Lazyweb!

[caddyman]

I wandered downstairs this morning to find the place lit up like Christmas tree. I know that it’s dark in a morning now, but really. The lights on both landings, in the kitchen and the living room were all blazing merrily, though the rooms were empty.

Virtuously, I wandered around turning them off, but I think we might have moved past the concept of a carbon footprint. I think we need something more impressive to define it.

Door security continues to trouble the Athenaeum Club. I have lost track of the timeline; but this has been dragging on unresolved for months and I am running out of inspiration. We can now only close the entrance door by slamming it hard. That closes it and we can lock it securely, but it is hanging at an angle on the hinges and I suspect that continued rough treatment merely to open and close the door will see it degrade over a period that I cannot estimate, but I would expect it to be shorter rather than longer.

I don’t know if any of you good people has any ideas what exactly our rights are as tenants? I am reluctant at the moment to withhold rent as that will put us in breach of contract, though a part of me whispers in the dark that hitting the landlord in the pocket is a sure fire way of getting his attention. That said, we would like to retain a modicum of goodwill. The lease has until the end of June 2008 (or July, I can’t quite recall) to run and we will probably seek to renew it provided the door situation is sorted out.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I can profitably do next? Can anyone point me in the direction of (free) legal advice for private tenants? Can we pay for the repairs and deduct it from the rent? Help me, Lazyweb: you’re my only hope.

Comments

[failing-angel.livejournal.com]

I would have thought that CIB would be the best, first port of call.
But I may know one or two people who might be able to help - I'll give 'em a shout.

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-2932.cfm

I have to say, my response at this point would be to pay for repairs and deduct it from the rent. I don't think you're landlords evil, just lazy, and this is the easiest way out for him. hone him and tell him it's what you're going to do, follow up with a letter, and get it sorted.

[caffeine-fairy.livejournal.com]

Phone him, even.

[phil99.livejournal.com]

Most tenancy agreements state that the landlord IS responsible for keeping the place in a good state of repair.

If needs be, write to them stating the terms of the contract (section 4.b states xxxx) and threatening to withold rent equivalent to your time and expense if you need to fix it yourself. Make sure you choose a suitably high number, including the equivalent of a day's pay and this may very well shock them into submission.

[nortysarah.livejournal.com]

Bizarrely I'm also being super lazy and surfing in bed mainly because I am suffering from a case of nasty throatitus. Anyway to the point - at the same time I am also leafing through old copies of Ideal Home mags where I've turned the page down on 'useful things' one being 'Know your rights' - you'd never believe it!:
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk
www.moneysavingexpert.com
I think they may be more for people who own, but you never know!
I've also just rung the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors about info on extensions and I'm sure in the long list of publications they did, there was one on renting properties. Their website is http://www.rics.org/Property/Residentialproperty/free_property_guides.htm

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

Withholding rent is breach of contract as far as I remember, however, paying for the repairs yourself and deducting from rent I think might be different, it's a little while since I looked into these things though, so I would probably get some advice from the CAB.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-2932.cfm

This might also be useful?