Inconvenient Annoyances

Can someone explain what landlords are supposed to check in their 6 month inspection? Ours is here complaining because their poorly designed sink is getting mold on caulk pulling away from the base, where it constantly gets wet every time you wash dishes. As a tenant am I responsible for caulking? I thought this would be an opportunity to get notified. She is also telling us there's too much dust and limescale (which was cleaned just two days ago) and she has to document that in her report to the estate agent. What the hell? Are you not allowed to live in rental units here?

I had this hell with a letting agent once. I moved out and told her where to go. 

Yeah that's a big one now but it's finding the time to get to a class to get certified. I work on a big government account at the moment so it's quite difficult to step away for training.

I can't imagine the certification is that tough.  In fact, we've moved on from scrum to some sort of Lean UX crap, can't imagine there is any certification there.  I sat through an entire week of training about that and couldn't list 10 things I learned.

I had this hell with a letting agent once. I moved out and told her where to go.

Yeah, I told her with my anxiety that the way she was conducting her inspections were making me want to move. I like the location and the house so it's annoying to say the least! With all my health stuff it's hard to find affordable places that tick all the boxes to keep me safe.

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I can't imagine the certification is that tough.  In fact, we've moved on from scrum to some sort of Lean UX crap, can't imagine there is any certification there.  I sat through an entire week of training about that and couldn't list 10 things I learned.

is it 6 Sigma type stuff? All depends on the industry you're in. Being agile and being a SCRUM master is hot right now in most businesses.

I don't think that it's tough, it's just getting the time to do it.

I'm hot with my coat on and cold without it.  Can't win! 

Oh, inside the office.   

I'm hot with my coat on and cold without it.  Can't win! 

Oh, inside the office.   

We're facing the same in my office today!!

Part IA, part mitigated by the end result...

So, this is what our (only) bathroom looked like the day we moved in:



It's not fancy, but it's totally functional and it has its "charm".  We are happy to live with this 'til we get the big work done (the exterior render that's holding everything else up... and I really wanted a kitchen before we attacked our bathroom, y'know?).  But then one day last year I noticed a pool of water on the floor that didn't make sense because my husband was in Salisbury, and I hadn't showered yet that day.  I scratched my head a bit, sent a pic to my husband to let him mull it over, and sopped it up.  It didn't come back for a while.  But eventually it did come back.  And we weren't sure when/where/why.  And then it started to get worse.  The cheap laminate flooring started to warp and turn up at the seams.  Then black mold started growing at the seams.  We couldn't keep the bathroom free of it.

Finally, on Saturday, my husband went at the floor with a pry bar.  This was Saturday:



We've found the source of the water (and a whole lot of chaos!), and will be fixing the plumbing, because it turns out the water in the bathroom is NOT coming in through the blown render in the lounge (a different issue, same side of the house).

So, now, since we have to redo the plumbing, anyway, we're going to take this opportunity to RENOVATE THE BATHROOM!  And that is why this is not really an inconvenient annoyance.  It's the fire we needed lit under our feet.  We're going to do something!  Finally!  Not the room we thought we'd start with, but it's a room, and it will be progress.  Yay!

Part IA, part mitigated by the end result...

So, this is what our (only) bathroom looked like the day we moved in:



It's not fancy, but it's totally functional and it has its "charm".  We are happy to live with this 'til we get the big work done (the exterior render that's holding everything else up... and I really wanted a kitchen before we attacked our bathroom, y'know?).  But then one day last year I noticed a pool of water on the floor that didn't make sense because my husband was in Salisbury, and I hadn't showered yet that day.  I scratched my head a bit, sent a pic to my husband to let him mull it over, and sopped it up.  It didn't come back for a while.  But eventually it did come back.  And we weren't sure when/where/why.  And then it started to get worse.  The cheap laminate flooring started to warp and turn up at the seams.  Then black mold started growing at the seams.  We couldn't keep the bathroom free of it.

Finally, on Saturday, my husband went at the floor with a pry bar.  This was Saturday:



We've found the source of the water (and a whole lot of chaos!), and will be fixing the plumbing, because it turns out the water in the bathroom is NOT coming in through the blown render in the lounge (a different issue, same side of the house).

So, now, since we have to redo the plumbing, anyway, we're going to take this opportunity to RENOVATE THE BATHROOM!  And that is why this is not really an inconvenient annoyance.  It's the fire we needed lit under our feet.  We're going to do something!  Finally!  Not the room we thought we'd start with, but it's a room, and it will be progress.  Yay!

Yay for progress! 

Yay! Can't wait to see how it comes out!!

I'm heading home today to see what the state of my kitchen is like...LOL They are meant to be putting counter tops on today and potentially getting all appliances good to go as well if there's time.

Yay! Can't wait to see how it comes out!!

I'm heading home today to see what the state of my kitchen is like...LOL They are meant to be putting counter tops on today and potentially getting all appliances good to go as well if there's time.

Oooh!  We will expect to see photos of the finished kitchen, of course. 

I'm hot with my coat on and cold without it.  Can't win! 

Oh, inside the office.   

I've been having to wear my lab coat in the office because of this same issue! I'm sure looking lovely

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Yay! Can't wait to see how it comes out!!

I'm heading home today to see what the state of my kitchen is like...LOL They are meant to be putting counter tops on today and potentially getting all appliances good to go as well if there's time.

Ooooooooooooooohh pics please! I love seeing other people's houses

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haha will share before and afters when I get home and assess the situation!

Can someone explain what landlords are supposed to check in their 6 month inspection?

In England, all they are allowed to do is check for any repairs they need to carry out in their property. Some of the newer landlords don't know the law and think they can visit their property and  check on how the tenant is living. You don't have to let them in your home and can just tell them when they have a repair they have to carry out; inform them in writing and keep that evidence.

They can't tell you how to live because it is your home and in England, every tenant has the right of quiet enjoyment of their home. Think of it like this, if they told you to wear a pink tutu on a Sunday, would you think you needed to do it? When you return the property, that will be when it has to be in the same condition you got it, less fair wear and tear (the landlord is no longer allowed to decide what that is in England and Wales as the landlord cannot have betterment). Up to then, live how you like, it's your home.

Councils now deal with the bad landlords in their area, or the police will if the landlord has committed a criminal offence and they can issue them with a Warning or Caution.

For contracts signed from 1 June 2019 in England, there are no more tenant fees and there will be a maximum deposit of 5 weeks only: no more contract fees, check-in/check-out fees etc. You could always leave at the end of your fixed term, use the break clause, or give the 1 month notice if you are on a periodic tenancy and let the landlord have a void and pay the fees to find a new tenant.

Ours is here complaining because their poorly designed sink is getting mold on caulk pulling away from the base, where it constantly gets wet every time you wash dishes. As a tenant am I responsible for caulking?

I would put this fault in writing to them, either in an email or signed for letter. 

The requirements to let a property are much stricter then when we buy a house. In England, you can ask your local council to inspect the property to check if the landlord has met all their legal obligations.