Hi moved into new house in august deposit was £400 we were applying for universal credit so landlord said will wait for payments. It was soon sorted and we had to pay a small topup fortnightly rest covered by universal credit. But we found heating wasnt working,cold water tap also broken in kitchen. Reported to landlord who kept calling out his best friend who is his handyman. He was totally unreliable. Waited in several days he didnt turn up, he turned up once and didnt have ladders, he said had to go to dentist and would be back next day by 12. Didnt turn up, this kept on for weeks, him not turning up or booking a time then when waiting in landlord cancelled him at last min to a later time. It got to 6 weeks no heating and couldn’t use washing machine. We contacted environmental health. Not long after landlord booked 2 good tradesmen in, next day they arrived and fixed both problems. Great i thought. But month later i Reported mains smoke alarm not working and two windows closed but having big gaps that air can get in. Thought landlord had learned lesson but landlord books in again his unreliable best friend. We gave him a chance but his slot to arrive between 10am to 12.30 was cancelled while we waited in for him, landlord said he would call later. Told landlord didnt suit as had to pick kids from school. We knew his handyman wouldnt even turn up later as well. We told landlord his friend wasnt reliable and to get someone else. Landlord has refused. We said we wouldnt be waiting in again for days for his friend to keep not showing or cancelling. Landlord still refusing. As his friend prob does it for free or cheap rates. We have contacted environmental health. Another thing was the professional tradesman who fixed our heating last time in one day says landlords friend and handyman is a cowboy and he wouldnt have him near any job.
Big gaps that air can get in is called ventilation. Do you understand what humidity is? I can see the next problem here - you’ll be complaining about mould next.
Ventilation isnt when i have windows fully closed and there is a gap on top left were i can put my fingers in. Guess your another landlord who doesnt want to fork out for repairs? Waiting 6 weeks for heating and cold water taps to be fixed isnt acceptable with a family.
Sounds like the hinges are fouling up on that window if it is a plastic window. rubbish handymen are common the only thing handy about them is that they live nearby
My issue is landlord used his best friend, heating and water tap wasnt fixed after 6 week’s so landlord booked professional tradesmen in, one for each job. Both problems fixed within a few hours. Now problems with windows and smoke alarm he goes back to best friend. This tradesman was given many chances. About 4 or 5 days no show. Other days cancelling at last min and putting back to next day.one day he turned up unannounced then asked me did i have ladders, i didnt, he then said had to go and get his teeth done and would be back next day with ladders by 12pm, he never turned up.
Did the environmental health officer not include reference to the windows in the report and a requirement to repair them?
Environmental health offficer told us she cant tell the landlord which repairman to use, but she is coming to inspect our house next Monday. But surely if we tell her his handyman couldnt fix previous problems in 6 weeks then landlord should hire someone else to fix the new problems?
I think you’re too fixated on who is doing the work rather than whether its done to the right quality. Just let the EO do their job. If the window is not properly fixed, she will get back onto the landlord and its up to them to sort it out.
If it was anyone else other than landlords best mate we wouldnt care but this guy is useless. Landlord got 2 professionals in to fix our heating and tap after 6 weeks of this clown not showing up, oh sorry he turned up one day had no ladders and said had to go and get his teeth done and would be back next day before 12. Didnt turn up.
Honestly at this point I would be starting to look for somewhere else to live. If this has been going on for this long it’s likely it will happen time and time again.
Ultimately the maintenance of the property is the landlords responsibility, and this would include him being available to facilitate access to the property and making arrangements with you.
You should ask to see the workmans cards to check that he’s a proper tradesman and qualified to do the job. Then tell your landlord he’s not qualified to do the job and if you don’t get someone in who is qualified and a proper electrician ect we will be contacting the authorities as it is illegal to have tradesmen in who are not qualified.
that is not true in all cases about tradesmen You could have someone hanging a door Does not have to be a joiner. Certain jobs need a qualified man such as gas and electrics
I didnt care if tradesman was landlords mate and not qualified. If he gave a time say 9-1pm will be out and turned up then and did the repairs then im happy. But giving times and not turning up, not informing you,booking another time and once again no show people get frustrated. Several weeks of this and landlord got two professional tradesmen in, they both called early in morning then fixed the problems in a few hours. Thought landlord had learned his lesson but when i report new problems he tells me to wait in all day for his original unreliable tradesman! I said no, ill give him another chance but i want a window of time. Say 9-1pm. But same thing, got call before 1pm to say he would be held back. I told him i had other plans after 1pm. I knew he prob wouldnt turn up.
Just not right when you are waiting in
Sounds very bad and not acceptable to be so flaky in getting remedial work fixed.
Not a situation us good landlords would allow.
I suggest you keep records with dates and times ofno shows and the poor quality of work.
If the window problem is not sorted within a reasonable time, I believe you can get the work done yourself and bill the landlord for it.
However with a landlord like this I would be tempted to look for another house to rent.
That does sound very frustrating. It certainly does not seem fair that you should be expected to keep waiting in for someone who persistently doesn’t show up.
I would keep a diary of all the dates of no shows and write to your landlord to say that, while he has the right to choose any tradesman, it is reasonable that you would not be required to keep waiting in. Attach the list of all the previous no shows by date and let him know that you will make yourself available for a mutually agreed date for repairs but that, if there is another no show, you would expect the landlord to make themselves available to make sure that the problems are resolved within a reasonable time frame.
Edit- just noticed that previous respondent has said almost exactly the same thing! Needless to say, I agree with Jennifer 
Only moved into the house in august, signed year contract. We were homeless and living in wifes daughters house with her family. Landlord and wife seemed nice.
You obviously havnt read the story, you just came on here to insult and defend landlords who take rent but dont want to pay for repairs.
Now now Frank, Grahem was only trying to cover all the bases and your attitude won’t do you any favours when you’re asking other Landlords for opinions, guidance and help, so if your asking for support on here just remember your manners!!!