I am writing to formally raise a concern regarding my current tenancy through your platform. My landlord has become completely unresponsive despite numerous follow-ups via email and WhatsApp. I have made repeated attempts to communicate over the past few weeks, but I have received no reply whatsoever.
Prior to this, the landlord had agreed to carry out necessary refurbishments on the property, which are still outstanding and have now become increasingly urgent. I have maintained a record of all our communications, including written confirmation of the agreed works, and would be happy to share these for your review.
At this point, I am seeking guidance on how to escalate this issue and what legal steps I can take to resolve it. Your support in either facilitating contact or advising on the appropriate course of action would be greatly appreciated.
Just to be sure you understand, Openrent is merely an advertising service for Landlords, and they play no part in managing the property or your relationship with your Landlord.
This forum is for fellow tenants & Landlords to offer advice, and Openrent staff may never actually even read your post.
If the problems that these works would address are causing a hazard in the property or making it unsafe, then you can take action under the Homes Fitness for Habitation Act or ask the Council to take action under HHSRS.
If its other defects that fall under the landlords statutory repairing obligations, you can ask him to fix them under s11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. If he refuses, you may be able to get the works done and deduct the costs from the rent, (but you must follow the correct procedure).
If its repairs to white goods then these are usually exempt from the s11 repairing obligations unless they are integrated appliances or were advertised with the property or are included in the property inventory.
If its anything else then if you have written evidence that you only rented the place on the basis that these works would be done, you may be able to unwind the tenancy under consumer legislation.