Landlord refusing to pay for repairs

30 replies

BuckyBuck · 24/12/2022 09:53

We’re in the process of buying our rented home.
It’s liveable but definitely a fixer upper.
The other day, the base units of the kitchen collapsed and we told LL about it. He however refused to pay because by telling us he could pay but then add it to the property price.

I’m concerned in the unlikely event that it falls through, we’ll be stuck with the cost.

We’re happy to pay for repairs here and there, but this was more than a couple of hundred quid so I feel he should pay.

I obviously don’t want to rock the boat but want fair treatment too.

I should add that he increased the price by adding on certain costs after originally agreeing a price

OP posts:

drpet49 · 27/12/2022 10:34

rainingsnoring · 24/12/2022 16:34

As you are still paying rent, he should absolutely be fulfilling his contractural obligations to fix the manky, broken cupboards that he hasn't maintained or replaced previously despite the need.
Do you really want and need to buy this house? Have you got it for an excellent price? I would pull out if not.

This

FrippEnos · 27/12/2022 10:46

This is why buying off your LL creates issues.
I was lucky with mine in that as I was still paying rent to them they were happy to pay for anything that broke and needed doing. In this case water system issues.
As far as they were concerned we were still under contract.

WombatChocolate · 27/12/2022 10:48

I agree that buying/selling to tenants and LLs makes what’s already complicated a bit more tricky potentially and there’s scope for feeling disgruntled in a way they isn’t when engaged in a normals sale.

CasperGutman · 27/12/2022 14:54

PAFMO · 24/12/2022 16:42

How long have you rented the house for?
Our contract has a specific clause about the LL not being liable for "wear and tear" repairs after 12 months. Which tbf, seems fair enough to me. We lived in our last place for 15 years. I'd have been taking the piss big time to expect him to re-do my kitchen cupboards after all that time!
I appreciate it's a grey area but I think pp has it right. If you were buying a different house, you might ask for a reduction because of wear and tear already there. But when you've caused that wear and tear, it's CFery.

That's outrageous! It's also exactly the opposite of the way things are supposed to work. The legal position is that a tenant is not responsible for wear and tear. Even if your own negligence resulted in breaking some part of the kitchen, you wouldn't be expected to replace it with a new one because wear and tear is the landlord's responsibility!

HamBone · 27/12/2022 15:10

caringcarer · 27/12/2022 10:32

You don't tell us if kitchen unit broke before or after building society valuation. If before LL could just get any old cupboard and fit it in whether it matches rest of kitchen or not but if already valued then I would not expect LL to do any further work on house. Once you have bought house you can buy a second hand complete kitchen including all appliances for well under £1k.

That’s what I’m thinking as well, @caringcarer , the LL would buy any old cabinets not the ones the OP has chosen.

I really hope that they’ve had a full structural survey though, in case there’s a leak that’s causing the damp. That would definitely be a huge issue and would affect the price.

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