[kirklancaster]

These are genuine photos of an end terrace house which rogue Agents put a young couple in, KNOWING that the girl was 6 months pregnant.

The Agents KNEW that the property had long standing problems with severe lateral penetrating damp, damp from a roof which leaked in in several areas, and advanced blackdamp through inadequate ventilation and other reasons, but did not tell the young couple.

Nor did the young couple know that more than one previous tenant had moved out due to the Agents failure to even come out to address the problems.

Instead of remedying the problems, the Agents emulsion painted over the problems then used a proprietary Damp Cover spray to conceal the massive problems - something which would only be effective for a period long enough to allow the couple to view the property, sign the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement, and pay over a thousand pounds by way of Bond and first month's rent.

After just one week the damp and fungus and blackdamp started to reappear but the Agents ignored ALL notifications of the problems and ALL requests for them to come out and remedy them.

By just the third week, thousands of pounds worth of the tenants personal effects, furniture, clothes and baby crib and furniture, bedding and clothes were ruined by damp and mould contamination.

The Agent's denied ALL responsibility and liability, but I took up the tenant's case (no I'm not a lawyer, just someone who has been in property for a very long time) and it has been satisfactorily settled without litigation.

I am currently handling another similar case for an Albanian couple against a Polish landlord! and I WILL win them fair compensation too.

Here's some of the photos Joey:

















IMG]http://i63.tinypic.com/2v7uk4j.jpg[/IMG]

[Kizzy]

Is this your house?

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Is this your house?

I would hardly take on a case for young tenants against myself would I?

All my properties are renovated to a high standard and Accredited with the relevant local councils.

This is another landlord's who placed it with Agents.

They ALL should be fecking shot. In my opinion.

[DemolitionRed]

A judge will always side with the tenants over such conditions, though agents will come up with all sorts of excuses. They are going to suggest its condensation caused through the tenant drying washing over radiators. They are going to say they never received emails/letters or phone calls from the tenant complaining about the damp problem and they are going to say they tried to gain access but the tenant was awkward.

I worked for a well known, apparently reputable estate agents that was also involved in lettings and I left in disgust. When I published a piece called "20 ways ***** estate agent/letting agent will screw you" they unsuccessfully tried to sue me.

Only scum would cover up and let out such a property.
Did the tenants get their full deposit back? moving costs? and compensation for damaged possessions ?

What's happening with the private landlord? do you know if he's breaking any landlord rules apart from letting out a substandard property.

[Kizzy]

I took action against my local council for disrepair, and won.
I think recent changes to legal aid as well as legislation which has recently exempted private landlords from decent homes standards will find many effectively stuck in slum conditions.
As I have said many times this is a very regressive government, things will only get worse.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

I would hardly take on a case for young tenants against myself would I?

All my properties are renovated to a high standard and Accredited with the relevant local councils.

This is another landlord's who placed it with Agents.

They ALL should be fecking shot. In my opinion.

You have added to the OP since my comment, I see now it is not your home.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

You have added to the OP since my comment, I see now it is not your home.

No I haven't Kizz - Have you been on the Waccy Baccy? Anyway, I'm glad you won the case against the scum gets. Good on you.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

No I haven't Kizz - Have you been on the Waccy Baccy? Anyway, I'm glad you won the case against the scum gets. Good on you.

No, When I commented there was one photo and no text in the OP.

[Toy Soldier]

In my experience of private renting... The agents have been the driving force behind most of the problems. The number of miscommunications we've had with landlords via agents is staggering, and they also encourage landlords to go after as much of the deposit as possible on exit.

[joeysteele]

I did a reply Kirk and for some reason it isn't posted so I don't know what I have done there.

Anyway thanks for the info,that is shocking and I agree totally with you it should be stamped out.

Unrelated specifically but as to rents,I was assisting someone with a bedroom tax issue.
They lived in a Council house and the rent was around £120 weekly.

Then I learned the house right next door was originally a council house,bought by the tenants in the 80s,who died,their family then sold the house on.
The person who bought it,wanted to rent it out,and I was stunned to learn the rent for that same former council house was set at £980 monthly.
Something else I would like to see looked at especially if more council/social housing is going to be bought and then sold on.

Good thread and really interesting opening post Kirk.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

A judge will always side with the tenants over such conditions, though agents will come up with all sorts of excuses. They are going to suggest its condensation caused through the tenant drying washing over radiators. They are going to say they never received emails/letters or phone calls from the tenant complaining about the damp problem and they are going to say they tried to gain access but the tenant was awkward.

I worked for a well known, apparently reputable estate agents that was also involved in lettings and I left in disgust. When I published a piece called "20 ways ***** estate agent/letting agent will screw you" they unsuccessfully tried to sue me.

Only scum would cover up and let out such a property.
Did the tenants get their full deposit back? moving costs? and compensation for damaged possessions ?

What's happening with the private landlord? do you know if he's breaking any landlord rules apart from letting out a substandard property.

You are very knowledgeable here Red, because the emboldened text is EXACTLY what the bastards tried to say, but I outflanked them all the way.

Yes - the tenants received all ad more by way of a settlement, so I'm so happy for them.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I did a reply Kirk and for some reason it isn't posted so I don't know what I have done there.

Anyway thanks for the info,that is shocking and I agree totally with you it should be stamped out.

Unrelated specifically but as to rents,I was assisting someone with a bedroom tax issue.
They lived in a Council house and the rent was around £120 weekly.

Then I learned the house right next door was originally a council house,bought by the tenants in the 80s,who died,their family then sold the house on.
The person who bought it,wanted to rent it out,and I was stunned to learn the rent for that same former council house was set at £980 monthly.
Something else I would like to see looked at especially if more council/social housing is going to be bought and then sold on.

Good thread and really interesting opening post Kirk.

Thanks Joey - I did tell you that I was preparing this thread a while back. I detest these crooks - really.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

Thanks Joey - I did tell you that I was preparing this thread a while back. [B]I detest these crooks - really.

[/B


... and rightly so.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

In my experience of private renting... The agents have been the driving force behind most of the problems. The number of miscommunications we've had with landlords via agents is staggering, and they also encourage landlords to go after as much of the deposit as possible on exit.

This is so TRUE as well T.S. - Agents ARE the GREEDY bastards responsible for most of these types of cases.

[Toy Soldier]

Joey - kirk has decided to test all of us by having two threads with the same title... But different OP's!

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Joey - kirk has decided to test all of us by having two threads with the same title... But different OP's!

A deliberate mistake indeed.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

No, When I commented there was one photo and no text in the OP.

Yes - You ARE correct, I did, and I apologise.

Spoiler:

Applauding you AND apologising to you in ONE DAY? People will think we are up to something

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Joey - kirk has decided to test all of us by having two threads with the same title... But different OP's!

I know, I have just answered you on the other one.
I thought I was going crackers.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I know, I have just answered you on the other one.
I thought I was going crackers.

[Vicky.]

And the government want to scrap landlords requirement to make their properties 'liveable'? Or they were the last I heard.

This doesn't shock me one bit. When we were looking to move we had kinda the same thing. landlord had painted over damp and actually had vermin in the property. Unfortunately he had forgotten to remove the rat traps before we got the keys (a week after looking at the place)

Place had looked ok when we inspected it. About 20 mins after getting the keys we had our deposit back and he had his keys and the council had been informed that he was trying to let a place that was ridiculous. I was surprised we didn't have a fight on our hands about the deposit and that tbh but I think he knew not to mess with my partner after he had tried to rent us and our (then) 1 year old a rat/damp infested pile of rubbish

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

And the government want to scrap landlords requirement to make their properties 'liveable'? Or they were the last I heard.

This doesn't shock me one bit. When we were looking to move we had kinda the same thing. landlord had painted over damp and actually had vermin in the property. Unfortunately he had forgotten to remove the rat traps before we got the keys (a week after looking at the place)

Place had looked ok when we inspected it. About 20 mins after getting the keys we had our deposit back and he had his keys and the council had been informed that he was trying to let a place that was ridiculous. I was surprised we didn't have a fight on our hands about the deposit and that tbh but I think he knew not to mess with my partner after he had tried to rent us and our (then) 1 year old a rat/damp infested pile of rubbish

Good for you Vicky, but can you imagine a young, timid couple? They would probably not know what they could do, or not dare to do anything - especially if they were not particularly 'bright' as well.

Councils should clamp down HARD on these greedy bastards.

[DemolitionRed]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

In my experience of private renting... The agents have been the driving force behind most of the problems. The number of miscommunications we've had with landlords via agents is staggering, and they also encourage landlords to go after as much of the deposit as possible on exit.

They screw landlords as well as tenants. I would always advise any tenant going through an agent to insist on meeting the landlord and equally I would advise all landlords using agents to meet their tenants. Beware of agents who don't want you to ever meet your landlord, they are probably charging you both for the same contracts.

As for them pushing landlords to go after as much as possible, don't believe the half of it. Agents are good at pocketing money they claim they are collecting on the landlords behalf.

[Kizzy]

Conservative MPs have voted to reject a proposed rule that would have required private landlords to make their homes “fit for human habitation”.

The vote, which came on Tuesday night, was on proposed amendment to the Government’s new Housing and Planning Bill – a raft of new laws aimed at reforming housing law.

The Labour-proposed amendment was rejected by 312 votes to 219, however.


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a6809691.html

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Conservative MPs have voted to reject a proposed rule that would have required private landlords to make their homes “fit for human habitation”.

The vote, which came on Tuesday night, was on proposed amendment to the Government’s new Housing and Planning Bill – a raft of new laws aimed at reforming housing law.

The Labour-proposed amendment was rejected by 312 votes to 219, however.


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a6809691.html

I actually can't think of any reason to reject that. Unless said MPs are renting out rat infested piles of crap themselves of course

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I actually can't think of any reason to reject that. Unless said MPs are renting out rat infested piles of crap themselves of course

If they aren't you can bet your life their friends are.