I've Applied For Social Housing

Discussion in 'Taylor's Tittle-Tattle - General Banter' started by Clive_ofthe_Kremlin, Mar 12, 2021.

  1. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player

    Fed up of this private renting lark. Our landlords are exemplary in not interfering and showing up all the time, but they go too far the other way in leaving this place to slowly moulder away and collapse.

    As I've explained before, the brother and sister landlord were left this place their parents bought on Thatcher's buy to let and after a quick lick of magnolia, they've joined the ranks of the amateur Rachmanns. They flogged the garden off for £130k for another house to be built and they get their regular helping of £500 a piece each month from our rent, so I suppose they've got other things to worry about rather than doing any maintenance or spending any money to keep the place up. The list of what's wrong takes several pages - I listed it all out to the landlord in a letter at new year, but apart from a man who claimed to be a plumber showing up last week to fix a broken thermostat and a long-standing dripping hot tap, there's been no response. As an example of what remains, the bathroom is polluted with mould despite cleaning it off all the time. It has no ventilation in there. All the paint is flaking off the ceiling and walls. There's mould in the bedrooms too, but not as bad and I clean it all the time with mould cleaner. The kitchen light fitting hangs by its wires from the ceiling and we've had to stop using it because when it swings in the wind it starts flickering and popping and buzzing. Lights haven't worked in the outside loo, lobby or shed for years. We have those little LED battery ones stuck to the walls instead. The kitchen ceiling has a big hole in it where there was a water leak some years ago. That was when the aforementioned lights stopped working. The ceiling is bowed very worryingly and we're just waiting for it to fall. The lounge has an open uncapped fireplace up which all our heat disappears. We bought a picture from the boot fair and stand that in front of it to try to stop it as much as we can, but anyway the doors are the old original council ones from the 1950s and so they are very draughty. And so on and so on.

    We were on the list for 8 years when we lived in Gloucester and got nothing. Not a sniff. We lived in worse conditions then too and had two young kids rather than only 1 now, so I don't hold out great hope, but I can do no more than apply and see what happens.
     
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  2. Arakel

    Arakel First Team

    Hope that works out for you, Clive. No one should be living in a house with ongoing mould issues that the landlord refuses to fix.
     
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  3. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    Good luck Clive I hope you get lucky mate :)
     
  4. Maninblack

    Maninblack Reservist

    I avoided all 'Homes Under The Hammer'-type programmes when stuck inside during lockdown, it promotes one of the worst aspects of rampant capitalism. It should be titled 'How to get people to pay for your second home whilst they end up with nothing', especially with house prices these days. The younger generations have little chance of owning their own homes.
     
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  5. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player

    Yes, when they're talking up their rental "yield" on those programs, they do seem to forget that their are also us unfortunates that are being yielded from.
     
    Smudger likes this.
  6. HappyHornet24

    HappyHornet24 Crapster Staff Member

    Sorry to hear that Clive re your house - that sounds totally unacceptable. Good luck and hope you can update us with some better news soon.
     
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  7. Lloyd

    Lloyd Squad Player

    Landlords like yours get landlords like me a bad name. Why don't you look for something nicer on the private rental market? I'd say your chances of getting a social housing place this side of Doomsday are nil
     
  8. Smudger

    Smudger Messi's Mad Coach Staff Member

    I would happily see certain landlords sent to prison when you see cases in the news. There is regulation but what about enforcement. Councils and the government need to get tough with quite a few of these property moguls who have one care in the world and that is their bank balance. A few exemplary cases of imprisonment and heavy fines and more may think twice about treating their tenants like filth.

    I've always had a deep aversion to property developers and landlords as a concept along with lawyers. Many of them are in it for all the wrong reasons. Best of luck Clive and Cifriana.
     
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  9. rochdale away

    rochdale away Reservist

    The letting agents are often just as bad.

    I used one a few years ago who were nothing less than crooks, especially slow in passing rent over. At one point there was 2 young women living in the house and one of their parents offered to pay the first 6 months upfront as a present......took me 4 months to get the money.
     
  10. Carpster

    Carpster Squad Player

    It must mean the laws are different here in Norway. Initially when I moved there we rented an apartment from a firm, we had mold problems, it was sent to the lab and we were moved within a fortnight after the results. From my limited knowledge on mold spores some of them can be very dangerous especially to people already suffering from allergies.
    I would talk to a solicitor if possible and the whole family should have medicals from the GP stating that you've been living in mouldy, damp conditions.
     
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  11. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player

    Our rent (at £925 pm) is actually quite reasonable for round here. It's walking distance to the town (Ciff doesn't drive) and it has good storage space (shed etc) and a bit of garden is still left, which we've worked hard on and have looking nice after all these years.

    Our temptation is to move somewhere else and I'm itching for the coast. Apart from Havana, I've never really lived at the seaside and I fancy it. Maybe Cornwall. Plenty of oldies down there want caring for and the rent is about the same as here. Isle of Wight? Back to Gloucester (we liked Gloucester) Montevideo, Uruguay (The Paris of South America)? Moving is definitely a possibility.
     
    Lloyd likes this.
  12. iamofwfc

    iamofwfc Squad Player

    Hello Clive, sorry to hear your problems you are having, I do a lot of works for Landlords & letting agents you are not alone, I really can’t believe how they treat their “customers” because that is what you are in my opinion. I have also seen both sides the way some tenants treat properties knowing someone else will pick up the bill. Do you go through an agency and if you do do the agents get paid to manage the property ? If you do the problem it with the agent and not the landlord, half the problems I have come to see are the agents and not the landlords, they have been shocked how poor the agents are. As for the mould in the bathroom, does it have loft space above it, if it does you need a decent powerful fan, not a £11.99 one from B&Q it will be an expensive fix but will be worth it in the long run, painting it and cleaning ithe mould is not a solution, the agent/landlord will blame the tenant for daring to dry clothes in the house or not having windows open when it is minus 5 outside, the agent will suggest getting a dehumidifier that cost a fortune to run again not a long term solution. As for the kitchen light this is not on again a proper fix with a modern low energy lamp, a again will cost a few pound but worth it in the long run, out of interest do you have gas, do you have a landlords gas safety certificate done each year, have you seen an energy performance certificate since you have been there, and have you had a electrical safety test done since it became law, I think the deadline is the end of April, there is no way your light would pass this. Unfortunately lots of Business are using Covid as excuse not to get the job done. It is always worth trying to get a relationship with your landlord but by the tone of your post this would not interest you. From my experience a happy tenants is a good tenant and a happy landlord is a good landlord, but when I have done quotes the landlords/agents have questioned the cost of the products I use, I usually go for top end, best quality paint, best quality taps, even question me the cost of a light bulb, they will pay £20 for a call out but then try and save less then a £1 for putting a quality product in.

    You need to decide if you want to stay there, good landlords don’t want a high turnover of good tenants, agents do. If you want to stay there and would happy to stay there then try and work with the landlord and or agent. You would.
    Not put up with those conditions in a hotel as a customer, why should you as your long term home.

    Good luck
     
  13. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    Yep, they’re often useless. I’m currently renting after going self employed 6 months ago, my house was for sale anyway due to getting divorced so no choice to rent until I’ve got some decent accounts from my business.

    I had one useless agent who agreed to let me one place that was apparently pet friendly as I’ve got dogs, they did all the checks everything was agreed, then they called me a few days later and said the landlord had changed their mind about pets, annoying, but fine. They then called me two separate, times asking for my feedback on the viewing and if I wanted to proceed... err we’ve been through this? They then proceeded to hassle me about various flats that had come on the market even though I told them unequivocally I need a garden as I have dogs.

    Worse still, the place I’m in now I agreed the let on about a month in advance of my sale. Everything was agreed, got sent all the gas safety certificate etc, but for some bizarre reason, even though the place had been let for 7 years to the same tenant and had hence pre-dated recent changes in electrical safety standards, they waited until the day before to do the electrical inspection! It failed and needed completely rewiring. So there is me, high and dry with nowhere to live and nowhere to put my stuff for a week. Just complete incompetence in their part.

    I’m not saying they’re all bad, but for most it’s just money for old rope, they get enough properties though their books, renters and landlords need them so they don’t even have to try.
     
  14. Clive_ofthe_Kremlin

    Clive_ofthe_Kremlin Squad Player


    Thanks for this - very useful indeed. We rent from an agency, but they don't manage it. We're supposed to go direct to the landlords for repairs. In the 12 years here, the landlords have never been round once for an inspection or to ask us what needs doing. They haven't renewed or replaced or maintained anything - only responded (pretty well in general to be fair) to emergencies we've reported to them. I have tried very hard to build up a relationship with them. I believe the daughter one is some big noise in the local Labour Party (@zztop note!) and so hoped to work with them. We treat the place like it was our own and I do lots and lots of maintenance jobs myself, paying for materials etc. However I'm not prepared to do things like go up ladders and clean out the gutters. That is their job. I did rub down the bathroom ceiling thoroughly and paint it all fresh a couple of years ago, but as you say - it needs drying properly first and the new paint has just gone the way of the last and flaked off again pretty quickly. Still, there's a good breeze through the bathroom window which hasn't closed or locked properly for years.

    The attempts to make a relationship with the landlords have sort of worked. After the first year of renting, I spoke to them and told them it was going to be long term and offered to cut the dreaded leech agency out of the deal and pay them directly from then on. However they declined and so the agency continues to rake off their 15% or whatever for doing absolutely nothing at all. Literally. We're not doing two year leases anymore, we're just on an open ended arrangement and the agency doesn't deal with any repairs, so they get about £135 every month for nothing. I thought that was a very strange decision and perhaps showed they didn't trust us. I did manage to talk them in to a temporary year's reduction in rent of £100 per month while they were building the new house on what used to be our garden. They were reluctant, but agreed to it in the end, so they will negotiate a little. Also they haven't put the rent up for two or three years now. I think we started out at £800 12 years ago and they've upped it by £25 at various internals, but it's still about £50 to £100 maybe below the market rate for round here.

    Up until now, it has been the uppity acne-stricken youngster in a suit at the rental agency who has caught most of the Kremlin fire, but I'm losing a bit of patience with the landlords now. When I spoke to the daughter about the long letter listing all the faults, she complained that I should have told her "when they happened". Well moss doesn't build up on a roof, gutters don't fill up with leaves, garden trees don't overgrow wild, mould doesn't grow and carpets don't wear out overnight. These are gradual things that happen over time. I am considering taking a tougher line with them.

    Yes they've done the gas safety inspection annually as they should. NO they have NOT done an electrical safety inspection and I expect they're like me and didn't know this was coming in. Very, very useful information that. I found:-

    "Private landlords must ensure every electrical installation in their residential premises is inspected and tested at intervals of no more than 5 years by a qualified and competent person. The regulations apply in England to all new specified tenancies from 1 July 2020 and all existing specified tenancies from 1 April 2021."

    So they've got a couple of weeks to sort it out. Better get a move on hadn't they........
     
  15. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    FWIW I've been told that what's holding the state/NHS 'recognition' of those workers in the social care sector is the 'key worker' status that's attached to it and the resultant rules about access to social (council) housing...
     
  16. iamofwfc

    iamofwfc Squad Player

     
  17. iamofwfc

    iamofwfc Squad Player

    Clive will send you a detailed reply later or Tomoz, as working today (for a landlord) can you find out if the property has an epc could give you some more ammo. I did not know you had been he the property for so long and can’t understand why or how the agent takes such a large chunk for doing nothing, usually it is a tenant find or fully managed I assume your landlord knows what chunk they are talking, can’t see them getting the electrical inspection done before the deadline as they all seem booked up now as landlords leave everything until the last minute, you may be able to use this to your favour
     
  18. a19tgg

    a19tgg First Team

    Further to my post above re the change in regulations regarding electrical stuff, I’d be amazed if your place didn’t need a lot of stuff doing at significant cost, seeing as you’ve been there so long. As I mentioned, my place had been let for 7 years previously, and that needed completely rewiring. I think these regulations (you can look up the exact specifications online) are pretty strict and any property that hasn’t had anything updated relatively recently will likely fall foul of a few things.

    As an aside it cost £2k to do the work that needed doing to my rental before I could move in and they needed a couple of days to do it, the £2k cost was something the agent kept repeating to me as some sort of benefit, and as if I should somehow give two ***** or care that it was going to cost £2k to make it legally habitable.
     
  19. AndrewH63

    AndrewH63 Reservist

    It’s right about the electrics. The daughters fella is an electrician. He has been run off his feet doing landlord checks and certificates since the start of the year.

    But as he says most privately owned and occupied homes would fail to get a 100% clean bill of health. So its likely if your home has not been checked by an electrician for several years, there will be work to do.
     
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  20. ST1968

    ST1968 First Year Pro

    Clive,

    Very sorry to hear of your housing woes. As others have said, people should not have to put up with such things. And again building on what others have said some landlords are excellent, some have decent values but need a push, and some are crooks.

    I had a Landlord in the middle category and what I had to do in the past as is as follows:

    Get one (or preferably three) handymen round to complete a fully itemised quote for all the work which needs doing. From the gutters to the mould etc etc. I am assuming its relatively run of the mill maintenance and not compliance related specialisms such as gas. I appreciate that puts a bit of the hassle on you, however I understand that ideally you don't wish to move, you just wish to have the place maintained properly.

    Then put the quote to both the agent and the Landlord. Wait a week or two and if they do not respond state clearly to them in writing that you will move ahead with the quote yourself and deduct it from your next rental payment(s).

    Clearly if the repairs are under a month's rental value this shouldn't cause you a cash flow shortage. If more than a month or two then I do understand this way forward may not be as easy. You may have to undertake part of the quote at a time and if this is the case work with the handyman to build a priority list of separate activities.

    For me - it worked. We are talking 30+ years ago but for the next couple of years when I wrote stating work needing doing it was subsequently done directly by the Landlord, mould in a bathroom being a good example.
     
  21. The Voice of Reason

    The Voice of Reason First Team Captain

    I don't know if they can help, but possibly "Citizens Advice" might be able to let you know if you would be within your rights to do as ST1968 has suggested? It might be worth checking it out before going ahead and doing what ST1968 has suggested, just in case.
     
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  22. The undeniable truth

    The undeniable truth First Team Captain

    Cornwall would be great, and rents cheaper, but any rent you save will soon disappear in the fortnightly costs of driving to the Vic and you'd probably need an overnight stay,
     
  23. ST1968

    ST1968 First Year Pro

    That of course is very wise advice.

    At the time a tenant was definitely NOT able just to withhold rent in protest but WAS able to get quotes and, after formally writing to the Landlord, able to use rent to cover those repairs if the landlord didnt undertake the work themselves.

    However I am neither a tenant nor a landlord just someone who once did this a long time ago. It struck me Clive, that your landlords just need a poke to get the jobs done rather than being the evil type. The Citizens Advice Bureau I suspect will be all over the correct process to follow.
     
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  24. Diamond

    Diamond First Team

    If you go to the Isle of Wight the positive side is that the care jobs are through the roof, (I used to regularly read the County Press when my parents lived there). The down side is that the ferry costs are prohibitive, meaning friends will visit rarely and family will drift away to the mainland with limited visits. It's a great holiday destination, but not a place you'd want to live.
     
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  25. Bwood_Horn

    Bwood_Horn Squad Player

    My uncle moved there and runs a small-holding. Ferry costs are high if you take a vehicle. To get round this he (his family) has an 'Island car' and access to a 'mainland vehicle' (which I think is 'owned' by two or three separate families and is stored in Lymington).

    Also some good advice here.
     
  26. From CAB website:
    There are a number of steps that you must follow if you want to use your rent to pay for repairs. This procedure is only likely to be of use to you for more minor repairs which you can afford to pay for if required.

    The steps are:

    • Step 1 – report the repairs to your landlord. It's best to do this in writing and give your landlord a reasonable time to do the work. Keep a copy of your letter or email.
    • Step 2 – if nothing happens, write to your landlord again telling them that you will do the repairs yourself unless they arrange for the work to be done. Keep a copy of your letter or email.
    • Step 3 – allow a further reasonable period of time for your landlord to do the work. If nothing happens after this time, get three quotes for the cost of the work from properly qualified contractors.
    • Step 4 – write to your landlord again enclosing copies of the quotes and giving them a final chance to do the work, for example, within two weeks. The letter should warn that, otherwise, you'll do the work yourself and deduct the cost from the rent. Keep a copy of your letter.
    • Step 5 – if there's no response, arrange for the contractor who gave the lowest quote to do the work.
    • Step 6 – pay for the work and send a copy of the receipt to your landlord and ask for the money to be paid back to you. Keep a copy of your letter.
    • Step 7 – if the landlord doesn't pay back the money, you can deduct the cost from future rent, but not other charges such as service charges. Send your landlord a breakdown of the amounts to be deducted, when they will start and when they will end. Keep a copy of your letter.
     
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