I am about to sign a tenancy on a 2 bed terraced house with a garage at the rear. The garage door is broken (stuck open). The landlord has told the letting agent they will not repair the door but will get it closed and sealed in place rendering it unusable as a garage. I am able to build a garage door if necessary so not too bothered about the door. However, I have looked inside the garage and there is a large hole in the roof where the frame and (possibly asbestos) roof sheets have come apart.
What rights do I have to insist the garage is repaired?
If the landlord refuses can I get it repaired and seek payment from the landlord?
Obviously I don’t want to start out with a dispute with the landlord, but I need the garage to be usable.
If the garage forms part of the demise of the property in your tenancy agreement and there is no specific exclusion to its use, then you can insist that the LL repairs the garage to make it fully usable. However, getting it repaired yourself and then deducting costs from rent paid is a very bad idea. Based on what you have said, trying to get the LL to pay will likely involve some action in the courts. However if the structure is genuinely unsafe you may be able to get the local council involved who might force the LL’s hand?
In my view, if the garage is that important to you and the LL is adamant that they will not complete or pay for repairs then you should look elsewhere. I would not take a punt on asbestos, its associated risks to your health or the cost/time of dealing with it yourself.
If you don’t want the property as offered… ie with the garage sealed & unusuable… DO NOT sign the lease & search for another property elsewhere
find another place , best not to continue with this