AIBU to be upset with my landlord

That's good news vampirequeen and I do like your positive thinking!

The agent rang me this evening. He's had an email from my landlord saying that there is a 'little rising damp' but that most of the problem is condensation and that he'd tried to leave a dehumidifier but I was too bothered about my electricity bill. That's not exactly what I said

Anyway the agent asked if he could come and see the damp. Of course I agreed. He also said that he is going to tell the landlord that he wants to send in some builders to assess the damp and quote for repairs. He said the landlord can't keep trying his DIY repairs because they're obviously not working.

It will be the new year now but at least someone who knows what he's talking about is going to have a look.

If the worst comes to the worst we have a nice caravan we can live in and although we'd have to move every 28 days at least we'd constantly have new views

This extract from CAB's Advice Guide is all about the landlord's responsibilities, though I suspect you will receive much the same information from Shelter. Good luck. A model tenant like you doesn't deserve this level of landlord neglect.

Thanks for the link to Shelter, FarNorth. It's been useful.

I know if my landlord decided to be petty and end the tenancy then he has to give me two months notice. I don't know if he will because he'll be cutting off his nose to spite his face and he'd still have to do the repairs. He'll be hard pressed to find a tenant like me. Apparently prior to me he had some serious problem tenants. The people who had my house simply moved back to New Zealand without telling him and the house next door was wrecked by the people who lived there hence it's been empty.

He owns the land behind my house but has no right of access to it. I think he's hoping that if he lets the properties fall into serious disrepair he'll be able to demolish them and gain access. I know he tried to get permission to demolish the house next door but the council refused as there a shortage of houses in this area and, at that time, it only needed cosmetic work to make it habitable.

The daft thing is that last year he had the windows and bathroom replaced. We thought he was going to finish doing it up and let it but then everything came to a standstill.

That's why it's important to get info as soon as possible, so you don't worry about all sorts of things that might not happen, and you know your rights.

What a horrible situation to be in VQ.

Let's hope the landlord comes to his senses and sees the value of having a reliable tenant.

Unfortunately, as you already know, it all depends on what type of tenancy agreement you have. With some agreements they have only to give 2 months' notice and not even have to give a reason.

Shelter has a lot of info for tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities : www.shelter.org.uk

Check it out with them and/or the CAB, and/or your local council, to find out what your rights are and what would be best to do.

Get yourself informed as soon as possible, then you will not feel so much at the mercy of this incompetent landlord.

Elegran Have you not read about "revenge evictions"? Unless a tenant has a long term fixed tenancy - and I think most tenants have one yearly tenancies - I believe a landlord is quite at liberty to give notice once the term has expired. Many tenants are therefore frightened of asking for essential repairs to be carried out.

Hopefully, vampirequeen, since you have been such a conscientious and reliable tenant over the years, he won't want to risk bringing in somebody who may well be more demanding and less responsible than you.

Of course you're not being unreasonable, it's shocking that he's ignored this issue for so long. As others have said, if he continues to be obstructive, try and get some help to deal with this. Good luck - I hope it's soon sorted out.

There was a series on BBC recently with Matt Alwright (sp) where he spent time with a local council worker whose job it was to make landlords rectify problems such as this.
I suggest you contact your local offices. Good luck, the landlord definitely needs to get his act together!!

Phone CAB, they're very knowledgeable and am sure will be able to give you advice. Horrible situation for you, do hope will be resolved soon vampirequeen

He can't give you notice just because you want him to sort out a thoroughly soaking wet damp house which is making you ill.

I'd say you have grounds to involve someone other than just the agent. I don't know who, but there will be someone on GN who does.

Presumably the agent has records of his accounts to him of the condition of the house. In fact, the agent has a responsibility to get things moving too, so you may have a come-back on him as well.

This is NOT the time of year for all this hassle, and you are not in a good state to deal with it either. Why should you apologise for being upset? THEY should be apologising for allowing your home to become so awful.