Rogue Landlord Encounters

[KevinH]

Has anyone had encounters with rogue landlords?
I will tell my short story (and keep it as short as possible)

I had a call a few weeks back from a landlord to sort out an issue with an immersion heater following an "incident".

It seemed an emergency so I arrived that afternoon and the tenant, a middle aged Eastern European lady, let me in and explained (as best she could) that the landlord had fitted a plugtop to the immersion heater on the day she moved in to give hot water.

When I looked in the airing cupboard, I found an unrecognisable big black blob of melted mess that used to be a plug and socket where the 20A DP should have been. (Wanted to attached a pic, but it says the file is too large). After having a quick scan around the property, I noticed the tell tale signs of a rogue landlord. A pendant hanging from the ceiling supported by the cables, a cracked socket, no smoke alarms, and my favourite, a 3036 Re Wirable fuseboard. Not an RCD in sight!

I got straight on the phone to the landlord and explained the situation, of what had to be done, and completely unfazed, his reply was "can you just get the hot water back on and I will pay you cash", to which I replied "I can't do it today, I will have to return tomorrow".......

Ok, so I lied! I never had any intention of returning, as I have come across these type of landlords before who cut corners, totally ignore the safety of tenants and risk of a fire, and of course expect everything done for pennies...often not paying at all. I have not got the time of day for them!

Suffice to say that I informed Electrical Safety Roundtable, politely advised the tenant to find another landlord, blocked his number from my phone and walked away.

Should I feel guilty for leaving the lady with no hot water? How are these landlords getting away with it?

 

[James]

the only advice given to them is that they should take the landlord to task with it, however they wont do anything until the tenant has made all reasonable attempts to sort it.
if they made attempts to sort it, they would be homeless.

the charity's and the advice from the council is both the same,
if you are homeless, We will house you in a B and B until a permanent solution is found.

however, how would you like to be causing a stink that makes you homeless on the promise that you will be sheltered in a hotel room until suitable accommodation is found when you have been on the waiting list for suitable accommodation for 9 years and nothing has been found?

Its easy to provide advice but tough to receive and act on it.

not knocking the good advice given but pointing out the flaws in the "system"

p.s. I have a plan to help them but need to spend another couple of years saving the capital to do it.

 

[brianmoooore]

Obviously as I am not within a part P scheme, i have not disconnected the loops to see if the rcd is faulty or if there is .....

No requirement to be a member of a scam to test the installation, or produce an EICR. Scam membership only needed if you replace the whole CU.

 

[davesparks]

the charity's and the advice from the council is both the same,
if you are homeless, We will house you in a B and B until a permanent solution is found.

I hadn't realised shelter would be quite as helpless as the council.

I didn't suggest speaking council as I'm well aware of how little they can actually do.

You are probably already aware, but the council will only put them into emergency housing if they are actually evicted with the whole court order + bailiffs circus.
If they leave before proper eviction occurs then they would be deemed as 'voluntarily homeless' and therfore not eligible for emergency housing from the council.

however, how would you like to be causing a stink that makes you homeless on the promise that you will be sheltered in a hotel room until suitable accommodation is found when you have been on the waiting list for suitable accommodation for 9 years and nothing has been found?

I wouldnt, and they do have my sympathy.
I do realise how lucky I am that the flat I rent is habitable and isn't old enough to have deteriorated much.
The only repair I've had to do is to the kitchen sink waste after it finally failed when the landlord ignored the cracks in it for 6 months.

p.s. I have a plan to help them but need to spend another couple of years saving the capital to do it.

That's brilliant to hear, the world needs more people like you!

 

[Mike Johnson]

A leaking top, good grief, get off your butt and do something about it your self.

 

[James]

A leaking top, good grief, get off your butt and do something about it your self.

I get what you’re saying,
however, every penny I spend fixing his landlords property is a penny lost towards helping them get there own home.

 

[LukeD]

A leaking top, good grief, get off your butt and do something about it your self.

And thats the issue in the Uk it seems .landlords seem to think they hold the cards and everyone is there to just pay the rent or get removed . As long as people dont fight for or demand their rights etc .Its going to get worse .

 

[Mike Johnson]

And tenants seem to think they can call the landlord just because a screw has come loose on a door, I know who I think has a loose screw.

 

[DPG]

And thats the issue in the Uk it seems .landlords seem to think they hold the cards and everyone is there to just pay the rent or get removed . As long as people dont fight for or demand their rights etc .Its going to get worse .

And again, you are making sweeping statements about groups of people.

 

[DPG]

I heard a landlord once who got so fed up with the renters so what he did was, he shoved himself up a chimney

Ah the old 'climb up the chimney trick'.

 

[LukeD]

And again, you are making sweeping statements about groups of people.

yes..... And from my experiences in London I am right . many many landlords are doing all they can to evade their responsibilities and to hold tenants at ransom . And MANY been from certain parts of society that seem to naturally evade anything legal ! Also landlords Borrowing against the income and then wanting the tenant to pay those costs as well . The whole rental market needs better control . Its a joke at the moment .

 

[littlespark]

You started off with UK landlords.... then London.... Any particular area? Street?

I'm with DPG... Its not all landlords

 

[LukeD]

You started off with UK landlords.... then London.... Any particular area? Street?

I'm with DPG... Its not all landlords

Not all ...And you know that .......! But I am seeing and hearing a lot more about bad landlords. It seems clever ones have sold their properties and moved their money into something a little less easier to deal with .Now the laws and tax thing is making life harder for them . And those that are left,many seem to be getting greedier by the day . And its all down to lack of control and councils not been too worried . Sure you get feckless tenants that think a light bulb has to be changed or they can really start changing decor etc etc . But combine in useless management agencies who hire in the lowest of the lowest to carry out repairs . Its all a race to the bottom in many cases . Landlords should also be vetted and have to supply references from previous tenants .Also a tenant should be able to see if the landlord is having any issues paying the mortgage etc . Why should all the "due diligence " be a one way street .Ive known many tenants have banks turning up etc to say they now own the property (Which tends to work out fine ) as the landlord over cooked their spendings and responsibility . But imagine after 8 months you find the landlord has taken the rent and not paid the mortgage and you might be facing issues .

 

[Mike Johnson]

Not all ...And you know that .......! But I am seeing and hearing a lot more about bad landlords. It seems clever ones have sold their properties and moved their money into something a little less easier to deal with .

Now that I don't understand.]

I am hearing more and more about rouge tenants taking advantage of decent landlords and the rules laid down by local authorities, using racist and asylum excuse's.

This seems to be a very a-motive subject for @LukeD is this personal experience or all second hand knowledge?

 

[LukeD]

Now that I don't understand.]

I am hearing more and more about rouge tenants taking advantage of decent landlords and the rules laid down by local authorities, using racist and asylum excuse's.

This seems to be a very a-motive subject for @LukeD is this personal experience or all second hand knowledge?

Are the experiences you mention personal or all second hand knowledge ?

 

[Pretty Mouth]

A leaking top, good grief, get off your butt and do something about it your self.

And tenants seem to think they can call the landlord just because a screw has come loose on a door, I know who I think has a loose screw.

Presumably you think you have a right to receive 100% of the rent, while expecting your tenants to carry out your maintenance for you?