Private Rented Apartment, Agent Wont Let Me Speak To Landlord.

[dieseldick]

i moved into apt approx 1 yr 8 months ago. at the start i told agent that carpets were bit off and worn/dirty , they are light brown in colour. nothing has been done since then, despite 3 emails to agent telling agent that i want him to ask landlord to clean or replace carpets he has done nothing. i asked agent last week could i speak directly with landlord , agent refused to give me landlords name or number. agent did tell me he has handyman and the handyman will call with me in few days to view carpets and see if they need cleaned but that was last week.

also paint in all area of apt needs touched up, magnolia. its not bad but it needs redone and skirtings, i was going to do this myself at my own cost though my friend advises me if i do this then keep reciepts and charge to landlord ? i suppose its all in tenancy agreement.

does landlord need to replace carpets etc in a certain time frame or if they get too dirty or will he blame me for wearing them down, do i have a right to speak directly to landlord if i ask agent for his details ? i am sure that the landlord will be more than happy please for me to be looking after his apt in this way ie painting walls and skirtings myself and im sure he wont be happy with agent for not letting me call him as if i were a landlord i would want " someone like me " in my apt to take care of the place. many people wouldnt care about this but i like to live in a clean place and i am very fussy that way.

[ummmm]

Did you take photos when you moved in?

The landlord will be paying the letting agents to deal with these sorts of things.

[bednobs]

i would imagine that if the landlord wanted to deal with the tenants herself, she wouldn't employ an agent to do it for her.
not sure i'd agree with your assessment of being a model tenant.
As i see it, you have three choices
1) wait for the handyman to come and assess
2) clean them yourself
3) if you don't like them, find somewhere else

[dieseldick]

hi ummmm,
no i didnt take pics when i moved in on hindsight i should of. though whos fault is wear and tear on carpets and wall coatings ? surely there must be time frame for these to be re done / replaced ? though as gesture of goodwill and being a decent tenent i want paint all walls skirtings myself i do not mind about that. i have lived here with only myself and my daughter coming round, few friends for drink no and again but no groups of people in here ever and certainly no parties or anything like that. i allways try to keep it clean but carpets as i say are light brown and they have gotten really dirty.

[Peter Pedant]

and yes you are correct - it will be in the tenancy agreement
You can ask your agent for a copy

a standard clause is that two coats of paint have to be applied at regular intervals

Dirty carpets - well it depends if they were dirty when you moved in

Actually - reading your post - unpainted house, carpets need doing, it reads like you need to move on

then of course there is the matter of the deposit but that as they say is a nother story

[ummmm]

I would just hire a Rug Doctor. Costs about £20 + detergent.

[Peter Pedant]

and here we have standard clauses in a shorthold assured tenancy which affects this - but that of course doesnt mean it is in YOUR contract

k. to repaint all internal wooden surfaces with two coats of good quality paint and to repaper all those surfaces presently papered in such manner required to keep the same in good condition.
l. to keep all landlord’s effects, fixtures and fittings in good order and repair and make good all damages and breakages and not to remove them from the premises.
m. to be responsible for the cost of all internal repairs and replacements save those repairs and replacements caused by normal wear and tear.


which kinda means that it is open to discussion

[LL respon for wear and tear and you are responsible to repaint]

[Lindylou]

I thought that the agent was bound by law to let you have the landlord's address. Why not? What are they hiding? I suspect you are paying a king's ransom as rent..... you need to get this sorted. Speak to Citizens' Advice or even Shelter. The private landlord system in this country is an absolute disgrace. No wonder people don't want to rent. Unfortunately very many of us are forced too. The vast majority of private landlords these days are just in it for the money. They haven't any sense of social responsibility and don't give a toss for the people who are paying for their sub standard housing. This Conservative Government don't care either. Though, on the other hand, Labour didn't do anything about it either.

[Samuraisan]

Do you know how to use capital letters ?

[tamborine]

Why did you move in if not happy with condition? TAgreements usually state 'property to be returned as found'. My tenants always paper over freshly magnolia walls but never return walls likewise. New carpetting is returned oil stained and internal doors disappeared :(

[boxtops]

When I rented, decorating was my responsibility, as were the carpets. Don't you have a copy of your tenancy agreement, you should have?

[woofgang]

When we rented out house out, we were living in America and wouldn't have wanted to be bothered by stuff we were paying the agent to deal with.....sorry but that's the story. I don't think you have got any legal right to have the owners's details, I mean why would you?