New flat, list of problems...

[Andeh13]

Hi guys,

Long story short I have just moved into a new garden annex flat, and found the shower to fluctuate between hot and cold, and the oven to trip the fuse box. I have paid £250 worth of fees to the Estate agent (deposit, checking in fees, my reference) then a further £1800 for 1 months rent and deposit in advance.

Where do I stand with requesting the oven & shower get fixed/replaced and what sort of time frame? The contract says he maintain the property & furnishings provided so it is his responsibility to do it....but in terms of when, how and what I do if he fails to respond... Keeping in mind its the weekend then New Years Eve round the corner....


Cheers

[peterb]

If the agents are the managing agents, then they should be your first point of contact. They may have tradesmen they can employ to do repairs.

[Andeh13]

Landlord manages the property, estate agent duties finish at contract signing and sorting out the deposits. I just don't want to be unreasonable/or too meek in requesting the oven and shower get sorted.

[scotland89]

yea get in touch with the letting agent, if they're any good then they will have set contractors and will sort it out sharpish. Although it not being an 'emergency' it might not be instant.

That being said after 3 years of living in a student house some letting agents are awful but keep pestering until they'd rather cough up and fix it rather than keep on dealing with you seemed to work for us.

[peterb]

This will be when you find out how reasonable your landlord is!. I doubt you will get it sorted before the New Year, but you should flag it up to him ASAP so he can sort out a tradesmen to do the jobs quickly.

[DR]

Just call them - they will fix it.

[randomman]

i will call the agent straight away

[eltel]

? this is a few months down the line did you get the flat problems sorted?

[SilviuG]

I have similar problems with my landlord, and indeed there is nothing in the contract about how quickly he should respond or what happens it he does not.
Right now he didn't come to fix something although it's been more then three weeks.

Another thing is he did not secured the deposit, where should I complain about that? Is there a proper authority to do this?

I also have a corner which is wet and he refuses to deal with it saying it's from the floods last year, over 6 months ago, and we have to wait to dry... now dump is appearing.
Again, do not know where to turn to.

Thanks!

[jim]

I also have a corner which is wet and he refuses to deal with it saying it's from the floods last year, over 6 months ago, and we have to wait to dry... now dump is appearing.

I've had some disagreements, but my landlord's never done that.

[Andeh13]

Landlord has been good about fixing the stuff that needs to be fixed straight away, so new shower, new cooker, new elec radiators etc, all the stuff we need.

As the weather warms up a bit (ie less <0 degs) it it hasn't been too bad damp wise. The all inclusive elec bills mean we just run the rads & dehumidifiers whenever we want and keep the place comfy temperature wise. The shower is a cheapie horrible POS which is the only ''hardship'' we have as it is either luke warm or scorching hot (no middle ground...) and thats not much fun coming from a brand new combi fired power shower in my last place!

2 months down though, and we can beast out the next few months House hunting is keeping us busy for now!

[peterb]

Landlord has been good about fixing the stuff that needs to be fixed straight away, so new shower, new cooker, new elec radiators etc, all the stuff we need.

As the weather warms up a bit (ie less <0 degs) it it hasn't been too bad damp wise. The all inclusive elec bills mean we just run the rads & dehumidifiers whenever we want and keep the place comfy temperature wise. The shower is a cheapie horrible POS which is the only ''hardship'' we have as it is either luke warm or scorching hot (no middle ground...) and thats not much fun coming from a brand new combi fired power shower in my last place!

2 months down though, and we can beast out the next few months House hunting is keeping us busy for now!

Ah, thats good to hear! Thanks for letting us know - and good luck with the house hunting! It might just be round the corner!

[Andeh13]

Oh yes, Hexus is going to hear allll about my house hunting adventures! So far found zilch and the girlfriend has given up and everything she sees for sale is the 'perfect house'. At the rate shes going a tent in a field will get her frothing at the mouth and throwing money at the Estate Agent. It's an uphill battle I face!