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Rental problems

5 replies

MoreWorry06 · 03/11/2025 00:21

I’ve name changed for this as some family know my normal username and I don’t want to discuss this yet but I’m needing a bit of advice from somewhere.

Briefly, Ds (18) is working hundreds of miles from home. He was staying in a B&B initially and needed somewhere to rent quickly. He viewed a couple of properties on a dark wet afternoon with the electricity off and chose the best of the two thinking he would seek permission to have it painted etc. at his own cost. He has signed a lease, paid a deposit, one months rent and utilities up front. He just got the keys and in daylight, it is far worse than he realised. Spiders, wood lice, mouse droppings doors not closing and goodness only knows what else. What should he do about this or did he “accept it as seen”. Do they have to make good? How easy/difficult would it be to get out of the lease?

Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:
Friendlygingercat · 03/11/2025 00:54

Take photos/videos to document the state of the place. Then when he comes to leave and the sleazy slum landlord tries to deduct money from his deposit for cleaning he has evidence to argue his case. Send the bill for cleaning/cleaning materials to LL.

MoreWorry06 · 03/11/2025 02:17

He’s taken photos. It’s actually being managed by the estate agent rather than the sleazy slum landlord. I don’t know if that’s better or worse. I know he’s an adult and he is smart and resilient but it’s still young and a horrible start to leaving home. I have a disability so it’s not easy to go to his aid and I’m sure he is capable of handling it on his own but he knows no one in the new town yet (except the B&B owners - who have been lovely) so he’s kind of on his own.

OP posts:
Octavia64 · 03/11/2025 04:09

Similar story here, except we knew how bad it was but had no choice.

he needs to deep clean the place. It’ll look better when clean. Then he’ll get a sense of what it actually looks like.

draught excluders for doors etc.

agree with the others, photos and videos to document.

JohnofWessex · 03/11/2025 19:13

Get on to The Council tomorrow and Shelter

I would simply say that the property is unfit and he wants his money back, its obvious why the power was off when he visited.

vivainsomnia · 05/11/2025 08:49

Either ask the agency to get the place cleaned or he cleans it himself but send the pictures of what it was when he moved in and state that he will not expect any of his deposit kept for lack of cleaning when he leaves.

Which door isn't working? Again, ask for it to be repaired if essential or record officially that it was broken when moved in.

No, he can't get out of his contract based on these two issues. He could ask the agency if they advertise again and transfer the contract if they find someone but expect them to refuse or if they agree for all the costs of readvertising to be his.

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