) a leaking roof, a falling down garage. As far as decorating goes though I just do it myself as if I waited for the landlord to organise anything like that I would be drawing my pension

but as everyone says, don't withhold rent as you have already decorated your childrens rooms and are settled

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