Tenant advice

[aguero93:20]

The local authority has specific legal powers to take steps to ensure that its area is free from rats and mice. They must take action to destroy rats and mice on their own land and can serve a notice on an owner or an occupier ordering work to get rid of the problem.

If you have a problem with rats or mice that are coming from someone else's property, then the local authority may be able to take action using this power.

Who lives near the swamp?

 

[Two Gun Bob]

No one like rats snitches get stitches so dont tell tails..
And do not under any circumstances scratch the rent.
Pay your obligations and deal with the problem to hand.
Be calm evaluate and man up.

You have a rat in your kitchen and what are you going to do.
Your gonna fix that rat thats what your gonna do !

 

[Sheikh rattle and roll]

Long story short, there is dead rat in the wall cavity in my flat! It fucking stinks, worst smell ever. its in the bathroom so im having to have my showers at the gym and im unable to eat in my flat because of the stench.
I told my landlord about this last saturday and he keeps stalling, instead of getting the professionals in he insists his "handyman" sort it. Well, the handyman has just been round and said that he needs to get the professionals in...
Where do i stand with this. Am i able to withold rent or pay for a professional and take it out of the rent? Is he legally obliged to sort it within a certain time frame? We are paying £700 a month to live in shitty conditions, surely thats not right?

Any advice would be much appreciated, the flat is becomming unliveable and with christmas coming up i need it sorting really. Cheers

Jesus it's a nightmare you can withhold but surely if you speak to him it's in everyone's interest to sort it
I rent a property and the last thing I want is unhappy tenants

 

[masterwig]

Sounds like my old landlord.

We had a burst pipe upstairs which flooded through the ceiling and damaged the electrics. He sent his handyman round who fair enough said he wasn't qualified to touch it but that we certainly couldn't stay there.

Our landlord's solution? 'Move out and let the electrics dry out for a bit then turn it back on again'. We moved out permanently not long afterwards and the house stood empty for a few months.

There are loads of rentals available. Move out. Shit landlords are leeches and really ought to be held to higher account by the authorities. In the absence of that it's up to tenants to take advantage of the excess of rental properties and push for a better deal.

You're paying £700pm. I'd expect someone to have been round within 24 hours for an initial assessment (ie his handyman) and then if it's beyond him, a specialist within 48 hours in a case like this. Don't let him take the piss. If your house is uninhabitable through no fault of your own your landlord is legally obliged to provide alternative accommodation.

 

[denislawsbackheel]

first thing first how do you know its a rat ???

am not being funny but other things can smell and you could be throwing good money after bad make sure you get the right people to find out what is happening most times quote are free and that way you give the land lord the quote for the right job

This.
It could be next door have walled in a dead relative.

 

[ancoats]

This.
It could be next door have walled in a dead relative.

just hope the landlord is not this bloke

 

[peoffrey]

I'm writing a romantic novel at the moment but my next book will be the student houseshare from hell in Longsight with a dodgy landlord. I'm in digs right now and my current gaffer lives on the top floor. He doesn't live in squalor and neither do we!