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Problems with landlord
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I've been in my flat for a year now and I love it but am having a few difficulties with the landlord.
A few months ago, the lightbulb in the bathroom went, so I stood on the bath to change it. When I twisted the bulb round, the fitting part crumbled and broke. Since then I have had no light in the bathroom as you can't fit a bulb now. There is no window in the bathroom, so I either stumble in the dark, light candles when I have a bath or use an extension lead to get a little lamp in there (which I doubt it safe). I asked the landlord to fix it and he said I must have broken it and it was my fault. I know how to change a lightbulb and the only reason it broke was presumably because it was old. I don't know how to fix it and am not going to pay for an electrician out of my own money.
The second problem is that the hot water keeps breaking. I'll run a bath and the water will be freezing. I keep ringing the landlord and he will come and look at it, it'll be okay for a few days and then it will be freezing again. I've asked him to send a proper plumber but he hasn't.
The final thing, is that hot water and heating costs are included in my rent. The landlord decides when the heating comes on and off. It's not that cold yet but in the winter when it's cold all day long, it doesn't come on till the evening, so you shiver all day long. I don't see why I should buy an electric heater when I'm already paying for heating in my rent.
Another thing is that despite living there for a year, I haven't had an electricity or water bill yet. I'm scared to ring the companies up because there is no way I can afford to pay the bills.
Any advice on dealing with my annoying landlord?
A few months ago, the lightbulb in the bathroom went, so I stood on the bath to change it. When I twisted the bulb round, the fitting part crumbled and broke. Since then I have had no light in the bathroom as you can't fit a bulb now. There is no window in the bathroom, so I either stumble in the dark, light candles when I have a bath or use an extension lead to get a little lamp in there (which I doubt it safe). I asked the landlord to fix it and he said I must have broken it and it was my fault. I know how to change a lightbulb and the only reason it broke was presumably because it was old. I don't know how to fix it and am not going to pay for an electrician out of my own money.
The second problem is that the hot water keeps breaking. I'll run a bath and the water will be freezing. I keep ringing the landlord and he will come and look at it, it'll be okay for a few days and then it will be freezing again. I've asked him to send a proper plumber but he hasn't.
The final thing, is that hot water and heating costs are included in my rent. The landlord decides when the heating comes on and off. It's not that cold yet but in the winter when it's cold all day long, it doesn't come on till the evening, so you shiver all day long. I don't see why I should buy an electric heater when I'm already paying for heating in my rent.
Another thing is that despite living there for a year, I haven't had an electricity or water bill yet. I'm scared to ring the companies up because there is no way I can afford to pay the bills.
Any advice on dealing with my annoying landlord?
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Comments
Have a read of these articles:
Common landlord battles
Repairs and maintenance
If you still need more advice, contact our askTheSite service as Shelter will answer your question - this organisation deals primarily with housing problems and issues such as yours.
As for the bills, this will be your responsibility to get them sent out but don't worry because most companies will let you pay them off as much as you can afford a month to make it affordable. If you get in touch with them they will not force you to pay it all in one go, after all they probably would have turned off your electricity by now if they were going to do it at all so I'd give them a call and arrange a monthly direct debit to try and start paying it off...
Have a read of this as well for ideas on how to pay your bills
All the best
If damage isn't your fault then they have to pay
The landlord will have your contract saying when you moved in, so it may not be a good idea to do this as the company will go to him to pay the bill and he will prove he wasn't there....