landlords- private rented help please

[Phoenix4725]

k need some help advice from landlord or people that rent private.

Posting in chat and here as need some advice asap

i had found a private rented place that would take Hb subject to me paying money up front

But when i went back for 2nd viewing check window sizes etc me and letting agent were both bit shocked to see the work started5 weeks previous not finshed or progressed any .Would you be leaving stuff till the last minute am due to move in on the 1st of march.

Decorating needs finshin in 3 rooms,false ceiling in bathroom still not replaces , carpet up in bedroom/hall where got damged in leaks, downpipe still not attached to the gutter is on floor in yard

Paid£500 to hold the property which is being marked by letting agent through landlord will mange the property once i am in

Should alarm bells be ringing now and should i start lookin elsewhere

Ok I was a landlord in this situation -- builders too bloody slow. Nightmare for all concerned.

Two weeks is enough time to do that work. Ours was just about finished but I paid compensation to the tenants due to horrific snagging.

The work might not be done. There is time but it might not be.

Look elsewhere for sure. But in the meantime harass the landlord and visit as often as possible. You are entitled to your money back if the property is not ready on move in day. If you go ahead do NOT allow an inventory of condition
when it is in a bad way without a piece of paper signed by the landlord that the work WILL BE FINISHED within a month.

thank you

The letting agent is going back on the 22nd was
due to hand over the rest of the money on 20th 20th and sign then , but they have advised me not to till they have checked would it be considered unreasonable for me to ask to recheck after her

Its just that its a lot of money to me ,Months rent in advance 6 weeks deposit adding up to £3000.

not overley worried about finishing the decorating myself , is more the bigger things

Phoenix, don't be bullied by the landlord and agent. If you get close to the moving in date, and things aren't ready, and you are being pressured remember this that if you go elsewhere then he has to readvertise and have probably a month void. Don't hand over your money until everything is finished to your satisfaction and make sure that anything unfinished is noted with a signed completion date.

You could get screwed otherwise if your landlord is unscrupulous. He or she might simply be the victim of crappy and unreliable workmen, so it's really hard to judge, but you could leave yourself vulnerable.

It's not unreasonable to re-check. The agent wants the fee and wants it as soon as possible, and may gloss over some issues. You need to inspect it from top to bottom. Have you got a friend or partner in a suit who can go in a busy around with a notebook? Could be helpful

From my perspective, if a new tenant says "oh ok then it'll do" and doesn't make much of a fuss, once they're in you needn't be an unscrupulous landlord-- just a bit lazy. And the place ends up staying not quite right, not quite finished, with you buying paint.. is that what you want?

OR you could say ok I paint it and that means you have NO loss on your security deposit for paint marks, holes in the walls etc. To be discussed with the landlord. I've been a tenant in which the bedrooms were "used" and it does mean that you as a tenant can be more relaxed.

thank you

will give landlord benefit of doubt for now but think going keep close eye on it

the second option you out lined would work well I have 4dc, ds116,ds213,dd7 and ds4 and to be fair they are all very good but am sure overtime there be the odd aciddent especially as ds3 uses a wheelchair indoors somedays though not made any holes yet but with dd giving him helpfull shove who knows, and his steering can be bit of.

Why so woried this place seemed so ideal , struggled to find bungalow big enough for us and its a long term lease also not to far from school that dd has now started at and ds3 will go soon
.Let alone the 5 of us are staying with my mum/stepdad and there 2 dogs in a 2 bed and a cupboard sardines anyone

Will ask to recheck after agent has no am on benefits but do not want to be fobbed of for that reason alone

know *argh must preview first

Good luck, it certainly sounds like a good place for you. It may all be misfortune, and hopefully the landlord has the best will but is being frustrated himself.

I also think you have something on your side, which is that you are planning to be a long stayer. That is a great bonus for a landlord.

Do they know you have dogs?

If the place is structurally done up I would definitely go for the second option. But only with the relevant signed bits of paper! How awful to paint and still be done for paint damage!

thank you for your help and advice

no i dont have any pets the dogs are my mums , also non smokers to.

Yep I am aiming for at least 5 years prefeably 10 and know landlord has no inention of selling as he runs his buiness from yard in the back

Best wishes, I'll mark the page in case you come back in a couple of weeks!

hi

quick update , landlord has got all the work done other than false ceiling in bathroom still missing tiles and some tiling work be finshed in wc it will be done within 21 days but have signed and got it in writing and he has also given be a 50% of nexts month so happy all round

and move in on the 1st

that's great Phoenix

very pleased for you

good luck in your new home