Last months rent damp and dubious oil bill?

Last months rent damp and dubious oil bill?

10:56 AM, 29th February 2016, About 8 years ago 13

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I would like some advice on what to do regarding the last months rent of my tenancy. I have rented a cottage for 17 months and for the entire tenancy I have had penetrating damp (confirmed by the Environmental health) in one of the bedrooms. oil tank

I requested the landlord to address the issue repeatedly but he never addressed the problem or got a builder in to look at the situation. My landlords did not take a deposit from me but oddly enough they asked me for the exact same amount (£1200) as the deposit would have been for the oil in my tank, but I never received a receipt for the oil or proof of amount, content or value.

I am now leaving on the 10th of March and I feel that as I have been so disadvantaged by my landlord that I do not wish to pay him another penny. My landlord says I have to pay him up until the 31st of March as per the terms in my tenancy agreement.

What would happen should I refuse to pay it? I will be taking him to small claims court for the 17 months of rent I paid on the damp room so would this all come out in court ?

My landlord is very hostile at times so I am also slightly fearful of what he might try and do i.e. change the locks etc.

Sarah


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Comments

Wendi Whittle

10:49 AM, 1st March 2016, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Sarah H" at "01/03/2016 - 10:12":

My parents have a 4 bed detached property and only use about 2000 litres a year and thats on a really cold year. This does sound very very excessive oil usage......

Oil tanks is my job and if a householder contacted us saying they had used this amount of oil in 12 months we would expect to see either an oil leak or fuel being stolen.

I would threaten to report him to trading standards as he is selling fuel to you illegally and ripping you off!

Sarah H

11:12 AM, 1st March 2016, About 8 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Wendi Whittle" at "01/03/2016 - 10:49":

Wow then it does seem a lot. I do know the cottage is an old cow shed and has no cavity wall insulation, the windows are not double glazed and all let in the cold and terrible drafts, the cottage is full of drafty areas and one room has penetrating damp. Also the boiler keeps breaking down and is very old and the plumber told me the boiler is working at about 80% efficiency. I am so glad I am finally leaving but I think I will add the issue to my small claims case as breach of contract.

Sarah H

16:49 PM, 1st March 2016, About 8 years ago

So I have now done a calculation ... I paid my landlord £2040.00 for oil that lasted me 178 days which is an average of £11 per day.

Since I started to get my own oil I have paid £1247.10 for oil that has lasted me 325 days which is an average of £4 a day, even with the cost of oil dropping there is something wrong with this surely ?

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