Private rent.. Keys 2 days ago. Can we quit. House is awful

[Bigregrets19]

Dodgy wiring.. As in plugs under a sink
Bedroom floor sinks to one side
Garage leaks badly..
4 windows don't close properly.
Where appliances go there's massive gaps in floor to the outside.

That's to name a few. I'm devastated although I have no idea where we'll even go. Each time we report things it's.. Ill let landlord know and get bk to you and that's it..

Does it have a current electrical safety certificate?

My DD got out of a contract recently. We arrived to move her in to the flat and found it in an awful condition and certainly not fit for living in. She had signed the contract and paid the deposit.

We noticed that all the electrical testing stickers were a year out of date and the contract clearly stated that the flat would be supplied with current safety testing.

Dd got her money returned the same day.

If you're in Scotland, you only need to give 28 days notice for any rental, there is no minimum contract period.

I'll have a look through the inventory and have a look. Thank you.

Call Shelter helpline, they will be able to explain your rights and what you can do. Sounds really difficult, I hope you can get it sorted.

Bloody hell that sounds awful. No advice except take lot's of photo and keep all communication in writing.

They haven't given us copies of the certificates for electric or gas.

Ll has 28 days to supply paperwork and details of the deposit scheme. Plugs under sink may be ok, buildings regulations change. Do you need to use them? Windows should be reparable. Were none of these things apparent on viewing? Take pictures and contact agent/ll in the morning.

Yikes! Please call Shelter.

I have plugs under my sink for my washing machine and dish washer - all perfectly safe

It's an extension lead that's been cut and spurred off the main socket . It was wet! It's for the washing machine.

Windows were all shut except bathroom which I guessed was open for venting and didn't think to look it's our first time renting private

A family member repaired one window. As that's his profession. But he hasn't got time to do them all. The bathroom one doesn't shut at all..
Kitchen floor is rotten.
We've taken photos and videos of it all and dh going to take some time off tomorrow to go to estate agent. With the list of asap things and a general list.

advice for England only.

was it this much of a shithole when you viewed it? Did you get any promises of fixes in writing?

did you get this? did you read it if you did? If not read it now anyway, but if you didn't get it that's another breach.
www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent

electrical certs are not compulsory if not HMO, although installation must be safe. Plugs under sink not dodgy per se. Gas cert is if there is gas. Big law break if no gas safe cert, which you should have had before you accepted the keys. If this is the case check the HSE website for what to do.

estate agents are not regulated. Landlords are to some extent. When you've read the how to rent guide, you'll know what laws your landlord has broken.Then you have ammo which should mean he'll let you go. (Still report gas safe and deposit breach if that happens)

forget Shelter, all advice is on the gov.uk site above. Get informed so you don't get shafted next time. If you are in London or similar, demand is so high that dodgy landlords can rent out dumps which would never get touched elsewhere except by cannabis growers. Be very selective.

The rotten floor couldn't see as his appliances were there. He allowed us to store his and use our own. His are In poor condition. Ours are brand new.. So didn't see that.. Didn't see the socket until went to remove the washing machine.
Behind the appliances where a skirting would normally be isn't and there's holes to the outside.. So couldn't see on viewing.

Things like windows I didn't check but they said I have 7 days to check.
I opened a kitchen drawer and it disintegrated from the runner.
We had the inspector back as there was no fire alarms. And we mentioned he said his job is to look at the outside not check the mechanism.
They are not repairable.

Things like missing vents, tatty paint etc iam happy to do ourselves. And he's said we can decorate.
I've brought all new curtains etc and washed his and put in storage.

It's the broken and unsafe stuff. The kitchen on viewing just looked a bit tired and dated. And we asked if in time we could re tile.. Ie if we got on well there. Only cheaply and my brother will do the work properly. And he agreed.

We didn't view the outside as they didn't have a key.. They still haven't. My dad is changing locks. We could see the garden was nice fro. Window so wasn't fussed.
When dad changed locks. Looked outside the window seals and door on Conservatory is rotten.. Badly. Again 2eve written down and took photos.

I just feel shit about it. Weve done this bug step for the kids and space and given up a LA property for this.. And I feel gutted.. Really gutted

Not in London but in a big city.. But the outskirts. Lovely area.

no smoke alarms is another offence. (clearly you have now read the how to rent).

landlords should check the property thoroughly between tenants for all this kind of thing. The minor thing of the kitchen drawer and the major thing of rotten floors etc indicate your landlord can't be bothered with what he should do, and he also hasn't bothered with what he must do. You'd be nuts to invest time and effort fixing this place. Don't throw good money after bad, even if it is cheap (now you know why!). You can try to enforce fixes, but there is so little money/time for the enforcers that in practice it won't happen. And as you note, you are only secure for the length of your tenancy. With all these breaches you can't be evicted, but even the worst landlords will get it right eventually.

BTW what is the EPC? will it be legal to rent it after next April?

sorry - but there's only one way to solve this.

In fairness the inventory said no smoke alarms. The agent assumed the guy had put in. The landlord was on holiday. We got in and had to let her know. Rang her and said no alarms. They sent someone within 30 mins to install.

Go straight to the agent and demand it be made safe. It might come under the new fitness for habitation act if anything is unsafe.

Our old flat had issues which were seldom rectified. Few months after we moved out we drove past and the entire flat had had a huge fire. Turns out was electrical and to this day I'm so grateful we had moved (no one was hurt!) as it could have been us

smoke alarms have been compulsory in English rentals since 2015. So if it was rented before you then they've been law breaking since then.

'Agent assumed'....you have one very dodgy agent. to match your dodgy landlord.

surprised even this has been fixed. Very much doubt they'll fix what isn't explicitly illegal. There is a new law about fitness for habitation which is in effect for your tenancy, and the shonky floors may count for that, but you'll have to go through the courts. You could try writing (writing, with a certificate of posting) to the landlord detailing the faults, referring to the laws and giving xx days to sort it. At least that will let him know you are clued up. It also prevents a revenge eviction although despite the financial issues it is beyond me why you would want to be in this place longer than necessary.

If it is described, it is not suitable for habitation. Is the agent a reputable one, they should not be acting for the owner. Why did you decided to rent it was it very cheap?

Contact your local council- they should have a Private Rented Standards officer and they can enforce the LL t o make the property safe and to carry out any repairs that fall under s11 of Landlord and Tenant Act

Also have alook at this
www.gov.uk/government/publications/homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018/guide-for-tenants-homes-fitness-for-human-habitation-act-2018

When we viewed all this was out of sight. As his appliances were there.
Were allowed to use our own so we removed his to storage. That's when we saw the issues.
The agent is a large company with good reviews.
It's 1k a month. Which is average for a 3 bed here. Cheapest would be 950 highest 1250 roughly.

We've started dpainting and glossing bedrooms and looks better.
The garden whixh we couldn't get to when viewed has a very loose wall and steps.. Dangerous.. It wouldn't take much to recifty.

I'm 23 weeks pregnant and nearly went ass over when the step was loose..

We've written all down. Took photos and videos to take tomorrow afternoon

The main issue is the kitchen.and the few things I've listed . The rest once painted is fine. He's said we can paint and do what we wish. As long as not garish colors and wild decor.. We'll keep neutral.

I'll be posting some very bad reviews 🤬
So sorry😣
I hope you get your money back and find somewhere else

Maybe if you could really really push the landlord hard to get the work done?

I would take pictures of and list all the defects, and the current state (cleanliness/shabbiness) of the property and send it to the agent as this dodgy landlord/agent combo will try and hold back some of the deposit and blame defects on you will you try to move out. It’s good if you can quote relevant laws/standards at them say you’ve been in contact with the council etc*.

Despite “Englishman’s word is his bond” bullshit there will be some Brits who will try and rip off people (especially foreigners who are seen to be fair game) if they can get away with it. With the shortage of housing in many areas there are plenty of people who have to put up with shoddy sub-standard housing and the shenanigans of their landlords/agents sadly.

Also I hope you’ve got it in writing/email that you can paint as many landlords would want it returned to the original colours before you moved out and you may get some deposit withheld for this too.

*Although really dodgy types would take offence at you going to the council/complaining.

don't improve the property with new tiling or anything....
.
apart from teh safety stuff not sure what they will say but defintly contact the council ....

I would start looking for somewhere else......

We literally can't afford to go elsewhere.
The electric issue is been given go ahead to do. Just waiting on electrician to call me.

The rest was reported today. Along with photos and videos.

I have photos of the dirty stuff too.

As for the paint. The agent said he's got the email. Giving the go ahead.
It's magnolia now we're just doing it fresher. And glossed.

Aparantly the landlord hasn't been in the property for a couple of years. The agents dealt with it. It was previously rented to a company that used it like a half way house /SN young adults.theybhad it for 2.5 yrs before being evicted due to antisocial behaviour.
Guessing they never reported anything. And the inventory inspection only looks at basic stuff.
We took it to the agent and they forward it to maintenence to get quotes.. I really hope they understand that we just want a clean safe home.

so it was rented with no smoke alarms (although it is just possible the previous tenants ripped them out). Dodgy agent, don't-care landlord, property is a dump. I hope it is cheap. There's probably a lot owing on the utilities so make sure you get meter readings to suppliers to make it clear when your liability starts. You'll need ammo when the debt collectors come round.

still no EPC? still no gas safe? How to rent guide? How long is the fixed term on this place that you are spending your own money on?

I also hope it all works out for you but I have to say you've been warned.