To expect landlord to reimburse?

[PawsAndReflection]

Hi all

We've been renting our place for almost 2 years, always pay on time and have never caused any issues for the landlord. Unfortunately they're not particularly great, we've been without hot water for over a week in the middle of December, had our only toilet break for 5 days, and most recently have dealt with a broken front door which they took forever to fix.

All repairs done as cheaply as possible (which is reflected in the quality) and take a really long time to get resolved (if at all). We pay the best part of £2k/month for a 2 bed flat in London.

About 4 months after moving in we noticed marks on our bedding, and soon had it confirmed that we had bed bugs. We immediately confirmed treatment and informed the landlord. During treatment pest control discovered the full scale of the problem- bed bugs and carpet beetles in every single room of the flat.

We'd purchased a new bed and sofa when we moved in, and there was already an old leather sofa which the landlord owned and wouldn't remove as it would mean they couldn't market the property as 'part furnished'

Pest control confirmed the old sofa was absolutely crawling with bed bugs and that there was evidence of previous pest treatments, so they were certain that this was the cause.

After 2 weeks of back and forth the landlord finally agreed to tackle the problem (all carpets were infested with carpet beetles too) which resolved the problem. The issue is we'd paid that initial bed treatment of £240 (rather than wait another 5 days to get a response from the LL and sleep in a bug infested bed) on the understanding the LL would reinburse. Over a year later they're still dodging it and I don't know if we even have any recourse.

Anyone have experience with this, am I expecting too much?

...anyone?

You've got two options.

Accept it or take it to small claims and run the risk you'll be looking for a new place when your contract ends.

If you want to stay there I would drop it.

We're planning to give notice in the next few weeks which is why it's sort of come to a head

Is there anything they could use against you to try and withhold your deposit?

Contact your MP, and threaten to take them to the press. Especially if you have in writing that they would reimburse you.

@GoodChat Nope, we've always been super careful with the property.

Talk to the DPS or whichever agency holds your deposit.

Do you have proof of the agreement to reimburse you?

£2k a month is cheap for a two bed in London!

Infestations are the responsibility of tenants to treat. If you can prove it was already in place when you moved in then that is separate, but I imagine would be difficult to prove.

No it isn't! Maybe for a 2 bed in Kensington but otherwise it's not at all cheap!

I would try with small claims at least. They can’t keep your deposit in retaliation that’s a different issue and you can also fight that

2k isn't cheap and an infestation is the responsibility of the landlord, honestly some people will defend slum landlord to the bitter end