Local Authority insisting on trivial repairs?

Local Authority insisting on trivial repairs?

16:14 PM, 14th July 2022, About 2 years ago 36

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Hi Folks, Recently had a tenant run to environmental health after I told her I’m not willing to re-house her or lower the rent. Anyway, met the officer down there yesterday (after 3 days notice) to go through the place with the tenant to find that very little needs doing, as I suspected.

Anyway, opened my emails this morning to a long list of trivial items including that need to be carried out within 4 weeks, ’employ a competent roofer to re-align 2 slipped slates ‘, ‘ top up roof insulation to 270mm ‘, ‘ replace ground floor doors with sound solid timber constructed doors ‘.

Don’t get me wrong I do intend to have these works done but are the council acting within their jurisdiction given that the EPC is a D ( so why is he asking for loft insulation top up, especially in the middle of summer ? ), and by the tenants own admission, the roof is not leaking. The second he met me at the front door he mentioned that most of his inspections are HMO properties and he needed to check if fire escape windows were necessary? ( on a single occupancy 2 bedroom mid terrace).

I do wonder if sometimes these people just like to test how much they can throw their weight about. I mean, just say hypothetically, I point blank refused to top up loft insulation in a baking July heatwave, knowing that I have a valid D grade EPC.

Would the council be willing to fight something like this out in court?

Trapped Landlord


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Comments

Robert M

16:14 PM, 20th July 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 20/07/2022 - 15:28Hi Mick, yes this was on a normal semi-detached house let to a couple in 2019, i.e. a self-contained family let. - It was not a HMO.
The house met all legal requirements, (and/or exceeded them, e.g. mains interlinked fire alarm system, highest rated EPC ("A" rated) on the whole street, etc), but because it was in their policy that all properties must have solid doors/fire doors, (regardless of whether this was a legal requirement or not), then I was unable to retain the DASH accreditation.
I had been an accredited landlord with DASH for many years, but ended my membership because of their stance on this.

Mick Roberts

16:32 PM, 20th July 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert M at 20/07/2022 - 16:14
I would say I think DASH would have to relax this rules, but maybe not as they can say solid door when closed is safer than egg shell door in normal house. Where do we stop? Tenants can't afford the rents that all these extra things cost.

I always get on with DASH & do whatever they say however the boss knows mine & many Landlords disagreement on this.

Jessie Jones

18:37 PM, 20th July 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Mick Roberts at 20/07/2022 - 15:28
I came out of DASH some time ago. The discount against the Licensing fee just isn't worth all the extra burden that DASH involves, and by the time you add in the DASH membership fee, it really doesn't add up. Also, they publish your name on an online register without permission, and you have to give them details of all your properties, even those outside of the area they cover !! The more properties you have, the greater their membership fee. Where is their justification for this?
DASH is a 'big brother' organisation, adding an unnecessary extra layer to the regulation that Landlords already suffer.

Luke P

20:35 PM, 20th July 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Jessie Jones at 20/07/2022 - 18:37
I. Could. Not. Agree. More!!

Mick Roberts

5:56 AM, 21st July 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Jessie Jones at 20/07/2022 - 18:37
Yes it no longer adds up. I used to always recommend DASH for the Licensing discount, but for smaller Landlords which most are, now the Council has reduced the discount & DASH has increased the severity of the inspection, it's almost certainly gonna' cost u more with DASH.

moneymanager

16:34 PM, 9th August 2022, About 2 years ago

"Two slipped slates", seems like a good "head's up", we had finished a full refurb to sell when a month later we had water running down the gable end from top to bottom and all down to some pesky birds. In this context it is surely advisory at this stage but could become an issue if it affects the occupant's health.

As to solid wood doors, in your dreams, you won't get that in a new house.

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