We are renting privately but through an agent who only rents to council tenants on benefits usually. We went bankrupt two years ago and so were unable to rent through private agencies due to credit checks so council helped us and we rent through their agent. Not sure if this is a housing association rent? We have always had problems getting repairs done. The agency leave us to deal with Landlord. He always takes a long time to do anything if he does it at all. We have an outside room off the garage with a shower and toilet. The toilet has been broken since last July and the Landlord says he cannot afford to fix it. The agency said there was nothing we could do except move out (we can't rent without credit check) or pay for it ourselves, which we couldn't afford. When we moved in we signed an agreement for whole of property but when we picked up the keys, the agent told me the owner would be keeping the garage and loft for his own use. We had to get out our previous property so had to just accept the fact and move in here, with less storage. Thus a lot of our items had to be left in the rain and got ruined. I did want to try and get a reduction in rent but gave up. Life was stressful enough at that point. Around this time last year I told the agency we had 'something in the loft'. By September I had told both agency and owner (who said agency hadn't told him) that it was definitely pigeons. Over the months we have had owner promising to come and look several times. Agency doesn't do anything. I complained in February and new agency manager came in March and declared he couldn't live like this, how could we? We said we have no option. He said that last manager should have done more and he would do so. Since then we are still waiting. In that time we have had two pest control companies in. One who said it would be expensive as it isn't a job he really wants and one who said he simply wont do the job. Neither have seen anything like it. There are at least fifty birds up there, guana over whole loft. It also showed us we have holes in roof tiles. So that needs repair - the agency told me they are sorting repairs but that was the first of May and we have had one roofer in since then on the 10th and heard nothing from agency since. The owner has now said the agency told him they will not sort roof repairs, he has to. The owner is relying on insurance to fix the roof but the roofer who came to quote today said it is wear and tear and poor maintenance that has resulted in holes so is not covered by insurance. My son's bed is under one of the holes and there is water staining on the ceiling so I am worried it will collapse at some point, there is a large nesting area there too. We have already had a ceiling panel (repaired previously probably after a foot put through it) come down complete with insulation and pigeon guana.
I am at my wits end. Between the agent and owner blaming each other we have just got more and more delay.The new agency manager also said owner is responsible for toilet repair and they need to get that done, but they haven't yet (that was a month ago). It has been over a year since I originally told them about birds. It has been two and a half months since they started supposedly actively getting quotes and 'getting it done'. We have guana coming down through loft hatch edges constantly and through ceiling panel which we tried to patch but needs proper fixing. We have fleas and flies everywhere costing me in sprays.
Who can I complain to that might actually get things done. I have been more than patient. I shouldn't have to deal with owner directly (what does he pay the agent for) - it makes me uncomfortable and I feel guilty pushing when he bleats he cannot afford it, having been there myself. I am extremely concerned about health risks for my children. And it is just plain unpleasant living with flies and fleas.
We live in Bournemouth, anyone know who to contact?
I am at my wits end. Between the agent and owner blaming each other we have just got more and more delay.The new agency manager also said owner is responsible for toilet repair and they need to get that done, but they haven't yet (that was a month ago). It has been over a year since I originally told them about birds. It has been two and a half months since they started supposedly actively getting quotes and 'getting it done'. We have guana coming down through loft hatch edges constantly and through ceiling panel which we tried to patch but needs proper fixing. We have fleas and flies everywhere costing me in sprays.
Who can I complain to that might actually get things done. I have been more than patient. I shouldn't have to deal with owner directly (what does he pay the agent for) - it makes me uncomfortable and I feel guilty pushing when he bleats he cannot afford it, having been there myself. I am extremely concerned about health risks for my children. And it is just plain unpleasant living with flies and fleas.
We live in Bournemouth, anyone know who to contact?
Comment