To ask for a reduction in rent?

[Lonelycats]

Landlord just told us that a three months long extensive refurbishment project is starting NEXT WEEK! Scaffolds, windows covered up, extensive work on our roof. Landlord says to expect ‘some dust’ and also says the works are noisy by nature.

I know that the landlord is not required to compensate us is in any way, but is it worth asking?

• With such short notice we were never given an opportunity to plan around these works, or move out.
• I work from home (I know it’s not their problem as the house was not advertised as office space, but these are my circumstances)
• we have only planned two weeks holiday as one of my children is doing exam revision this year so we are going to be here for the next five weeks…! Studying and working. Other children are in day camps in and off to allow for some peace and quiet at home. I’d lose all my money for these activities if we were to try and go somewhere else for the summer
• I can’t bear the thought of not being able to open any windows on a hot day

I assume this is EWS1, it's a regulation that came in after Grenfell to ensure that all cladding is safe. If the owner is having to pay for it (sometimes up to £50k per flat) then they will not grant you a reduction.

Definitely worth a punt. They can only say no.

I'd definitely ask for a discount. The landlord was shitty not to give you a heads up when they first realised the work needed doing.

Who says they won't?

This

I would.
I think with such short notice you haven’t had time to plan alternatives ie working elsewhere or using a few weeks annual leave to go away. If it was your own property you could have arranged alternatives months ago when they were cheaper or still had spaces.

I would say it’s inconvenient now as such last minute. Explain you will prob now incure extra unplanned for costs such as extra school holiday clubs or you paying to work in coffee shops or ad hoc office rental space etc.. all things you hadn’t budgeted for for ‘next week’.

i would definitely refuse. Be careful here, your LL could easily increase your rent to aid the costs.

Yes, me at home in the cold in my modest 2-bedroom terrace. The bloody cheek of me, owning my own home. Put me (and millions of other hard-working taxpayers) up against a wall and shoot me come the revolution...

They can raise rents once a year. You can also refuse to accept the rent increase

It’s the summer, surely your DC can take a break from study as there’s no exams until next year? Same for your HE child, let them have a summer holiday. No suggestions for you with work though unfortunately, might just be a case of sucking it up the best you can. You can certainly ask for a rent reduction but be prepared to be told no, it’s not likely in those circumstances.

It's worth a try I don't really know. However, I'm currently sitting in my (own) home with the noise of the roof getting replaced. We had our start date pushed back a few times, they were supposed to start in March/April and well here we are. They've not had a clear run of more than 1 day at a time to get the job done so I often have no idea if they're coming from one day to the next. They've had issues with weather, previous jobs overrunning, scaffolding, a missing skip and a broken down telehandler so far. Oh and one of the workers unexpectedly took a few days off to go and help his Dad with sheep-shearing. Just to give an insight into the lack of notice period!

Would you prefer a slum landlord who doesn't give a shit about the condition of the house?

You could ask. She what LL says.

I’m a teacher and intrigued on the child who’s revising. Most schools/ colleges / unis have come to the end of the examination period. Is your DC already predicting November resits?
I know this isn’t the point but just found it intriguing

Assuming the trades will need electric and water, what provision has the LL made for this? Also toilet provision, LL needs to provide a portaloo.
If it's grade 2 listed then the ll will have also had to get listed building consent from the council, so speak to the conservation officer at the council if you have you.

Opening your windows on a hot day is making your house hotter.....shut the windows and curtains during the day and open them all when the sun sets will make your house cool all day.

I would ask if possible for reduction during works so you can hire a work space outside the home. Reasonable request imo

Yeah you might need to be able to rent a mobile office or work space for you and your child perhaps price them up and go to the landlord explain that you could have planned around this had you actually known sooner and this is what your going to be out

We rent out a property. When the oven broke we gave the renter some money to acknowledge the inconvenience.

Yes but if you owned the home and chose to get major works done you would have completed autonomy over when they happened!

and the helot bill for the works

Your DC can use a library to revise
can you use a shared office space? Get a desk for a month?

You can also refuse to accept the rent increase

it can be negotiated,

Try but if xpensive works have been forcd on the landlord due to Grenfell he may have much less not more money to give out on discounts.
My son and his friend at university had scaffolding up just about the whole last academic year 2019/20. It was really difficult as his bed room was always dark, so dark the house plants almost died and like most building works took about 50% longer than planned - no one's fault but just how it goes sometimes.

Of course you should get a discount, and I'm bemused by people not realising that. The landlord is essentially improving their asset (even if it is because a contractor screwed up). Why the hell should you suffer for that?

I don't understand wanting money off either.

Your landlord is improving your living situation (which you already say is good) for FREE - and you want even more money off?