Accommodation rip offs

[Mumwithbaggage]

Hello

Now on child no 3 moving into third year house (Liverpool this time). They all seem to be ripped off by landlords - this time dd has been waiting for 4 hours for a locksmith to let her in to her room. Maybe no big deal but when you're paying all that rent, it should be easy access. The friend she drove up with (poor dd ended up in hosp and missed an exam so is there for that) heard on the journey her floorboards have been lifted for repairs so despite paying rent she can't access her flat! Luckily for her she can stay with dd - when she gets access to her room...

Has anyone found a company who deals with rubbish like this or had success refusing to pay rent because the landlords are not great?? I did have a lawyer daughter but she's made a move to a kinder industry!

Basically it's always been rubbish. Just thinking aloud in my head if there's anything effective I can do.

Landlords do have to do maintenance!! Usually in the holidays. It’s August so maintenance is reasonable. Why arriving so early? There’s enough to do in Liverpool if there’s an issue with the room. It’s not great but things go wrong. Doesn’t mean it will continue to go wrong. DDs found landlords mostly ok and were grateful that they responded quickly and decorated the flats in the holidays. It’s annoying that it’s 50 weeks rent but it was only a few days when it wasn’t available.

I disagree. We've found many tenancies are 52 weeks with no break for maintenance or handing over the property if students, rightfully, live in the property the whole 12 months. They are tenants just like any other and have the same rights.

Why does her room need a new lock OP? Does that mean the room has been locked since the last tenant left and the room has not been inspected?

I remember when they installed broadband in my bottom university halls they had warned about the room getting dusty. When I arrived from my lessons everything was installed and clean. However, they still gave students refund for the.. "inconvenience" about a week's rent! I don't understand why landlords don't do similar when they practically leave you without accommodation.

There are many reasons why students move in early. My daughter moved to the city she was going to study in early because she got a part time job that fittd with her hour but she had to do a training week and be able to start work in July. Several of my son's friends have moved into their student house early due to work/other commitments. My son himself has 52 week tenancy due to work.

If they are paying rent they should have access to their house, the same as any other tenant.

They move in "early" because they're paying full rent.

It's not moving early. If you've paid for 52 weeks (which nearly all student tenancies are) then you should have full access for the entire year, barring floods, fires or other emergencies!

Ok. So when does LL do maintenance? You would moan about that if it wasn’t done! Who would be a LL??? Just work with a LL and most students do not rock up early. A few do but most don’t. My DD preferred a nicely decorated clean flat with everything working after the last lot left. No pleasing some of you.

If a service is not offered there should be appropriate reduction. And not victim blaming. Landlords HAVE to do maintenance, they don't do students a favour. And again, if you pay for it it's not a case of "rocking up early".

Sorry OP for not having any help to offer.

My DD has just spent a year living in a house with a really decent landlady. The lease is for 11 months and 1 week. The landlady does maintenance on her dime not her tenants'.

Exactly this! Houses should be rented for 50 weeks rather than 52. This would allow for basic maintenance as well as a decent clean! But that would mean LLs not getting 12 months full rent.....

I said that earlier! DD had 50 weeks. Work sometimes isn’t completed on time but even if it runs over, a decent place is worth a bit of inconvenience for a bit. Just be a bit flexible!