Issue with Landlord

[Allsosad]

I hope you can help as I'm worried. We moved into our current rented property 4 months ago, when we signed the contract the landlord promised to fix the fence before the summer. Anyway, Dh has tried to reach him for a month by mail, text, phone call and he never got back to him. Last week I have called him (I hide my number) and he picked up the phone after 2 rings. He didn't want to talk to me saying he was busy, apologised for not getting back in touch with my husband because he was busy....we hang up and he then sent me a text saying that he will call my husband by the end of the day (it was on Wednesday) and we still didn't hear anything from him.

I'm really feeling uncomfortable with this situation why is he avoiding us like that ? On signature of the contract he promised that unlike estate agents, he will things done/happening. Should we be worried for our future with this landlord ?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I think you've posted this in the wrong section and should ask for it to be removed. It's pretty obvious, however, that your landlord is trying to avoid spending any money on the property. Be persistent, pin him down and consider putting all your requests in writing so that there is documented evidence when something more serious than failing to fix a garden fence happens. Yes, you should anticipate future problems. Did you pay him a big deposit and was that documented?

[Allsosad]

Hi cognito, thank you for your answer...where should I ask to have this thread removed you think ? I'm so worried :-( we payed almost 4 grands deposit but it is in a protection scheme so he can't touch it really. I'm so gutted, we really want a good relationship with him, we are reasonable and respectful but it seems it just goes one way :-(

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Maybe 'legal matters'? BTW, if you're particularly anxious about the fence you could always get a few quotes and send them to him. If it was something urgent that had gone wrong (boiler packs up, roof leaking etc) think you can even pay to get the work done and then bill him retrospectively. Good luck

[LIZS]

agree if this is only about the fence get a couple of quotes and ask him if he'd like to go ahead. Or put up chicken wire temporarily. Is it strictly necessary though ?

[Allsosad]

The landlord has already all the quotes so he said. We can't afford doing the repairs and wait for him to reimburse us :-(. Thank you cognito for your help, will have this thread removed !

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I would request MN to put this in Legal matters. What you could also do in the meantime is call Shelter for their advice.

I would also ascertain for definite that your money in the protection scheme is still in there. There have been instances in the past where such money has simply disappeared before the end of the tenancy.

[Allsosad]

I have just requested to have it moved !

[Namechangearoonie123]

Is there any reason you need a fence?

[Allsosad]

The fence is completely blended on our side and is only holding by a thread...also if we didn't have a fence nothing will separate us from the neighbours.

[arsenaltilidie]

Send him a text to tell him you will deduct it from the rent and get it fixed yourself.

[ChelsyHandy]

What's a blended fence? And why is it so important to be separated from your neighbours? Plenty of terraced properties are unfenced, without problems.

Its hard to tell for sure, but maybe you have things a little out of perspective? Was this a written agreement to fix the fence or just a vague statement of intent? I can see why a landlord might avoid new tenants making obsessive demand about something like a fence - as opposed to a boiler or bojen window, for example.

Anyway, why not phone up the landlord yourself and find out?

[Unexpected]

I think "blended" is an iPhone mis-spelling. If the properties are terraced, is the fence actually the LL's responsibility or does it belong to the people next door? Are they concerned about the fence potentially falling down? If so, perhaps they could tackle the landlord? Unfortunately, it does sound as if he doesn't intend to do anything with the fence. Is this the only issue since you moved in?

[Audeca]

OP

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ignore arsenaltilidie's advice unless you have the explicit approval of your landlord in writing.

If you do the repair and deduct the money from the rent unilaterally you could be evicted for being in arrears (Details on Shelter website here)

[Allsosad]

I'll never take money out of the rent...it's asking for trouble. Let me show a picture of the fence so you can understand better. I meant bended not blended !

[Allsosad]

Imagine a massive wind storm happens, we are worried the fence will break, it is not secure at all.

[Allsosad]

It's more bended on this other side !

[Unexpected]

OP, I think you mean the fence is bent not bended

I can understand your concern but if the fence does fall, will is cause damage to any of your property?

[Allsosad]

Yes I meant bent, can you tell English is not my first language ..yes it will damage our property...we had an agreement! he should honour it !

[specialsubject]

the deposit money cannot 'disappear' if it is in a proper scheme. OP - please confirm that you have the documentation showing that it is in one of the approved schemes. That is a HUGE deposit!

[Allsosad]

Yep It is in a protected scheme, I logged in this morning to check that everything was alright ! Thank you for the help !

[ChelsyHandy]

Its not really that bad, is it? Unless the promise to repair the fence is written into the lease, its not enforceable in English law.

Perhaps he is waiting agreement from the owners on the other side. You can't just go around replacing people's fences without their agreement.

If he says he doesn't want to talk to you because he's busy, and you have been phoning him that much about a slightly bent fence, he quite possibly feels harassed by you. If it was an urgent matter regarding keeping the property wind and watertight I could understand your concern, but you do seem to be overreacting over what is essentially a still functioning fence. Where there is nor requirement to be a fence at all.

[Allsosad]

Cheesy - the owner on this other side agree to pay half of the reparation...we do need the fence, I have children who I want to stay in the garden, I don't want them to go next door and I'm sure it's the same for the neighbour, they don't want our children in their garden! We didn't harass him with phone calls and text, just because he is our landlord it doesn't mean he hasn't got any obligation towards us. I want to put some fake grass on the gravel but before I do that I need the fence fixed.

[Allsosad]

The fence is only holding against 2 wood boarding.

[specialsubject]

good news about the deposit.

please don't put down fake grass, it will affect drainage and could flood either your house or next door.

yes, he should do something about the fence.