Please help with disrepair issue

[martin_n]

I bought a flat last year with a regulated tenant. Because the rent had never been increased for more than 15 years, as soon as I mentioned to him that I wanted to register the rent he complained with some disrepair from the previous owner. So, I agreed with him that I should repair the flat first before register the rent.

I had a surveyor in to review the whole flat and he come up with a list which needed to repair (more than what the tenant was complaining about). After reveiving the report, I proposed for a builder to review the flat and carry out with the repair, but my tenant refused and wanted my surveyor to produce a proper schedule of works document first. My surveyor produced/sent a schudule of works document and asked the tenant to allow two proposed builders to review the flat so they could provide the bids for the repair. Unfortunately,he refused to let any builders to visit the flat with the excuse that he needed to discuss the document with his surveyor first.

Deep down, I think my tenant does not want the flat to be repaired because he was constantly counter-attaching with one problem after another to delay me to register the rent. I have a few questions below and hope someone can help:

1) I wanted to repair the flat but he keeps dragging on since last year, so how can I force him to allow me to do this? I don't know if going through the court would be best as none of the disrepair are required urgent attention.
2) Can he claim any compensation for disrepair while I am trying to do my best? Someone menioned to me that he may wanted to drag on so he could claim compensation later.
2) Can I still register the rent with some disrepair?

Thanks in advance for any reply.

[Paul_f]

You can't force anything on your tenant. If he doesn't want to be helped then don't. You are doing your best after all.
No.
Yes. But tell them what you have done so far.

[martin_n]

Thanks for your reply Paul. It is very helpful.