Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

To have not paid rent (yet!)

89 replies

FreshFancyFrogglette · 06/01/2021 14:03

Before we start I am totally aware that officially withholding rent is not encouraged, and/or advised, but listen to the circumstances first please.

5 year tenant with private association rent always paid on time, and in full (apart from when there was a surprise increase of £25 and the email went to my old email so it took a few months to update the standing order form).

Had a problem with my boiler (completely gone). Spoke to association, took a week to get back to me. Took another week to hear from the plumber. Took another week to order parts, and another week to actually install it. Total 1 month no heating or hot water. All this time increase in electric to use halogen heaters and kettles. Still paid rent on time. December. I think new boiler is working, but it turns out they've left the boost on which has been rinsing my electric. Turn it off. Back to no hot water. Christmas/new year period. Cold spell, try to get the storage heaters on. Leave them 48 hrs to be sure (should only take 12hrs but I wanted to be sure). Low and behold no heating. I email landlord, first day back I call them. They say they will call back, and never do, twice. Rent becomes due. I've got it, but I don't pay it. Accounts email me, and I explain. I've got rent here, I want to pay it, but I also want hot water and heating. Bare in mind it's fucking freezing here at the moment. They get the electrician out, he thinks it's a fault with the supplier, ring them, they don't think it is, electrian thinks its meter. (they got electrian out the next working day, compared to when I did pay rent and got fobbed off for 3 weeks!). I'm sat here freezing, too scared to put halogen heater on because I'm skint. My daughters staying elsewhere, it is too cold to have her here atm. Waiting for engineer to come.

My question is should the landlord give me a discount on the rent because I've been 2 months without heating and hot water? If its the meter at fault, whose responsibility is that? I've been very vocal about getting this sorted, and never wanted to withhold rent, but I'm at the end of my tether. I want someone to listen to me. I am waiting for my warm home discount, but at the moment I can't afford to heat the place. We are at the beginning of the month, and my uc is due at the end. Wwyd please?

OP posts:

Someone1987 · 06/01/2021 15:20

Some people on here 🙄

It's the landlords responsibility. End of.

Meruem · 06/01/2021 15:23

My HA once left me 6 months with no boiler so I understand but yes you have to pay the rent. There are ways of getting compensation at a later date but you can be evicted for not paying the rent regardless of your current situation.

I’m currently in a legal battle with mine now over a leaking roof. It’s been leaking for a year! I had to get a solicitor involved in the end and that’s ongoing. I feel like they act this way because they think people will either give up and live with the problem or lose patience and pay themselves to get stuff fixed.

mrsm43s · 06/01/2021 15:24

@Someone1987

Some people on here 🙄

It's the landlords responsibility. End of.

To be fair, its not the landlords responsibility if its an issue with the energy supplier selected by the tenant. And it seems possibly to be a problem relating to the Economy 7 supply.

cyclingmad · 06/01/2021 15:24

@Someone1987

Some people on here 🙄

It's the landlords responsibility. End of.

Yes and its tenants responsibility to pay rent regardless of any issues. You cannot withhold rent.

Original poster

FreshFancyFrogglette · 06/01/2021 15:27

Chloemol sorry I should have been more clear. Being without central heating, and a hot water tap(s) for 2 months has cost me a lot extra on my prepaid meter, I've had to rely on halogen heaters, and kettles, which are expensive. So I'm struggling financially to cope with the extra cost. If this had never happened my rent would be paid. However, it's taken a long time to get them to act, the length of time means I've had to use my own (currently limited) funds to cover this cost. I want them to communicate with me, and fix the heating and hot water, and I also want compensation for the financial hardship I am now in.

OP posts:

Chickmad · 06/01/2021 15:27

If you have zero income have you put in a claim/updated your claim for Universal Credit?
It may be worth running yourself through a Benefits checker, like Turn2us, to make sure you are getting all the help you can.
Shelter, as mentioned before, are brilliant, knowledgeable, and were a lot of help when I needed them to deal with a tricky rental issue.
I hope it all gets sorted for you soon.

Original poster

FreshFancyFrogglette · 06/01/2021 15:30

Thank you! Yes as I was on a zero hrs contract my uc is/was adjusted to reflect the hours I work.. As I've not worked any I get the standard rate. My rent is 3/4 of my total uc for the month..

OP posts:

Original poster

FreshFancyFrogglette · 06/01/2021 15:38

I don't want to be on economy 7heating I hate storage heaters.. We are not allowed to change here. It is a faulty meter box apparently. Is that the energy supplier, or landlords responsibility please?

OP posts:

Theunamedcat · 06/01/2021 15:40

Contact your supplier they can sometimes organise a payment for you to help out

Theunamedcat · 06/01/2021 15:41

Supplier

Iwantacookie · 06/01/2021 15:43

I had issues years ago and was told dont withhold rent because it counts against you.
Your best bet would be complaining. Ask for a copy of their complaints procedure including details for the ombudsman service (they shit themselves if these get involved) keep escalating it to the highest stage of complaint. That should do something but I cant guarantee itll be a quick fix. Good luck.

Original poster

FreshFancyFrogglette · 06/01/2021 15:48

Thanks. I've already got a complaint out against the supplier because they said it wasn't possibly anything to do with them, then hung up. Probably an off day, but I don't anything about energy supply so I just took their word for it. Am at the end of my tether now, completely freezing cold. My hamster hasn't been out today so I'm worried he's hibernating because it so cold. I try to keep the halogen heater over that way, but over night I can't leave it on. He usually comes out to get his food but it's still there so I'm worried. He's quite old anyway so it's not just that, but I just can't cope with any more today. I really don't see how to get through this month

OP posts:

milveycrohn · 06/01/2021 15:52

Two months is far too long.
However, I know from experience that it can take a bit of time to sort things out.
ie initial person to check out the boiler - realises new boiler required; two different quotes for a new boiler; then organise a mutual day for new boiler to be installed.
I think in my case, it took less than 2 weeks, which in the middle of winter is still far too long, but I dont think it could have been done much quicker.
I would suggest asking for a reduction to cover the period without heating and hot water

mrsm43s · 06/01/2021 15:58

@FreshFancyFrogglette

If its a faulty electrical meter, then that is up to you to deal with in conjunction with your meter supplier. Its nothing to do with the landlord whatsoever.

Therefore obviously it would be unreasonable to withhold rent, as its not something the landlord is responsible for.

You need to talk to your suppliers and get them to come out and have a look. Whilst talking to them, it may be worth mentioning that you are in hardship and seeing if there is any help they can offer.

Regularsizedrudy · 06/01/2021 15:58

I think you’ve been very reasonable and patient with all involved. Unfortunately I don’t really have any advice for how to get them to do what they are supposed to!

LIZS · 06/01/2021 16:04

Could you contact Shelter for advice? They can help with template letters and relevant legislation.

Thelnebriati · 06/01/2021 16:04

You used to be able to use the rent money to pay the repair if your LL refused to sort it, but you'd have to do it a certain way, not just stop paying the rent.
Speak to Shelter.

england.shelter.org.uk/legal/housing_conditions/taking_action_on_disrepair/withholding_rent

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 06/01/2021 16:09

I think it would be better to discuss with them a gesture of goodwill to compensate for the hassle you've gone through, no heating etc. Perhaps ask that Decembers rent is covered by them seeing as you've had these issues. This amount of time is not acceptable for them to have you without a boiler and I'm sure they have a legal requirement for ensuring that heating is working.

JustCallMeGriffin · 06/01/2021 16:09

www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/consumer-guide-understanding-energy-meters-ofgem

This is what Ofgem have to say about faulty meters. It is your supplier's responsibility to investigate and resolve if required. There's also an additional link on how to check if your meter is faulty.

However, with covid resources are very stretched so getting someone out fast is unlikely (especially if British Gas, their engineers are about to go on strike). If they aren't cooperative raise a complaint and make it clear that you will escalate to the ombudsman.

Make it clear to them that you are financially vulnerable due to this issue.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

ivykaty44 · 06/01/2021 16:11

id pay the rent as usual

email to say you'll be seeking advice from citizen advice and outline time line only - no adjectives just pure facts

tell them what you want - i. e. discount rent and how much

give them time scale to respond 21 days

then send by post and email

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 06/01/2021 16:11

Also I've had the same issue - cosy socks, jammies, layers, hot water bottles etc. Incidentally I also had a hamster who I thought was dead when my flat was stone cold. He hadn't moved for days. I put a hot water bottle under the cage and it took 5/10 mins but out he came!

UnionistMum · 06/01/2021 16:13

So sorry to hear about your situation. It’s so cold, canning imagine how you are coping.
My advice would be:

Email every day then call- the emails can then be used as evidence for a possible discount. Make sure you mention that your financial circumstances i.e loss of job and no furlough and how upsetting it is to now have to deal with these issues.

How old is your daughter? If she is a child, also mention that you have had to part with your young child because of their lack of care towards the situation( honestly, this should not happen)

As other pp have said, contact environmental health and tell them what is going on and again, mention that amongst many issues, you have also had to part with your child because of them and this should help move things along a bit faster( I hope).

I know it’s hard having to pay but please do. I have lived in a property for many years, right at the start, we had so may issues, I wanted to withdraw rent but quickly learned that it would only be bad for me. These days, I just pester them and if they fail to act, I contact the council.
The last big incident which, despite it being bad, doesn’t compare to your situation, made me really upset but I just persisted.
Issue was... drum roll... the ceiling from the bathroom downstairs collapsed (as it was very old and damp) destroying everything in its way. It happen in October, and the issue was not fixed until Feb...
I was 7 months (first time) pregnant and I just felt like a failure that a new born would come into such a shit home
So, point is. It’s a shit situation and you have to keep fighting to get these c**ts to listen to you and resolve all these issues.

Lovemusic33 · 06/01/2021 16:13

Check with your local council if they are doing a winter energy grant, I had a email about it this morning room my council saying they are offering a £200 to low income households (if you have children who qualify for free school meals).

I agree that it’s annoying. We live in a housing association house too and I have been waiting for a new bathroom for ages (my bath leaks, the taps are broken and toilet doesn’t always flush), also have been waiting years with a back door that wouldn’t shut or lock, there were times I was tempted not to pay my rent to try and get what I wanted but tbh I don’t think it would get me anywhere. The best thing to do is to keep calling them until they get fed up with you calling and send someone out to fix the issue.

Asdf12345 · 06/01/2021 16:20

Unfortunately as you do have access to heat and hot water, just at a higher price per unit than you can afford under your current circumstances, the place is habitable and an extra £100 a month on electricity would not generally be regarded as an unreasonable expense to be able to tolerate whilst they arrange repairs.

Pay the rent and keep on at the housing association to get it repaired or the electricity company if it turns out to be their responsibility.

Keep records of your bills and you may find whoever is responsible for the fault could be persuaded to reimburse the cost of the heaters and additional electricity.

Palavah · 06/01/2021 16:22

By withholding rent you risk legal action againsy you and having to pay for a solicitor's letter from your landlord.

That's what happened to me when I tried non-payment to make them take notice.

I suggest you take legal advice.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread