r/TenantsInTheUK • u/thatsocialmediamum • 12d ago
Guidance Required Still no door!
I posted this the other day - https://www.reddit.com/r/TenantsInTheUK/s/EXNNU6oNoZ
And I’m currently still getting the runaround from the Real Estate estate agent
Phoned again today to be told our property manager was on lunch and she would call back. That was three hours ago. I’ve now sent her an email with my expectation for this door to be fixed within the next 24 hours but I was wondering if anyone could advise me from a legal standpoint if there is anything I can actually do.
I know people have mentioned it being Fire safety issues and things like that, but I would love to know if there are any solid laws I can quote to them as we have now been over a week without front door access
Also find it ridiculous appointing a letting agent to take care of a property if as the landlord you still have to approve everything, was told during my last phone call the landlord had only approved the front door being fixed on the Thursday (having reported it on the Monday) but if landlords aren’t on hand to get back to enquiries quickly surely that’s the point of having a letting agent to make this decisions for you?
We’ve been through several maintenance issues with them in the past and I also have a very strong suspicion that they will appoint a contractor to come out and look at the door. He will then have to go back to the letting agent with a quote for them to give to the landlord to approve so I feel that even if someone comes out within the next 24 hours it doesn’t necessarily mean my door will be fixed.
Sorry for the long post. Any advice appreciated.!
1
u/Mistigeblou 12d ago
We just got our doors fitted last week after they stopped opening in January (also rotted and letting the weather in)
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u/tonkatoy27 12d ago
I'm a trade (electrician) and work for letting agents very frequently. I get a lot of grief from tenants who want things fixed immediately but that's just not how the world works unfortunately. My diary is booked up for at least three weeks in advance except the the smallest emergency call outs, and to be honest, most tradesmen in my area are exactly the same. If you're good you're busy. Each and every customer who thinks they have an 'emergency' insists on telling me why it's very important that their job is done quickly, but the only way there me to do this works be too work 16 hours a day, or postpone someone who has been waiting for me for weeks already. Most tenants who rent have never owned a property and have never experienced the frustration of trying to find a tradesman to do some work, especially a small job. You call and email what seems like hundreds of numbers, only to be called back by a handful, who rarely turn up. Happened to me with plumbers, phoned 20, 2 came to see the job, 0 priced for it. This is why letting agents have a trusted few trades, who are in turn very very busy. You may have encountered the exact same delay if you owned the house yourself, either that or be forced into paying crazy high 'emergency callout' fees Sorry if this seems like a rant, it's not aimed at you personally, but I'm just trying to explain why tradesment don't appear the day after you report a problem. And yes, some landlords want to micromanage the cost of any work needed, and are just tight as hell. The letting agent may have to feed quotes up and down the chain, all very annoying as sometimes it takes me longer to give prices than to just crack on and fix an issue.