[Miffy Rabbit]

Can someone give me some advice please.

My landlady (who is a lawyer) had not finished the flat when I moved in because she had cowboy builders who made a massive cock up. It still isn't even close to finished as there are live wires hanging out of the wall in the main room, the chubb lock on the main door hasn't been fixed, the kitchen is awaiting redecoration (that she promised would be done) and the gas connection that was supposed to be safely boxed off hasn't been.

There is also a strong possibility that she is going to have the flat soundproofed (why I don't know given the state of the rest of the place!) which is going to take about 4 or 5 days and will be done whilst I am living there AND the central heating hasn't been finished yet and a wooden floor will need to be taken up for that, which will of course cause a great deal of mess.

Am I within my rights given all of the above to withhold some of the rent i.e. £20 per day for each day that workmen are in soundproofing and/or fitting central heating

AND

What is the position regarding the jobs that STILL are outstanding?

I should mention that my landlady gave me a completely false impression of what the flat would be like once she had furnished it - I was led to believe that the sofa, fridge/freezer etc. would be new or at least nearly new and they are all ancient and horrible

I would really like to get out the 6 month lease as I am fed up already - what is the chances of me being able to do that?

Lots of questions - sorry but any advice will be very gratefully received.

[Bluey]

Phone the Shelter helpline as they give excellent housing advice and will be able to answer all your questions. The number is on their website and they are open until late everynight. Also, their website gives good info on repairs, etc.

The landlady is very clearly breaching health and safety requirements and isn't fulfilling her legal obligations. Whether she can be done by the taste police for ugly furniture is quite unlikely, though I expect that they are supposed to comply with modern fire safety requirements.

You deserve to be compensated for the disruption and you may find that Shelter suggest that she is obliged to do this, and perhaps even pay the cost of moving you into different accommodation until the work is completed.

Why did you sign the lease given that neither the condition of the flat, nor the quality of the furniture was up to par, by the way? Have you signed an inventory which details that they are old and worn?

Good luck in receiving professional advice from Shelter (or the Citizen's advice bureau).

[Miffy Rabbit]

Thank you Bluey.

I signed the lease because (as is the usual story) I was desperate to find somewhere really quick to stay and it is liveable I suppose.

I am definitely going to phone Shelter as I will stay while the work is being done if it allows me to deduct money from the rent as I am broke.

Again, thank you for your kind help.