Landlord being an arse

[landlordstress]

Very long story as short as possible:

We have lived in our current home (privately rented) since April 2020. House is relatively old (1920s build, Victorian style), so lots of things have started to go wrong over the past few years. Landlord is really disinterested in any repairs that have arisen. We've had issues with the boiler (which eventually required full replacement), leaks from the bathroom into the kitchen, tiles randomly falling off in the bathroom and shattering, heavy doors randomly falling off their hinges (almost landing on my toddler and instead landed on my arm to prevent this). All repairs we've needed have generally required repeated requests to the landlord before any action has been taken. The boiler issue for example went on for around 4-5 months, breaking pretty much fortnightly in that time, before landlord eventually agreed to replace it and that was over the winter months too with a baby, so totally nightmare.

The worst problem however, has been a leak in the back porch area (which is an extension on the house), which we first brought to the landlord's attention in October 2020. I know this because I was pregnant with my now almost 3 year old at the time and was concerned about slipping on large pools of water that came through the roof into the house near the back door every time it rained. Landlord did nothing. He replied to requests to fix it with comments such as "it's only a problem when the rain is coming from a particular direction" and so on... promised to get certain treatments to try and address it, never did, etc.. just fobbing us off essentially for years.

It came to a head last year when I decided enough was enough and I was sick of almost slipping in large puddles of rain water every time it rained heavily. At this point it had gone for so long the plaster work was falling off in chunks as the rain came through into the back porch area. We were constantly sending photos and videos of this to the landlord, again, nothing done to repair. So I contacted the council in desperation. They were horrified on inspection and got in touch with him, giving him deadlines and timeframes to fix it etc.

We now have a timeframe for something being done, he's apparently told the council workmen are coming round on a date in a few weeks time to put up a scaffold. However today on the phone to my partner he stated that he didn't like that we "updated" the council every time there was an issue and it felt like "tit for tat". My partner is quite a passive person and didn't challenge this but I am FUMING at this comment.

How dare he suggest we are in a "tit for tat" game playing situation here? He has forced our hand by doing nothing about the problem for 3.5 years, and now we have someone advocating for us and giving him deadlines and consequences for not fixing the issue, he has the audacity to accuse us of playing a "tit for tat" game?!

For context this is not a cheap property, we pay £900 a month to live here. And the place isn't even watertight and hasn't been for 3.5 years. The roof where the leak is at the point of literally crumbling away. I worry the whole thing is going to collapse on my toddler's head. Since our tenancy began in April 2020 we have paid this man around 41k in rent. What the hell has he done with our money and why can't he use some of that to fix the bloody state of the place? Instead of calling my partner to imply we are doing something wrong by involving the council? I am SO angry.

AIBU to have involved the council for help?
AIBU to be fuming and to expect a watertight property for £900 a month?!!

@ConsuelaHammock
Yeah rtft. We're on it.

Exactly

I recently found out that 1 in 5 Tory politicians are private landlords. That tells us everything really, like when are they going to make robust laws to protect private tenants from slum lords ? It’s always to protect social housing tenants. I think they’re just trying to cover their own arse’s with this nonsense.

So this here says he can't serve a section 21 whilst the council are involved issuing a repair notice. So at least while this is ongoing, he can't. Then, following that, the council need evidence that he's met the requirements for the licence to be granted (ie they will inspect the repairs and ensure the problem is adequately resolved). If they then issue a licence, he can presumably evict us. But my hope is we'll have found somewhere else suitable before then!

I wouldn’t have stayed more than one winter in a house like that tbh. Almost 4 years is madness. I’m glad he’s having to fix the property. No one should have I live in an unsafe property.

Oh actually it says if the council have issued an improvement notice in the last 6 months. So seems we have a little longer before he can use the section 21.

I haven't seen one thread defending the LL. I think people just worry he will take some kind of vengeance and evict after work is completed Section 21, sell the property as it is or refuse to give OP a reference.

I’m not surprised Tory politicians are landlords. It’s a good investment to own property. They’re obviously not stupid!

@caringcarer
Read my updates and screenshots re section 21. He cannot do this when a notice has been issued by the council to action repairs within the past 6 months. So we have some time.

I've also addressed the "what if he refuses a reference" question- thankfully there are a number of ways around that, too.

This is correct but I'm pretty sure selling the property is an option for him.

@ConsuelaHammock
We have good reasons for not being able to move sooner and I'm not going into them here. But as I've already said, we are actively looking. In the meantime, our LL has legal obligations to us as tenants which he's in breach of, so that's the issue here.

Of course you are correct. Most councils have teams usually called 'private sector housing' where their entire job is to ensure private landlords do the necessary repairs on properties they own and are renting out.

I wouldn't worry about this at all. He annoyed as he legally has to do the repairs and he doesn't want to - tough shit. I wouldnt give him another thought and would continue to report outstanding repairs to the private sector housing team if he continues to ignore you or fob you off as that is why these teams exist. They wouldnt need to if the private landlords treated their tenants and properties properly so I dont feel bad for him at all.

The only thing I think you can do is learn to care less what other people think as it really doesnt matter.

Grow up.

@caringcarer
True, but the reason he rented it initially was because he'd had it on the market for sale for months and months with no luck. I'm not surprised either. It's a potentially gorgeous house but it's run down and in a state of disrepair and in desperate of modernisation. It's also on a busy main road in a less desirable area of the city. He's not necessarily guaranteed to sell it immediately (if at all), which gives us time to find somewhere else.

Very sensible and helpful post, and your last paragraph is spot on! I do care too much what others think. I need to work on that.

I’m not sure what reasons would keep me living in a damp, wet house with my family but if you have them then fair enough. Your landlord is indeed an arsehole but at some point you do have to accept responsibility for putting up with his arseholiness?? ( I realise that’s not a word)
It’s like letting someone treat you like crap in a relationship and putting up with it because they’re the one in the wrong. Yes they are but you are the only one with the power to change it.

I honestly can’t believe the lack of support you are getting here OP. You have clearly reached the end of your tether. After what were reasonable attempts to resolve the issue directly with your landlord. What more can you do but involve the council. These laws and regulations exist for a reason.

Your landlord is the type that gives landlords a bad name, by basically getting rich on your rent, and failing to uphold their contractual obligations. I hope the council fine him.

@ConsuelaHammock
How am I "putting up with it"?! I reported the arsehole to the council didn't I? They've taken action and forced his hand. That's the exact opposite of putting up with it - it's had the desired effect.

I'm not engaging any further with you, as I get the sense you're intent on arguing with me or finding a way to way to blame a decent tenant for a landlord's shitty, illegal behaviour. I'm not interested in that, I've neither the time nor the energy.

Also can’t believe people saying just move.
its not free to move house, movers will cost hundreds of pounds, not to mention estate agents application fees.
Then there is the fierce competition for rentals. If one even comes up in the area and budget.
some people don’t have a clue

''@Travis1

Only on mumsnet can it be a tenants fault that a landlords a prick 🙄.''

Indeed, some of the responses on this thread are truly disgraceful.

OP, you have done the right thing.

You can't carry on living in a place like this especially with a small child.

Even if that idiot ends up trying to evict you it will take a while so you can use that time to get alternative accommodation.

I do hope he gets fined for not having the correct licence and then some more if he fails to conduct the repairs.

Also, I would check if he has protected your deposit. If he hasn't you can get compensation from him.

Thank you for seeing the situation exactly as it is! x

Your ll has a duty of care to you. I'd be fuming if his response was so ridiculous. I think it's worth sending a message again stating how dangerous it is, it was a last resort having to contact the council and you have a right to live safely! What a dumbass response he sent!

Why have you stayed there for so long? You should have moved at least a couple of years ago after the original problems. You know the landlord isn't interested in updating/repairing the property, so it's unrealistic to think he's going to change his ways.

Also a landlord, and your landlord’s behaviour is completely unacceptable. What we let is our former home, so quite emotionally attached, but it’s a responsibility to keep it in good condition so it can be as happy a home for any tenants as it was for us.

Starting to suspect some of these posters might be the landlord or his wife who recognise me.

So.... just in case, If either of you are reading this: FOR GOD SAKE SORT YOUR SHITTY HOUSE OUT!!! 40k in rent and STILL asking for a watertight house? Utter disgrace.