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Renting problem advice needed!

37 replies

Kaloki · 07/01/2010 20:47

This will have to be quick as I'm using my phone to access the net.

I've just moved into a new property, today, hence the phone being used. Today has been a nightmare, from start to finish. We saw this property advertised and it ticked all the right boxes for up, one of these was GCH, we weren't looking at any properties without it. Upon realising there were no radiators we called the letting agent and were told it had underfloor heating. So fine we thought. And so a month ago we said we'd take the flat, the only thing we asked was that all furniture and items in cupboards were removed, they said fine.

So two days ago it starts snowing and we realise we are unlikely to get to the letting agents to pick up the keys in the weather, so asked to pick them up before the roads became ice. They said fine, come by Wed afternoon and they'd make sure the keys were cut. We assumed they just meant that they needed a spare set for the pair of us. No. They only had the master set and despite knowing we were moving in today hadn't got keys cut in advance.

So we take the master keys and today we head to the flat, where we discover that there is no heating at all. None. Aside from a gas fire in the lounge.

So my DP calls the letting agent to ask why we were given wrong information and whether we'd be able to get heating and to ask for a discount on rent. Now we are on benefits due to disability so obviously on housing allowance. The response my DP was to be called a "problematic DSS bastard" and told to return the keys or they'd call the police. (Btw we'd signed contracts and paid our deposits and first months rent).

Then when DP got to talk to someone else they arranged to buy us heaters and give us money off our rent.

Then it got worse again. There was a gas leak in the kitchen, then when the guy from the gas board came out he condemned our gas fire saying there are signs of carbon monoxide.

Then, in addition, we find we have no hot water.

So, to recap, we are in a flat with no heating in the middle of winter and no hot water. We have two heaters in a two bed flat, so are having to drag them round after us. The heaters are, as you can imagine, the cheapest they could find. We also now know that even if we wanted to stay beyond 6 months, they wont let us. So somehow we now have to find a new place, and, more importantly, find the money to move.

I have no idea what to do. All I know is that our heating now costs more than we bargained for and I'm so cold. I wish I could wake up and find today was just a bad dream.

Anyone know where we stand or what to do?

OP posts:
Kaloki · 09/01/2010 19:59

There's no way for us to get anywhere, cant get a cab and there are no buses. We've moved the rats into the bedroom with us, and stuck the remaining heater on. Molly I didn't see your message earlier, we didn't have two heaters on one extension, only one.
We tried contacting the neighbours but the nearest ones are all out. Which is weird.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 09/01/2010 20:02

the rats? what about your kids?

rats have survived ice ages, i think they'll be okay.

and if not, well, they're rats.

Sooty7 · 09/01/2010 20:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Kaloki · 10/01/2010 00:00

We have no kids right now, we're TTC and I never thought I'd be so glad that there are no kids right now.
Domestic rats are prone to infections and two of them are only a couple of months old.

We were given a gas certificate dated Feb 2009. We've also found out that we have no working smoke alarms.

OP posts:
BigBadMummy · 10/01/2010 00:20

Kaloki I am so sorry I didnt call you back on Friday. RL took over.

It is a criminal offence for there to be no smoke alarms.

It is also against the law for the landlord not to be able to prove that the electrics are satisfactory. There should be a certificate like the one you said for the gas. It is not an offence to not issue the certificate but it is an offence to not be able to demonstrate that the electrics have been certified as safe.

I really think you need to get onto Shelter. Somebody mentioned they would write a letter for you (I have never dealt with them so dont know).

The landlord's address should be on your Tenancy Agreement. Is it local? Can you go round?

This property is not fit for human habitation and I think you need to start making this agent sit up and take notice.

They will probably release you from the contract, which is not great, but this landlord sounds like a shister.

I would also go to Trading Standards.

There was a case recently where a letting agent was heavily fined for showing a prospective tenant a property that had unsafe electrics.

And keep on at the local paper etc.

YOu have my email address if you need me, and my phone number. I am home all day Sunday.

Kaloki · 11/01/2010 22:00

The latest is. We now have a solicitor thanks to family helping us with money. Tomorrow we are going to stay with DP's mum so we'll be warm. And if you get the Argus there should be our ugly mugs in there in the next few days. We are praying we can just get out money back and get out and find somewhere new with heating!

OP posts:
iheartdusty · 15/01/2010 22:08

Just wondered how things are going now?

Kaloki · 15/01/2010 22:32

It's not looking too good. So much of what has happened has been over the phone, and of course if it went to court it'd depend on who was most trustworthy, some professionals or two (to quote the letting agent) "DSS bastards".

Our only option now is a letter the solicitor has sent telling them to rescind (sp?) our contract and to let us leave. However she thinks it is highly likely that they will insist on us paying the rest of the 6 month contract.

DP's family reckon we should just deal with the cold and stay there. Which is helpful.

We're going to offer to pay an extra months rent to cover them getting someone else in if we have to and pray they take that. They don't deserve it, but I can't see how we can live there. The only way we could go back would be if we could afford decent heaters for enough rooms and be able to afford to actually run them (on a key meter!!) otherwise we'd have to pay to change from a key meter, which would be cheaper in the long run. But let's face it, they wont want us staying more than 6 months, and even if they do, they'll be demanding a rent increase by then. And no doubt demanding we change the meter back, so more cost.

If they don't accept our offer then we are well and truly fucked either way. As if money isn't tight enough.

Oh and we are being blamed for not re-checking after they told us about underfloor heating. Does anyone here, who hasn't already been in a place with underfloor heating, know what to look for? Or would you assume that the people who are renting you the property (and therefore know about it) are actually telling the truth?

Apparently everything that went wrong was our fault and we should have known better. I've spent all day arguing with DP's mum and aunt about this, it's so soul destroying being told that you should have known better when you've just been conned!

OP posts:
iheartdusty · 17/01/2010 16:51

oh dear.

would you be able to scrape together the money for another deposit, borrowing from family if you had to?

That way you could walk out, and leave it to them to try to sue you for the rent. They may not bother. From what you have said there is every reason to think it would go in your favour at court. There are so many flats available in Brighton, why would a household with disabilities choose a place with no heating?

obv your solicitor will be best placed to advise you.

anyway, you could whack in an application to the Rent Assessment Committee to have the rent reduced - it won't happen fast but could give you some satisfaction if you do stay - or use it as a bargaining tool...

rent assessment committee

office contact details

iheartdusty · 17/01/2010 16:54

sorry I meant to add
form for applying in first 6 months of an assured shorthold tenancy

Kaloki · 20/01/2010 14:43

We're free!!! So happy! We're getting our deposit back plus the remainder of this months rent refunded!

OP posts:
iheartdusty · 20/01/2010 15:01

great news

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