I rent my house from a private landlord. We moved in in 2004 (we were to be homeless 2 days later and had no real choice!) and have had almost nothing done to the house by the landlord except a few must do repairs (new back gate leading to the alleyway as the old one fell apart, a new front door as that broke and I had to break in 3 times, the "wire" fusebox switched over to a circuit breaker style one, the kitchen flat roof re-covered, chimney capped, roof repaired when slates went AWOL during a storm, new carpets throughout upstairs/stairs, gas fire replaced when the old one got condemned and most recently a new toilet fitted :
). Ourselves we've decorated all the rooms, laid cushion flooring in the kitchen, put up curtain rails in all the rooms, in the process of putting nets up and replacing roller blinds we've fitted, had central heating fitted through a government grant back in 2008/9ish, and other minor DIY things. Just before Christmas my landlord came around and asked about jobs that needed doing as I was having problems with the back gate AGAIN, so I said I'd write her a list as I keep forgetting to call her. :-[ Now the problem I have is I'm a first time tenant, and although I have a list of jobs which need doing I'm not sure what are my responsibility and which are my landlords so I was hoping some kind peeps on here could help me as the landlord is expecting the list tomorrow!
This is what I've come up with so far:
- Gutter end cap on the kitchen roof keeps coming off. It needs securing properly. This may be causing the damp in one corner of the kitchen
- Back gate frame is rotten and the gate itself is now missing a plank (it was the only way to get the gate to close!) as well as the planks have come away from the braces.
- Gap between the paving slabs in the yard/garden by the steps is causing rain to get in under the foundations (obvious by the growing hole there)
- Buddleia is growing out of the top of walls, I have tried to kill it but its not worked. Now causing the wall to split along mortar lines along the wall by the alleyway which is regularly used by people
- Gutter at the front of the house is leaking at the join Possible source of damp in front bedroom.
- Downpipe on the front has come away from the wall, appears nearly all the brackets are broken.
- Wall behind the downpipe has damage to the pointing with some appearing to be missing completely Possible source of damp in front bedroom.
- Front and back doors keep sticking due to warping despite numerous repairs to the back door. Could they be replaced with UPVC instead?
- Kitchen ceiling is covered in cracks which appear to be getting worse. Could this be damage caused by the old roof leaking? Especially as the cracks continue down onto the wall in places. Would explain why I can't get rid of the mould growing on it.
- Kitchen flooring needs replacing. Originally fitted by us when we moved in, as it was plain concrete after previous tenant removed it. Landlord paid for it I think?
- Laminate flooring in the livingroom is worn through in places, is buckled in places, chipped and constantly moves as well as the trim not being attached in a few places. AFAIK this is fair wear and tear as it was moving/not attached in places when we moved in.
- Shower in the bathroom over the bath doesn't work (hasn't since we moved in, when I swear we said it was "okay for now") can it be fixed or replaced since it trips all the electrics if it is switched on so is permanently off at the circuit breaker.
- Bath has hairline cracks in the bottom of it. You can see them, and you can feel them when you run your finger tips over them. Should it be replaced?
- Bath panels on the bath are broken and constantly fall/pop out (Landlady has said she'd replace these)
- Where the old toilet was taken out, the over flow pipe is left in the wall. Although I've temporarily blocked it with rolled up newspaper and gaffa tape, it needs dealing with properly.
- Numerous cracks in the walls/ceilings throughout the house. Not sure if its old age (house was built in 1936) or settlement caused by sycamore tree next door and the removal of internal walls on the other side!
- Electrics spark and according to British Gas who came out when my boiler broke down, there is a problem with the earth?
- Concerned about how the upstairs lights are wired in as you can see the internal coloured wire and I've had to rewire both downstairs lights, and my bedroom light myself when the fittings have become so loose they've either come off or have shorted the electrics.
- Windows are having the glass panels replaced as they've "gone" and are no longer sealed units. This was measured up for in October and the landlady is still trying to get the fellas out to do the job. They have my number to arrange the date as well but I haven't heard from them either. At the same time they are supposed to repair the sealant around them all as there are howling gales blowing through gaps!
If this was my own house I'd have a sign by the door saying "This IS the house that Jack built!" :
). Ourselves we've decorated all the rooms, laid cushion flooring in the kitchen, put up curtain rails in all the rooms, in the process of putting nets up and replacing roller blinds we've fitted, had central heating fitted through a government grant back in 2008/9ish, and other minor DIY things. Just before Christmas my landlord came around and asked about jobs that needed doing as I was having problems with the back gate AGAIN, so I said I'd write her a list as I keep forgetting to call her. :-[ Now the problem I have is I'm a first time tenant, and although I have a list of jobs which need doing I'm not sure what are my responsibility and which are my landlords so I was hoping some kind peeps on here could help me as the landlord is expecting the list tomorrow! This is what I've come up with so far:
- Gutter end cap on the kitchen roof keeps coming off. It needs securing properly. This may be causing the damp in one corner of the kitchen
- Back gate frame is rotten and the gate itself is now missing a plank (it was the only way to get the gate to close!) as well as the planks have come away from the braces.
- Gap between the paving slabs in the yard/garden by the steps is causing rain to get in under the foundations (obvious by the growing hole there)
- Buddleia is growing out of the top of walls, I have tried to kill it but its not worked. Now causing the wall to split along mortar lines along the wall by the alleyway which is regularly used by people
- Gutter at the front of the house is leaking at the join Possible source of damp in front bedroom.
- Downpipe on the front has come away from the wall, appears nearly all the brackets are broken.
- Wall behind the downpipe has damage to the pointing with some appearing to be missing completely Possible source of damp in front bedroom.
- Front and back doors keep sticking due to warping despite numerous repairs to the back door. Could they be replaced with UPVC instead?
- Kitchen ceiling is covered in cracks which appear to be getting worse. Could this be damage caused by the old roof leaking? Especially as the cracks continue down onto the wall in places. Would explain why I can't get rid of the mould growing on it.
- Kitchen flooring needs replacing. Originally fitted by us when we moved in, as it was plain concrete after previous tenant removed it. Landlord paid for it I think?
- Laminate flooring in the livingroom is worn through in places, is buckled in places, chipped and constantly moves as well as the trim not being attached in a few places. AFAIK this is fair wear and tear as it was moving/not attached in places when we moved in.
- Shower in the bathroom over the bath doesn't work (hasn't since we moved in, when I swear we said it was "okay for now") can it be fixed or replaced since it trips all the electrics if it is switched on so is permanently off at the circuit breaker.
- Bath has hairline cracks in the bottom of it. You can see them, and you can feel them when you run your finger tips over them. Should it be replaced?
- Bath panels on the bath are broken and constantly fall/pop out (Landlady has said she'd replace these)
- Where the old toilet was taken out, the over flow pipe is left in the wall. Although I've temporarily blocked it with rolled up newspaper and gaffa tape, it needs dealing with properly.
- Numerous cracks in the walls/ceilings throughout the house. Not sure if its old age (house was built in 1936) or settlement caused by sycamore tree next door and the removal of internal walls on the other side!
- Electrics spark and according to British Gas who came out when my boiler broke down, there is a problem with the earth?
- Concerned about how the upstairs lights are wired in as you can see the internal coloured wire and I've had to rewire both downstairs lights, and my bedroom light myself when the fittings have become so loose they've either come off or have shorted the electrics.
- Windows are having the glass panels replaced as they've "gone" and are no longer sealed units. This was measured up for in October and the landlady is still trying to get the fellas out to do the job. They have my number to arrange the date as well but I haven't heard from them either. At the same time they are supposed to repair the sealant around them all as there are howling gales blowing through gaps!
If this was my own house I'd have a sign by the door saying "This IS the house that Jack built!" :
