Off Topic Rented house

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Norm

Norm

Active Member
Dec 11, 2019
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After a little bit of help?

I live in a rented house, and it is a private rental. The owner and myself agreed a five year deal, both signed it, where I could live in it, with no building work to be done, however we have done a lot to the inside to make it liveable. (been there 3 out of 5 years)

12 months ago our water went up, and the up shot is we pay £50 more a month and are losing a staggering 500 litres of water a day.

I approached him, and said he has no money, coupled together with no service on two gas fires, and an electric heater in a bedroom.

Question...would you stop this months rent to compensation? Also we installed 10 absolutely cracking mahogany doors from the place in Hendon, silver handles, if I move out should I take them and tell him to go and rattle?
 
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D
Barnacle Boy said:
After a little bit of help?

I live in a rented house, and it is a private rental. The owner and myself agreed a five year deal, both signed it, where I could live in it, with no building work to be done, however we have done a lot to the inside to make it liveable. (been there 3 out of 5 years)

12 months ago our water went up, and the up shot is we pay £50 more a month and are losing a staggering 500 litres of water a day.

I approached him, and said he has no money, coupled together with no service on two gas fires, and an electric heater in a bedroom.

Question...would you stop this months rent to compensation? Also we installed 10 absolutely cracking mahogany doors from the place in Hendon, silver handles, if I move out should I take them and tell him to go and rattle?
Click to expand...
Dont understand??
Are you losing water due to bad plumbing
 
Are you on a meter? We live in a 4 bedroom detached which we own and we pay less than £30 a month on the meter. You say losing 500 litres a month where from. If you had a meter and the leak wasn't house side it would generally be the water company's responsibility. If you use a lot of water a meter may not be a suitable option. As far as your doors go if you took them you would need to fit equivalent to the originals. Withholding rent may invalidate your rental agreement. Fom the sounds of it though you like living there and as a reliable tenant the owner no doubt want you to stay. Our water meter was fitted free so if its an option and the owner agrees it might be the way to go
 
Don’t ever just stop the rent as you hand power to the landlord. That is viewed as you breaking part of the agreement and isn’t helpful.

Should you not be taking the water problem up with Northumbria Water? 500 litres a day? Where the hell is all that running off?

Not servicing the gas I’m pretty sure is a criminal offence these days. He’s got no excuses with that one.

The mahogany doors are yours. You’re only expected to leave the property in an equal state or better than you found it. Hopefully you’ve kept the old doors to screw back on.
 
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makemdan said:
Are you on a meter? We live in a 4 bedroom detached which we own and we pay less than £30 a month on the meter. You say losing 500 litres a month where from. If you had a meter and the leak wasn't house side it would generally be the water company's responsibility. If you use a lot of water a meter may not be a suitable option. As far as your doors go if you took them you would need to fit equivalent to the originals. Withholding rent may invalidate your rental agreement. Fom the sounds of it though you like living there and as a reliable tenant the owner no doubt want you to stay. Our water meter was fitted free so if its an option and the owner agrees it might be the way to go
Click to expand...

No mate, we have had NW out, said for sure in the house, there is dampness on kitchen wall, and skirting boards lifting off.

I'm afraid the land lord has already stated he sees this agreement as nonsense, but is a little backward. He inherited this from his dead parents. He is doing up a camper van and this is where his money has gone....I don't like living there, truth be know we get keys to a new house on Friday, but not moving until next month, he does not know this yet, this was just temporary
 
Simple Saffy said:
Don’t ever just stop the rent as you hand power to the landlord. That is viewed as you breaking part of the agreement and isn’t helpful.

Should you not be taking the water problem up with Northumbria Water? 500 litres a day? Where the hell is all that running off?

Not servicing the gas I’m pretty sure is a criminal offence these days. He’s got no excuses with that one.

The mahogany doors are yours. You’re only expected to leave the property in an equal state or better than you found it. Hopefully you’ve kept the old doors to screw back on.
Click to expand...

I have a phto from the dashboard of my NW account, not so sure how to post it up, MW been out and 100% in the house, no water to be seen anywhere, however the ceramic tiles are moving, 1 cracked and is starting to change the colour of the grout, I told him this 12 months ago, there is nothing leagally binding about this, he has aleady stated he sees this as a non agreement
 
Barnacle Boy said:
No there is 100% a leak and its coming from the hot water, the dials are going round on the meter when no running water is on
Click to expand...
Well if its a leak in the hot water system it is 100% his responsibility.
Over here there is a govt body that looks after rental property agts. He hasnt got a leg to stand on quite frankly.
Mind by complaining you risk being labelled a snowflake by some of the big tough lads on here.
 
If NW have been out and it's in the house, the owner has a legal obligation to fix it. I had a very similar issue.

What has your landlord said? I would make sure he knows he actually has to get it fixed, rather than you just asking. The whole thing is not your fault, you can't be forced to stump up for it. If he kicks you out, take anything you fitted, have you got pics of the house before? My guess is that if he doesn't have any money, he won't push anything too far anyway, as even small claims will be more expensive than just fixing the plumbing :D
 
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Kittenmittons said:
If NW have been out and it's in the house, the owner has a legal obligation to fix it. I had a very similar issue.

What has your landlord said? I would make sure he knows he actually has to get it fixed, rather than you just asking. The whole thing is not your fault, you can't be forced to stump up for it. If he kicks you out, take anything you fitted, have you got pics of the house before? My guess is that if he doesn't have any money, he won't push anything too far anyway, as even small claims will be more expensive than just fixing the plumbing :D
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly, he hasn't serviced 2 gas fires, an electric fire in spare room, I told him 12 months ago about the leak,. Luckily I get new keys to our new house on Friday, I am going to stop this months rent, and take the lovely doors, lets see what happens
 
Hope you get this sorted fella... far too many cowboy landlords who think by owning a property it will look after itself, or the tenant will sort it out themselves.
Never ever stop paying the rent, but you should keep a diary and photo log of all issues and complaints made to the landlord. Make a note of any repairs you have made to the property and the costs incurred in doing so. I think someone else mentioned that if you do remove the doors you need to replace with equal or better to what was there originally.
Again... DO NOT stop paying the rent... as much as this may seem appealing or fair in your eyes, the law will side with the landlord regardless
 
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Are you not obliged to give him 1 month notice (and keep paying the rent, which is your obligation), otherwise he'll be able to 'take you to court' to recover his loss (if, as mentioned above, he's skint and he wouldn't be able to afford to do that, fair enough, but he might not be skint and you probably wouldn't want to end up with a c.c.j. which would be a possibility ?

Having said that, him not doing the necessary repairs (reneging on his responsibilities) could be seen as him breaching the contract, which is what would be in the 'short notice' letter that I'd send him :emoticon-0105-wink:
 
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FulwellBri said:
Well if its a leak in the hot water system it is 100% his responsibility.
Over here there is a govt body that looks after rental property agts. He hasnt got a leg to stand on quite frankly.
Mind by complaining you risk being labelled a snowflake by some of the big tough lads on here.
Click to expand...

Are you Jeremy Corbyn in disguise?

Desperately seeking to be offended by everybody and everything.

Trying to speak with a level of self importance and authority.

Yet, absolutely no one takes you seriously.
 
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Simple Saffy said:
Don’t ever just stop the rent as you hand power to the landlord. That is viewed as you breaking part of the agreement and isn’t helpful.

Should you not be taking the water problem up with Northumbria Water? 500 litres a day? Where the hell is all that running off?

Not servicing the gas I’m pretty sure is a criminal offence these days. He’s got no excuses with that one.

The mahogany doors are yours. You’re only expected to leave the property in an equal state or better than you found it. Hopefully you’ve kept the old doors to screw back on.
Click to expand...

as above. Get advice on the gas appliances. he has to have these signed off for you to live there safely, or he is breaking his legal obligation and can get struck off as a landlord

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/legal_action_if_your_landlord_wont_do_repairs

.
 
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Nordic said:
as above. Get advice on the gas appliances. he has to have these signed off for you to live there safely, or he is breaking his legal obligation and can get struck off as a landlord

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/legal_action_if_your_landlord_wont_do_repairs

.
Click to expand...

He does not think what we signed means anything, so lets see what he says when I don't pay him, and take the doors, I will counter any argument with the letter of the law and his responsibilities
 
Gordon Armstrong said:
Are you not obliged to give him 1 month notice (and keep paying the rent, which is your obligation), otherwise he'll be able to 'take you to court' to recover his loss (if, as mentioned above, he's skint and he wouldn't be able to afford to do that, fair enough, but he might not be skint and you probably wouldn't want to end up with a c.c.j. which would be a possibility ?

Having said that, him not doing the necessary repairs (reneging on his responsibilities) could be seen as him breaching the contract, which is what would be in the 'short notice' letter that I'd send him :emoticon-0105-wink:
Click to expand...

I am not even going to tell him I am moving. If he kicks off I will tell him I will leave in a month, that gives us time to sort new home out
 
Two wrongs don't make a right you have to give him notice. But he is breaking the law with regards to gas safety checks, it's not just your safety but the safety of your neighbours at risk. Get on to your local council they have power over private landlords and can take away his right to be one if he doesn't comply.
 
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