UK Landlord Forum / Life

We are in a dispute with the landlord over money owed.

More than a year ago (about 2 weeks after we moved in), my then pregnant wife and I had to evacuate the property on discovering that it was flee ridden, suffering dozens of flee bites on our bodies. The flees had originated from the previous tenants' cat. The four days we spent living at a hotel, until the property was fumigated, were at our own expense. No apology or compensation was received.

1. Are we entitled to be reimbursed for the expenses of the hotel after all this time?

2. Can these expenses include restaurant receipts as we were unable to cook?

3. Since the landlord is unlikely to agree to compensate us, how can we go about it? Are we entitled to subtract this sun from our last payment to the landlord?

Many thanks for your advice.

The best way of agreeing something with someone is to... agree it. Usually this might involve a level of compromise and quid pro quo. Obviously the situation did not arise through any part of the Landlord... but the previous Tenant. The Landlord does have obligations, that much is true... but you wonder what you would do if you'd bought the property. If you'd bought it and found out it was flea-ridden and you'd elected to stay at a hotel... who'd pay out then?

If you cannot agree it, then you need to look to another means... that would usually involve Court.

It's not the landlord's fault, but it's their responsibility. It's certainly not the tenant's fault that flees are left from the previous tenant's pet. Also, the tenant is certainly not buying the property, merely renting it.

Neither of those arguments is valid. The landlord should provide a safe and pest free property to their tenants. Cost for the pest removal and living costs associated with that should be passed to the landlord.

You should negotiate with the landlord, but ultimately you should be able to discount the fumigation service (provided you have receipt) from your rent. Just make sure you use the proper official notice. It's unlikely that restaurant receipts will pass - you didn't have means to cook, but you could have eaten something cheap on the go. So, restaurants are your choice.

If you can't negotiate it with your landlord, you might be able to claim compensation for a health hazard. See this link - http://www.thetenantsvoice.co.uk/advice_from_us/health-hazards/

Quote from: Audrey Wright on September 23, 2016, 06:43:29 AM...but ultimately you should be able to discount the fumigation service (provided you have receipt) from your rent.

Absolutely do not start unilaterally deducting from the rent - very poor advice given here.