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Tips for Dealing with Difficult Landlords
Try To Remain Calm
Although dealing with a nightmare landlord can be incredibly stressful and incredibly, try your best to remain calm and composed. Lashing out at you landlord will not improve the situation, help the situation get issues resolved any faster or look favourably upon you, if you chose to escalate
Speak to Your Housemates
It is important that all housemates on the same page. This allows you to stay up to date with all the problems of in the house and ensures that you don’t send multiple maintenance request, which in turn will allow you to track the maintenance chain.
Keep Evidence
The most important thing you can do with a bad housemate is record everything. Keep evidence of everything, especially photos and videos of property when you move in and out and communications between you and your landlord. Make sure you request maintenance issues over email or text, so that you have a record of communication. Keep a log of any verbal communications, recording the date, time and a short summary of the conversation.
Ensure You Pay Rent
Regardless of the issues you may be experiencing within your accommodation or how difficult your landlord is, you must pay rent on time. If you stop paying rent on time, this is a breach of tenancy cand could lead to an eviction. Additionally, the responsibility to pay rent will fall on your guarantors and impact both of your credit scores.
Remember Your Rights
You should always keep a copy of your tenancy agreement for you to refer back to you and brush up on your basic rights. Don’t forget your landlord must provide at least 24-hour notice before turning up to your home unless it’s an emergency. Your housing deposit must be placed in a government protection scheme within 30 days and your landlord must inform of you of where it is held. Most importantly, it is illegal you to be evicted from the property without notice. Please click here [Private renting: Your rights and responsibilities - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) ] for a list of your rights and responsibilities.
Make a Formal Complete
If speaking to your landlord, isn’t resolving the problem you can make a formal complaint to your landlord. In your complaint letter you should include what you’re complaining about, what you want them to do about the problem, a log of all the times the problem took place and the evidence you have. Evidence can include copies of any correspondence between you and your landlords, photographs of the problem and receipts for the things you’ve had to pay for because of the problem
Where to Go for Support
If you are unable to resolve the issue or come to an agreement with your landlord, you can contact your local council to report outstanding repairs. Click here to find your local council –[ https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council ] . If you would like to write a letter to complain to the council about your landlords failure to complete repair, Citizen Advice provide a template – [ https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/repairs-and-housing/repairs-and-housing-conditions/getting-help-from-the-local-authority/Letter-to-the-local-council-repairs/ ] If you’re not happy with the way your landlord is handling maintenance issues within your student home, or you think they’re in breach of contract/ breaking the law, then you should take things further. You should consider taking the landlord to court for failure to make repairs, if the landlord is responsible for the repairs, has had a reasonable amount of time to complete the repairs and if you have enough evidence to support your case. For more information please click here - https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/repairs-and-housing/repairs-and-housing-conditions/renting-from-the-council-or-a-housing-association/taking-court-action-because-your-landlord-wont-make-repairs/
If you would like additional support, please visit the Union Advice Service. If your housing situation is affecting your mental health or academic performance, please contact the UAS by either emailing advice@brunel.ac.uk, calling 01895 269169 or attending one of their drop-ins.
Finding Safe Landlords
Brunel Student Lettings
Brunel Accommodation Service have a scheme for accredited landlords – Brunel Student Lettings. In order to register with Brunel Student Lettings, the landlords / listing has to reach a certain standard/complete a checklist. In this agreement, Brunel Student Lettings operates as the landlord and manages maintenance and repairs.
References
https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/private_rented_housing_for_students
https://ukstudenthouses.com/how-to-deal-with-a-difficult-landlord-at-uni-our-top-tips/
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/housing/problems-during-a-tenancy-s/problems-with-your-landlord/
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/repairs-and-housing/repairs-and-housing-conditions/renting-from-a-private-landlord/going-to-court-if-your-landlord-wont-do-repairs-private/
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/complaints-about-landlords-and-letting-agents/complaining-about-your-landlord/
https://www.gov.uk/private-renting