to think some landlords just cannot be bothered?

[Chulita]

My brothers have not had a working boiler for 2 weeks now and so have no hot water and no heating. The house they're renting is single-glazed and is a draught-trap. (We stayed with them last week and DD was up all night crying cos their house was so cold.) Everytime they go to the letting agents they're told a boilerman will be out to fix it but they still haven't got any hot water. The one who came out today botched the job and they're still without anything hot...do they have a right to reclaim some rent back?
This is the latest of a string of things wrong with different student lettings - I just get the feeling that some landlords charge the earth for a room in a dirty, damp and cold house and aren't bothered about upkeep of the property at all!
(They're my 'little' brothers, can you tell? [overprotective big sister emoticon])

It peed me off too Fluffyone, very ignorant. I rent my flat out because it was my single lady home, then when I met and moved in with DH it wasn't needed anymore. I'm better off keeping it than selling it so I rent it. It was bought as a family home in that it belongs to, and is loved by my family, and currently makes me money. Everyone's a winner, including my lovely tenants. My previous tenants...don't get me started. Perhaps we should start a thread on awful tenants as well.

I think you may actually get better treatment from 'amateur landlords' like myself. I still see my flat as mine and have an emotional attachment to it as it is the first place I ever bought on my own. As such I look after my tenants very well, they are not just a money-making opportunity...they are living in my home.

I think you can not live somewhere and still see it as a family home.

With regards to the OPs brothers, I really wouldn't withold rent without getting CAB or legal advice. As much as morally they might be in the right, legally they would put themselves on shakey ground which might harm them in the long run. References etc etc. I would either hand in notice and move on or threaten to go to the Ombudsman etc.

Withholding rent is never a good option , it puts the tenant in a much weaker position legally. If you have h and s concerns you can approach the council to help enforce basic standards, even with a private landlord. Students also usually have access to a union housing officer who can advise or Shelter is another source of advice.

The front window in our house got broken by the previous tenant before we moved in. A year later, it is still boarded up. And DP sees the landlord every day as he is DP's boss!

But you have to admit there seem to be a lot of landlords out there who DO NOT want to do repairs or be bothered by their tenants. They DO just want the money whether they are 'amateur' or not!

It must be great to have a good landlord but I have never had even essential repairs done without having to battle with landlords in the past. We currently have a broken shower and the landlord has ignored all our requests to get it fixed. Now he is selling the house from under us he doesn't care anyway!
I think it is utterly shameful in this day and age that so many tenants have to live in unsatisfactory conditions

I think equally there are a hell of a lot of awful tenants! But that isn't a popular opinion on here. Unfortunately it is the way of the world, you get all sorts.

I think the OPs brothers do have a good case for an Ombudsman or CAB though.

Oh, and I'm probably going to be selling my flat in the next year or so...maybe my tenants will be on here complaining about me! But unfortunately it is my right to do so, and that is part of the temporary nature of renting. (They will have been in there for around 3 to 4 years by then though,m if they're still there.)

'scaryteacher, if you're letting it out, it's not really your family home is it?

I think the rise of the 'amateur landlord' when everyone thinks they can buy to let has a lot to answer for'

Yes, it is my family home, and will be again when we go back to the UK. I have 18 years invested emotionally in that house, and so I make sure if there are problems they are fixed as soon as can be arranged. I employ an excellent Letting Agent who gets people out on the same day a problem is reported or very soon thereafter, and much of the rent is reinvested in the house. I know I'm an amateur, that's why I pay a very professional lady to deal with it.

Incidentally, it is not a buy to let either.

Gosh MrsC2010 - you don't have a lot of empathy do you? How would you feel being turfed out of your 'family home' irrespective of whether you own it or not?

Do you really think most people choose to be renting?

Dont you think it would be more tactful, Fluffyone and MrsC2010, to stop congratulating yourselves on what great landlords you are (and how hideous some tenants can be). I find it in poor taste, given that the majority of renters are not doing so out of choice, but because property prices have soared out of the reasonable reach of average families. And Buy to Let activities have fuelled this situation.

Landlords have a responsibility to keep their properties in good repair; it is not something you should expect a pat on the back for.

To the OP - definitely talk to the CAB about withholding rent that's shocking.

There are plenty of good landlords out there though. We've been lucky, renting for years in different cities, some agencies some direct with LLs and we've always had good ones.

Our current LL is wonderful. Owns a tonne of properties around the area, rich as anything and still really caring, pops straight round if there's the slightest problem, would always have a plumber out the same day for anything like this. Always asks after our son and understands and cares about things like child safety and suitability in his properties.

Right, CAB it is then. It's pretty hard to get decent housing where they live because it's a university city and the reasonable places go very quickly so eviction would be a right PITA.
There are plenty of good landlords - this one's not bad, I think it's more the letting agency not doing its job!
Thanks for the advice everyone.

"Dont you think it would be more tactful, Fluffyone and MrsC2010, to stop congratulating yourselves on what great landlords you are (and how hideous some tenants can be). I find it in poor taste, given that the majority of renters are not doing so out of choice, but because property prices have soared out of the reasonable reach of average families. And Buy to Let activities have fuelled this situation."
No, I don't. The reality of life is that there will always be people who need, or even choose, to rent property. It can be a very good option depending on your circumstances. Buying your own property to live in isn't the be-all in life, and in some countries it is more normal to rent.
Most BTL landlords I know have brought properties towards the bottom of the property market, because that is actually the most rentable sector. Rather than pushing prices up, in a new development where there is a lot of BTL interest, that level of interest pushes prices down. It also pushes rents down. That benefits prospective private buyers and tenants.
I would also point out that, when I have posted on here as a landlord it has generally been to try to help tenants. In this case I have advised them to talk to the CAB and, after that, consider withholding rent. That is good advice. I am a great landlord, and I am proud of it. It's a bloody hard and risky way to build a pension. (Yes, I have been fleeced by hideous tenants).

"But you have to admit there seem to be a lot of landlords out there who DO NOT want to do repairs or be bothered by their tenants. They DO just want the money whether they are 'amateur' or not!"
I wonder if there are any statistics to prove any of this? In the press, and in internet discussions, you seldom hear good news stories, just negative ones like this.