juliet
27-01-2009, 08:32 AM
Sorry this is complicated but I would very much appreciate advice as I am not sure what to do. My son rented a flat shorthold assured contract. The flat was shabby and dirty when he moved in although when I emailed the landlord said professional cleaners had been in. One window was falling to pieces with rotten wood in shreds which made it hard to shut properly. I emailed the landlord about this and to say the flat was in a terrible state and to ask if there was an inventory - I am the guarantor - he wrote back saying don't worry about the window, your son won't be liable for it, and sent an inventory which was unsigned and undated and I do not believe reflected the true state of the flat. I told him this and I also have a photographic record of the window and some other things at the start of the tenancy. The landlord lives abroad and has been hard to contact and has no one in this country to manage things. I told my son he should leave a s a p because it wasn't a good situation. My son gave in notice so that his tenancy will finish mid feb, but then just before Xmas a fire broke out which was accidental, but which was most probably due to something electrical of my son's.
I emailed the landlord next day to let him know and to ask him to contact to discuss what to do and to ask if he had insurance to cover any of the damage. Next day his sister rang me to say he was away on holiday for the next two weeks and couldn't be contacted although he obviously managed to receive the email I sent. On his return he emailed me to say there was no insurance whatsoever, and reitierated this but didn't answer my questions or enter into any constructive communication. He told me I could ring the block management to ask them about the insurance which I did and they said there was buildings insurance but the landlord continued to say there wasn't. He also said that the rotten window had to be boarded up due to the fire but this was not damaged by the fire. The damage was mostly due to smoke.
We went to see a solictior who told ud our best remedy would be to restore the flat ourselves.
A couple of weeks later he visited the country without telling us, entered the flat without telling us, arranged for things to be done on that basis, and then arranged for the letting agency to let various people into the flat without telling us. I knew people had been in because I rigged the door. I knew the landlord had been over because the block management told me. I contacted the letting agents who admitted they had been in and then sent us a letter saying that they would be handing out keys to various people so they could let themselves in.
I told them that under no circumstances should they do this without the landlord informing us. I emailed the landlord twice a week ago to ask if he gave authority but he did not reply. So I wrote the letting agency a letter saying they would be breaking the law and they backed out.
Then I got an email from the landlord saying he had gone away on business and would be unavailable to contact until after the tenancy ends next month.He says vaguely that various people will be visiting the flat and he will be refitting it and is honourable and when it is done we will mutually agree a contribution. But he then complains about me contacting the block management although he told me I could, and has ignored a request from Env. Health dept to fix window (I got Env Health to come and look at the window as I didn't want it classed as fire damage) and tells me I am wasting public money by contacting them.
This is such a nightmare. I don't want to sued for a huge amount. The flat was shabby to start with. We have already made quite a lot of progress in restoring it and it will be a lot nicer than it was. The solicitor said this would be our best remedy, but it does say something in the tenancy agreement about repairs and improvements being at the landlords option. It is also costing a significant amount just in materials, but obviously less than if we are sued for the whole shebang including labour.
Please can anyone advise. I know this is complicated and longwinded but I would really appreciate comment as this is causing me massive stress.
I emailed the landlord next day to let him know and to ask him to contact to discuss what to do and to ask if he had insurance to cover any of the damage. Next day his sister rang me to say he was away on holiday for the next two weeks and couldn't be contacted although he obviously managed to receive the email I sent. On his return he emailed me to say there was no insurance whatsoever, and reitierated this but didn't answer my questions or enter into any constructive communication. He told me I could ring the block management to ask them about the insurance which I did and they said there was buildings insurance but the landlord continued to say there wasn't. He also said that the rotten window had to be boarded up due to the fire but this was not damaged by the fire. The damage was mostly due to smoke.
We went to see a solictior who told ud our best remedy would be to restore the flat ourselves.
A couple of weeks later he visited the country without telling us, entered the flat without telling us, arranged for things to be done on that basis, and then arranged for the letting agency to let various people into the flat without telling us. I knew people had been in because I rigged the door. I knew the landlord had been over because the block management told me. I contacted the letting agents who admitted they had been in and then sent us a letter saying that they would be handing out keys to various people so they could let themselves in.
I told them that under no circumstances should they do this without the landlord informing us. I emailed the landlord twice a week ago to ask if he gave authority but he did not reply. So I wrote the letting agency a letter saying they would be breaking the law and they backed out.
Then I got an email from the landlord saying he had gone away on business and would be unavailable to contact until after the tenancy ends next month.He says vaguely that various people will be visiting the flat and he will be refitting it and is honourable and when it is done we will mutually agree a contribution. But he then complains about me contacting the block management although he told me I could, and has ignored a request from Env. Health dept to fix window (I got Env Health to come and look at the window as I didn't want it classed as fire damage) and tells me I am wasting public money by contacting them.
This is such a nightmare. I don't want to sued for a huge amount. The flat was shabby to start with. We have already made quite a lot of progress in restoring it and it will be a lot nicer than it was. The solicitor said this would be our best remedy, but it does say something in the tenancy agreement about repairs and improvements being at the landlords option. It is also costing a significant amount just in materials, but obviously less than if we are sued for the whole shebang including labour.
Please can anyone advise. I know this is complicated and longwinded but I would really appreciate comment as this is causing me massive stress.