UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello everyone, hoping someone can help me with a couple of issues.

We recently moved into a new property approx 4 weeks ago, and we have several issues the first might not seem a lot to some but to us it's frustrating. It was advertised by the website of the letting agency and by the lady who first showed us around and the chap who showed us round we have a garage and a parking space. So when we move in I park my car and our new neighbour comes over and explains it's their spot and I have reconfirmed with another neighbour, the car spaces work as follows: house 2 gets spot 1 house 4 gets spot 2 house 6 gets spot 3 etc... We are house 4 And where spot 2 should be is our garage. Now obviously my car doesn't fit in the garage and that's not the point the property was advertised as having a space and garage not or or the other. I have chased them for a month now and all I get is we are looking for the deeds for the property? I feel like you can't falsely advertise something and then not have it? If any one could help on this it would be appreciated.


We have got other issues too like before we moved in the decorating was awful but was promised before we moved in it would be done but apparently the decorators let the landlord down and a month in it's still not done, meant to be done on the 6th of may they did give us £50 apology but seems a bit rubbish really. When being showed round also we was told the boiler was only 2 years old and once we moved in we had no hot water, took a week for them to send a boiler person in and he told us boiler was at least 10 to 15 years old. Seems like the agency is very unprofessional? And they  are a big one in the area and it is a nice a area too.

So yeah if anyone has help regarding the parking and if we can do something further? And other comments one he other problems would be good to hear.

Thanks.

Do you have the promises / commitments in writing, or was it all verbalised to you?

There's a fine line between sales patter to get you in there and something to be followed-through on... it's not right, of course... but there at least some seem willingness to compensate you (if they were just laughing maniacally and tenting their fingers there would have been no £50). If the parking space belongs to another property then there's nothing you can do about that, of course. In that situation, if you have it in writing that there was a parking space allocated to the property, and this has turned out to not be true, then it's a good case for ongoing compensation (not that this might meet your needs, of course - it's unclear whether this is an inconvenience) or even allowing you to break the contract (if forced). That they are looking (they say) is interesting... you would think this would all be known already.

Boiler age is nothing for you to be concerned about... sales patter again, likely... but what does matter is that's it's working and effective (you might say an older boiler is going to be less efficient and cost you more - all true - but that's why you're provided with an EPC before agreeing to rent the property - to assess how much it costs to run - you were provided with an EPC, of course?). A week to get a boiler fixed might seem like a big deal (and when you're on the receiving-end it is) but a Landlord has to be allowed a reasonable time to effect repairs... this is (in no way, actually) a big deal... sure, you might well be sitting there (shivering) thinking "I could resolve this quicker myself"... and it may be true... but a week is nothing outrageous or spectacular... what you might humbly suggest, via the Agent?, is the Landlord consider a boiler cover contract... for some people it makes life so much easier. Remember - because you're renting a property there's no Bubble of Immunity from issues - things break. In this instance it's probably related to communication delays - you, Agent, Landlord - Landlord mulls it over - gives approval - back down the chain... arrange time etc. - it's a PITA... a joy of renting (remember - no other party cares about what you're going through). Nothing unreasonable in the timeframe mentioned is my point. Age of the boiler is no concern of yours is my point.

Quote from: Dannyboy286 on April 29, 2019, 08:35:33 AMWe have got other issues too like before we moved in the decorating was awful but was promised before we moved in it would be done but apparently the decorators let the landlord down and a month in it's still not done, meant to be done on the 6th of may they did give us £50 apology but seems a bit rubbish really.

This is probably what you call a life lesson.

Never agree to things being done after you're all signed-up and moved-in. The problem is it's still a Landlord's market and Tenants are desperate, and believe anything. You (and all Tenants) must remember that the Agent does not work for you... the inclusion of an Agent in the set-up does not mean the tenancy will be run more professionally, not at all, and you have an advocate on your side when dealing with the money-grabbing Landlord... it's not true. Many Tenants falsely believe this to be the case - the Agent works for one party in the equation - the Landlord. The Tenant is just another mark.

You might get it done in the end, of course... but it will be an annoyance for you now, inconvenient.

Don't feel too badly about it - just ensure the Inventory and Schedule of Condition perfectly describes the situation, so you aren't landed with redecoration costs at the end.