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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To wonder how many times I need to ask the landlord to fix the gate?

12 replies

MycatsaPirate · 10/09/2018 10:47

Moved in 3 years ago. We are good tenants, pay rent on time, every six months and didn't complain when it took weeks for him to replace the boiler which had packed up. I did need to keep chasing him though.

The back gate in our garden has disintegrated to the point it had come off it's hinges. So I told him and asked him for a replacement asap as that's the only way to get the lawnmower round the front and also for security.

He did half. We are now left with a gate, nothing for it to latch onto and the old gate propped against it to stop it opening. This means we can't use the gate at all unless we start moving stuff and I'm not well enough to do it.

The hedges are overgrown and although we've tried to cut them back, we cannot get to the tops. This is again another job which has been needing done for over a year.

The gutters are full of weeds and I've messaged him about that along with a reminder about the gate.

Nothing. No response. Apparently the other half of the gate is ready but he doesn't have time to do it according to his wife.

They live across the road. I really don't want to have to go and ask but it's driving me insane that I can't get this job done.

Rent is due again on 1st October. We pay six months in advance. Do I get someone else to finish the job and send them the bill?

OP posts:
MatildaTheCat · 10/09/2018 10:52

I would drop them a letter listing the repairs and jobs that require their attention and ask that they are carried out in x period of time. If he doesn’t have time to do the work he needs to employ someone who does.

Say that if these urgent jobs cannot be done within, say, two weeks you would like to get the work done and direct the invoice to the LL.

Also give a timeframe for a response. They sound lazy people who aren’t taking their responsibilities seriously. I say this as a LL.

Singlenotsingle · 10/09/2018 10:56

You or do could probably sort out the gate yourselves, but not the other stuff - the hedge clipping and the gutters. Agree with Matilda otherwise (I'm a LL too).

MycatsaPirate · 10/09/2018 10:59

It's really frustrating. I told him about the gate in May. He doesn't work so he has all day free but is always 'busy'.

I will do as suggested and do a letter.

OP posts:
Agentornika · 10/09/2018 11:00

Not really the point of the thread, but why on earth are you paying 6 months at a time?

birdladyfromhomealone · 10/09/2018 11:04

You expect your LL to clear weeds from your gutters?
If you look in your contract I think you will find gutters are the responsibilty of the tenant as is garden maintence.

MycatsaPirate · 10/09/2018 11:39

We choose to pay six months ahead. It's our choice and if we switched to monthly LL would be fine with that.

There is no contract. Garden maintenance is fine. We have cleared the entire garden, which was a shit tip. However, the rest of the rubbish is now piled up unable to leave because we don't have a gate.

And I am not paying someone to maintain the gutters. That's structural and as far as I'm concerned part of the LL's responsibilities. There is also a conservatory at the back and we keep that clean but it's ridiculously difficult to access the gutters at the back and the LL did pay someone to do them three years ago when we moved in.

We are paying someone to come and clean the entire house this week, including shampooing all the carpets. I am disabled, DP is out at work all the time and I really don't have the money or energy to clean gutters.

They get £12k a year from us, I think they can afford to clean the gutters and fix the gate. (no mortgage, houses were inherited)

OP posts:
ShalomJackie · 10/09/2018 11:42

If you are responsible fir the garden under the terms of the tenancy then the hedge will be your responsibility.

Singlenotsingle · 10/09/2018 11:45

No contract? No AST agreement? That's illegal!

Merryoldgoat · 10/09/2018 12:42

No contract and 6 months in advance? That’s bizarre.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 10/09/2018 13:08

There is no contract

Eh??? Confused

specialsubject · 10/09/2018 13:17

no written contract is not illegal in England. rent is paid and accepted, equals tenancy, equals ast.

drop a letter through the door.detailing what needs doing.and arrange a meeting.

smoke alarms? epc? how to rent guide? deposit?

landlord finances irrelevant, although with no contract he cant insist you.do.any of the normal tenant stuff.

MissusGeneHunt · 10/09/2018 13:20

Why no contract? Don't understand..... Confused

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