Hope this isn’t too long or boring!
I live in a private rented property, I moved to the area (where I already had local connections) under the military covenant. I was way down the list for social housing and the council put me in touch with a private landlord. I’ve rented from him for three years and the place has always been a bit off. It’s worn, no finishing plaster on the walls means they’re cracking and huge chunks are missing around doors. The downstairs flooring is Lino, covered in yellow residue from the previous carpet, the Lino hasn’t been fitted properly meaning the place constantly looks dirty no matter what I do. I was told prior to moving in, these issues would be sorted. I’d like to paint but the walls aren’t in a condition to be painted. They need to be plastered. There are a lot of smaller issues, but these are the main things. I asked my landlord to come over to discuss these things and he came round with his wife today. His issue for fixing things is the cost but I’ve worked out that over the three years I’ve lived here, I've paid just shy of £26k. He’s paid for three boiler services in that time and nothing else. He won’t commit to sorting anything out and we only got anywhere today because his wife insisted. Can he really take all this money from me and not even maintain his own property? I’m really at a loss. I can’t really afford to move and by my landlords own admission, his previous tenants owed him thousands and he has issues with tenants in his other properties. I’ve never once been late with rent, I’m quiet, the place is kept as nice as it can be.