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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think landlord should fix this

19 replies

OurMiracle1106 · 19/04/2014 23:36

Further to a possession order this morning.

My friends electric supply has gone completely (no light on even the meter) shes phoned her supplier and distributor. The distribution company have been out. Fuse in Meter was blown and as soon as it was turned back on it went again. They are saying there's nothing they can do as there is a fault elsewhere.

Her landlord is refusing to do Anything til he returns from holiday in a WEEKS time

OP posts:
Original poster
OurMiracle1106 · 19/04/2014 23:36

Aibu to think he should sort it earlier!

She also has no heating

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 19/04/2014 23:54

It's a long time to be without leccy isn't it?

Why can't he sort it while he's away? He should have at least left someone who can take the decision on his behalf.

Maybe your friend will be able to get the work done and deduct it from the rent? Shelter has some good advice.

What kind of landlord is he normally?

What's the possession order bit about?

Original poster
OurMiracle1106 · 20/04/2014 00:02

Just c

OP posts:
Original poster
OurMiracle1106 · 20/04/2014 00:03

Cos I

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 20/04/2014 00:07

Spit it out OurM Grin

olgaga · 20/04/2014 00:12

Is it rented through a letting agent? if so contact them. Most decent agents will have an emergency number to contact.

thecatneuterer · 20/04/2014 03:19

So the LL has already issued your friend with notice to quit and she didn't go. He has now had to go to court to get a possession order?

Well I'm not surprised he's pissed off and not falling over himself to sort things out (even though he is legally obliged to, but I don't believe there is a legal time limit for such a thing).

And I would say your friend is the one being unreasonable to stay in a property after the notice to quit has expired.

Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

Roshbegosh · 20/04/2014 04:10

She has had a possession order served so what the LL does or doesn't do is not her business anymore. She would be better to focus on what she will do when the bailiffs come to evict her rather than get angry with the LL over his maintenance of the flat. When did she last pay any rent?

Original poster
OurMiracle1106 · 20/04/2014 09:16

He issued her with a section 21 last may. He then issued her in September with a new tenancy. She had no idea he was looking at possession order. She has lived in these conditions long before the possession order.

Her rent is paid direct to him by housing benefit.

Homeless will not help until baliffs come

OP posts:
Original poster
OurMiracle1106 · 20/04/2014 09:17

Can I point out how is she being unreasonable when the landlord changed his mind and issued her a new tenancy? And she hasn't had another notice to quit since? So yes it run out after which she received a new tenancy

OP posts:
uselessidiot · 20/04/2014 10:24

I'd just like to point out with regard to staying put after an notice to quit has expired. Although I agree it's unfair on landlords people are forced into it by council's stupid rules. If an individual doesn't have a deposit or cannot find something in budget the council won't help them (even with rent deposit scheme) until they are out the property. However if they obey the notice to quit the council will declare them intentionally homeless and therefore not entitled to any support leaving them literally on the streets. Horrible for landlord and tenant alike.

I think your friend needs to contact shelter OP, it sounds a complicated case.

Spickle · 20/04/2014 10:25

It all seems very vague. When the LL issued a new tenancy last September, was it for a fixed length, or a rolling contract? Should your friend have left the property some time ago and because she didn't, the LL got a possession order? While I do think the LL should make sure the property has heating and electricity, I am wondering whether this is an attempt to get your friend to leave his property because it does seem like the LL wants her out and she has refused to go?

Joysmum · 20/04/2014 10:27

With no heating or lighting her house is is not in a habitable condition and the landlord has no intentions if making it in a habitable condition so is breaking implied terms of the tenancy.

She can go down the road of withholding rent for this. Beware though, this is a process she needs to follow carefully and the whole thing could lead to him disputing the full return of her deposit which will delay when that money would be returned to her.

specialsubject · 20/04/2014 10:53

the landlord is not allowed to touch the meter, nor can he get in an electrician to do so. Only the supplier/distributor can work on the meter.

your friend needs to nag them - she is as well placed as the landlord to do that.

WooWooOwl · 20/04/2014 11:05

This is very confusing! Did your friend over stay and then get issued with a new tenancy because that's the only way the landlord was going to get any rent out of her? Is she up to date with all her rent or does she have debt to the landlord?

Original poster
OurMiracle1106 · 20/04/2014 11:27

Nope. She negotiated with him. And he decided after all not to sell the house so although her notice to quit was almost expired allowed her to stay and then issued her with a new tenancy.

She was still paying her rent. And hasn't had another section 21 since the beginning of her newest tenancy. It's a rolling tenancy.

Her rent is covered by housing benefit and is up to date. He has used her 2012 tenancy and put the section 21 he issued last year and not declared the new tenancy.

OP posts:
Original poster
OurMiracle1106 · 20/04/2014 11:31

The distribution company came out last night. They replaced the fuse and then it blew again due to a fault within the circuit which they can't touch. So an electrician needs to come and sort the problem before the distribution company can replace another fuse in the meter.

OP posts:
specialsubject · 20/04/2014 17:05

ah. I see.

ok, LL needs to get an electrician.

I'm not totally clear on the possession etc situation - but landlords can only evict with proper process, not by harrassment. This includes things such as changing locks, cutting off power and so on.

so whatever the situation with the tenancy (which I do not understand here) the LL has to organise power for the tenant and needs to get an electrician.

which probably can't be organised until Tuesday as it is easter holidays, unless he has home emergency cover for the property. (which I do on mine)

mercibucket · 20/04/2014 17:30

is this like when your meter keeps blowing when one of your appliances is faulty? can she check her appliances to see if it is one of them that is tripping the meter?

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