UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi Guys,
I would like some advice and thoughts about the following situation. ....

My landlord is going to do building work on the shop he owns underneath the flat we rent.  He had already told us that the water and plumbing to our property will be cut off when this happens, therefore we have to move out for roughly 3 weeks. . We have already approached him about paying for this or not taking the rent for this time and all we get is that we will sort it when the time comes.
We know that legally if the property was being repaired then we would still be liable for the rent but this work will have no bearing on our place except for lack of water etc,I can find nothing about this kind of situation. ...

What do you guys think we should suggest or expect?
We have rented here for 14 years and tbh the landlord leaves us pretty much alone but is a nightmare to get things fixed.  He will tell you what he thinks you want to hear just to get rid of you and never follows through with things he says, we like living here otherwise we would have gone years ago!

Have you had a gander at this yet?

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/common_problems/moving_due_to_disrepair

Like this URL better, but it is for Scotland...

http://scotland.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/advice_topics/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_rented_accommodation/while_repairs_are_being_done

However, the general idea is that your position for either a rent abatement or the provision of alternative accommodation is strong. You could give Shelter a ring.

Hi, thanks for that... Have seen that before,  it was just it only covers if your property needs the repairs and in this situation it doesn't...??  wasn't sure of the legal situation about having to find somewhere else to rent at my cost....

I wouldn't worry about it not being in your house.

The disruption to your services means in effect the work is in "Your house"

So those rules will apply.

Can you compromise and go on Holiday for a week, and he gives you the period on unoccupancy rent free?

the other thing is he will not commit,  we have tried to talk to him.,  and he simply says we will sort it when the time comes. Unfortunately we do not know when that is,  no dates have been made to do the job as far add we know. .... We did think about trying to go away for a week but until we know days it difficult to book!

guys,  heard from the landlord this week.  The work is going to be for the whole month of January,  what he says he is going to do is terminate our tenancy for the end of the year and then give us a new tenancy for the beginning of February. He says this is to cover him\the builder while the work is on.
so we have to find somewhere else to live for a month.
my question is what would other landlords do? he had also offered us £1000
we are very wary of this as we know he doesn't do any favours? are we being too cynical?
views would be appreciated☺

You are probably being just cynical enough.

Regardless, as you've been there for a long time, I expect you are not in any fixed term agreement, unless the Landlord asks you to sign a new one each year, so the Landlord is perfectly within their rights to ask you to leave... you must be given at least 2 months notice, though, formally, via a Section 21. Unless it's all done very amicably, of course.

Unless you are dead-set against it, then I would be leaving around the end of the year for pastures new... the Landlord can say he wants you back in in February, but you will have found something else, something better (maybe)... take the £1,000, though (get that in writing... or just get the cash!)... promises-promises.

Do you want to stay in the same place?

hi hippogriff,
in answer to your last piece. ...
For all the issues, yes we do want to stay here,  we have invested a lot of energy into our home😯
would you see yourself offering a money incentive to tenants in this sort of situation?  like i have said we have lived here for years and we find it very difficult to believe that a leopard can change its spots.
tbh the whole notice and new agreement doesn't worry us at much as it should😐... its the sweetner that's made us nervous😕
thanks

If I was paying for the other accommodation for the month, then no.

If I had weaseled out of paying for the other accommodation, quite likely, yes. However, it would probably be for the amount the rent is - which, in your case, may be £1,000?

I'd probably do my best to pin him down in writing if you care that much about staying on. Might be a challenge, bearing in mind how he's been described.

Thanks for your answer. .. that kind of makes sense.
The landlord isn't paying for alternative accommodation unless you count the 1000 pound☺