LANDLORD RATINGS – ONLINE REVOLUTION AGAINST ROGUE LANDLORDS
Landlord ratings on Asktenants.co.uk suggest, mould and damp are the biggest issues facing private tenants. Almost one in ten also having to deal with pests like rats or mice.
More than a third of tenants, 36%, have unresolved mould or condensation problem while a third. 34%, are faced with an unresponsive and seemingly uncaring landlord. This is according to new stats on Landlord ratings service Asktenants.co.uk. Stats are based on Landlord ratings posted by tenants across the UK.
The site analyzed thousands of Landlord reviews from across the UK finding more than a quarter, 29%, of tenants saying the deposit refund process was unfair.
Payal Bhavnani and Vijay Bhawnani founders of Asktenants.co.uk and say tenant’s stories are being shared every day. We set up the site after our own bad experience of renting a property and wanted to give tenants somewhere to go to speak out. Rental property reviews on Asktenants.co.uk gives them this forum.
Real Life landlord ratings shared on Asktenants.co.uk –
A tenant who reviewed their rental property on Asktenants.co.uk had such bad mould that their GP deemed it unsafe for her children. To make it worse property suffered from rat infestation and landlord was unresponsive about these issues (See some images below)
The rooms with mould
Analysis of rental property reviews on Asktenants.co.uk showed unresolved rodent infestation is bothering 10% of tenants and many have potentially dangerous electricals/wiring posing risk to their life. Some of them have shared the misery in pictures on their landlord rating.
The houses rated on Asktenants.co.uk with dangerous wiring, rats and mice.
This tenant saw her kitchen roof fall – council and landlord did not respond. She is currently living in potentially dangerous property with young children. We have put her in touch with Shelter.
Flooded kitchen on Saaher’s rented house in Richmond.
Saaher reviewed his experience once he moved out of his £1,700 a month rental property after a burglary.
Over £10,000 of their jewelry was taken during a break in. Following which the only measures that the landlady had taken to secure the broken into basement flat was to board up the back door.
Without a back door they could open, condensation occurred in the flat making it stuffy and an unpleasant place for the couple and their two young daughters to live.
After giving two months’ notice, Saaher decided to move out a month early. This isn’t the first time the couple have had problems with the property. Fourteen months after moving in water began seeping through the kitchen floor forcing them to move out for three weeks
Saaher said “In June 2015 we noticed water coming up under tiles laid on the kitchen floor. Historically our landlady was slow at repairs, so as this was such a big job and a huge problem for us, I sourced a local handyman and put the two in touch.
“The work got carried out, we moved out to live with family for three weeks and during this period we continued to pay full rent, around £1,700 a month despite the flat being uninhabitable as we were afraid of being evicted”
“The next issue came after we got broken into. This happened on 5th December and the only works to repair the door the thieves broke in was to board it up. As the door was one of the primary ways of getting air into the basement property, condensation occurred.
“The reason for the lack of willingness to make the repair was that it was too close to Christmas – Christmas was 20 days away. It was bad enough being broken into and the mental trauma that came with that, but then to be living in a flat that didn’t feel secure with condensation was the final straw.
“We gave two months’ notice on the property and moved out a month later to a flat across the road which we’re very happy in.
“I ended up in dispute with the landlady with over-paid rent. She claims nothing is in dispute, however, my argument is that I paid full rent for three weeks when we were unable to live in the property.
“I was able to win the case in county court on 16th of February after 1 year of legal process, court ordered landlady to pay £1,400/-”
Saaher continued: “This is the first time I’ve rented property and it’s been really stressful. The landlord and the agents hold all the power so having a place to go, like Asktenants.co.uk is great. Tenants have no voice and little protection.
“I wanted to share my experience with tenants who were coming to view the property but could not do that as they were accompanied by estate agents during their viewing, so rating the property in my own time is great”
“We are hoping the site, and in particular the Landlord ratings, will help bring some balance back to the rental market and promote good relationships between tenants and landlords.”
