Notice to quit for improvements

Dubgal72

Quick question, advice needed please.
My friend is out of her mind with worry. The estate agent she rents from is threatening 84 days notice to quit so landlord can improve the property 'to market standards'. All this because she asked for a few improvements to go alongside the recently increased rent (increase of 150 pcm). She has been living there for three years and lease is up for renewal. Rent has always been paid and she has been a model tenant. Can landlord do this?

Renovations is one of the reasons for which a part 4 tenancy can be terminated once the required notice is given, 84 days is correct if she is there 3 years.

Dubgal72

Jane Cold Garage wrote: »

Renovations is one of the reasons for which a part 4 tenancy can be terminated once the required notice is given, 84 days is correct if she is there 3 years.

Ah, oh dear and thank you. This confirms my quick look at PRTB website. So it really seems like she is being punished for asking for improvements to go along with rent increase. An email to landlord was accidentally copied to her and the estate agent calls her (tenant) "cheeky" re improvements. I saw the original email and the requested improvements are actually very reasonable and minor. Not sure if they would require closure of property.

Graces7

Dubgal72 wrote: »

Ah, oh dear and thank you. This confirms my quick look at PRTB website. So it really seems like she is being punished for asking for improvements to go along with rent increase. An email to landlord was accidentally copied to her and the estate agent calls her (tenant) "cheeky" re improvements. I saw the original email and the requested improvements are actually very reasonable and minor. Not sure if they would require closure of property.

And folk here say that tenants have all the power! So sorry. What was the agent thinking of though? It is the agent behind this

godtabh

Graces7 wrote: »

And folk here say that tenants have all the power! So sorry. What was the agent thinking of though? It is the agent behind this

Nothing to do with power. The landlord has the right to terminate Part IV for improvements.

oppenheimer1

godtabh wrote: »

Nothing to do with power. The landlord has the right to terminate Part IV for improvements.

Ah it has. I've had landlords be vindictive over things like this in the past. Big rent hikes, but when you want actual maintenance carried out in return, you become troublesome and asked to leave "for renovations".

godtabh

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Ah it has. I've had landlords be vindictive over things like this in the past. Big rent hikes, but when you want actual maintenance carried out in return, you become troublesome and asked to leave "for renovations".

You can dispute the rent hikes. That is your right.

The landlord has similar rights.

newacc2015

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Ah it has. I've had landlords be vindictive over things like this in the past. Big rent hikes, but when you want actual maintenance carried out in return, you become troublesome and asked to leave "for renovations".

If the rent hike was excessive. You had the right to go to the PRTB. Likewise the landlord is entitled to renovate his house if he wants to. How do you know the landlord isnt actually going to renovate the house? Half of Drumcondra and the NCR have been renovated in the last 2/3 years.

OP didnt say what her friend wanted.They may require the tenant to be evicted for the works to be carried out. There was a woman on this a few weeks ago, that didnt see anything wrong with asking her landlord for about €5k worth of renovations in a house she just moved into.

Speedwell

After being evicted for "improvements", is there any rule that improvements actually have to be made, or is it just an empty claim for lying landlords to use at their convenience? If I were to be evicted for improvements, and the landlord didn't make any, what is my recourse?

McGrath5

In fairness, if the relationship between the tenant and landlord is on a knife edge that when the tenant asks for some improvements to be carried out on the property and landlord chooses to end the lease, she is probably better of finding somewhere else to live.

Speedwell

McGrath5 wrote: »

In fairness, if the relationship between the tenant and landlord is on a knife edge that when the tenant asks for some improvements to be carried out on the property and landlord chooses to end the lease, she is probably better of finding somewhere else to live.

Very true, in a renters' market.

Claw Hammer

She can dispute the validity of the notice and bring a claim for breach of standards and string the process out. Improvements means substantial improvement not repairs.

Speedwell

I suppose that if I were threatened with an eviction for improvements, I would ask to see a plan of work and estimates from contractors, or at least invoices for materials, before I agreed to vacate.

JoeySully

If I was a landlord and you asked me for any of those I wouldn't even reply to the request.

Speedwell

JoeySully wrote: »

If I was a landlord and you asked me for any of those I wouldn't even reply to the request.

Then you wouldn't be able to prove your case that you were evicting me for improvements, would you. Sorry, chum, I was born at night, but it wasn't last night. If you want me to show good faith, you show me yours first.

Michael D Not Higgins

The landlord is obliged to give first refusal to the tenant following any substantial renovation works.

Michael D Not Higgins

Speedwell wrote: »

Then you wouldn't be able to prove your case that you were evicting me for improvements, would you. Sorry, chum, I was born at night, but it wasn't last night. If you want me to show good faith, you show me yours first.

The landlord is required by law in the written notice of termination:

"specifying the nature of the intended works"

This does not cover any estimates or detailed plan. A simple "we are doing x, y and z and it will require you to leave for a couple of months" is sufficient. If the flat becomes available for reletting then the tenant is obliged to be offered a tenancy again.

Speedwell

Speedwell wrote: »

I suppose that if I were threatened with an eviction for improvements, I would ask to see a plan of work and estimates from contractors, or at least invoices for materials, before I agreed to vacate.

Good luck with that, no LL would entertain such a request nor would be be obliged to. You dont have to agree to vacate, once you are served correct notice with a valid reason you have to vacate or else you will have to be removed.

godtabh

Speedwell wrote: »

Then you wouldn't be able to prove your case that you were evicting me for improvements, would you. Sorry, chum, I was born at night, but it wasn't last night. If you want me to show good faith, you show me yours first.

Engineering/architectural plans arent done in an instance and are only final once built.

oppenheimer1

newacc2015 wrote: »

If the rent hike was excessive. You had the right to go to the PRTB. Likewise the landlord is entitled to renovate his house if he wants to. How do you know the landlord isnt actually going to renovate the house? Half of Drumcondra and the NCR have been renovated in the last 2/3 years.

OP didnt say what her friend wanted.They may require the tenant to be evicted for the works to be carried out. There was a woman on this a few weeks ago, that didnt see anything wrong with asking her landlord for about €5k worth of renovations in a house she just moved into.

I know for a fact that the house wasn't renovated after we were made vacate it. Asking for new mattresses and repairs to faulty plumbing, heating and white goods are not excessive requests. Most of the things were annoying niggles, like the heating not coming on on the timer or the hot tap not working in the downstairs toilet or the washing machine not always unlocking the door.

In a letters market, it's easier and (in the short term)cheaper to show someone the door than fix small problems. That's what the OP's friend is finding out.

MarkAnthony

OP, firstly if possible I was just 'get out of dodge'. The LL is within their rights however I get the impression (as evidenced by the email your friend was copied in on) that there is more going on here.

As people have said above you can lodge a PRTB complaint, and I would frankly. If nothing else out of devilment.

Is the rent significantly lower/social welfare payments at play here?

JacquesSon

MarkAnthony wrote: »

As people have said above you can lodge a PRTB complaint, and I would frankly. If nothing else out of devilment.

I think it's appalling that you'd waste the PRTBs time lodging a malicious complaint against a LL.

MarkAnthony

JacquesSon wrote: »

I think it's appalling that you'd waste the PRTBs time lodging a malicious complaint against a LL.

We'll we certainly don't want a LL who is forcing someone out of their home because they had the gall to ask for some improvements taken to task now do we?

Next we'll have the orphan's in the workhouse asking for more gruel!

Nomis21

Why don't you agree with the Landlord just to leave the property while improvements are taking place?

I would not think any 'improvements' would take more than a month to complete.

Claw Hammer

Nomis21 wrote: »

Why don't you agree with the Landlord just to leave the property while improvements are taking place?

I would not think any 'improvements' would take more than a month to complete.

Once out there would be no going back. The o/p would have to find an alternative place to stay which could well involve getting into another lease. even if temporary accommodation was available the landlord could just string things out.
easiest thing to do is lodge a dispute.

Dubgal72

Hi everybody, thanks for all the replies. My friend is at work at the mo and won't be able to have a look here until later. I saw the whole email thread and there is definitely more at play.
1) the agent called the tenant 'a bit cheeky'
2) agent had given 28 days notice of rent hike, not 90 days acc to recent legislation. When this was pointed out, agent said to landlord "The government have implicated [implemented?] a 90 day notice now, I only found out the other day myself, its really got out of hand." This to me reads like 'how dare tenants get rights' :eek:
3) In the same - accidentally - copied email, agent was telling landlord what the agency could get for similar rented properties in the area i.e. encouraging landlord to drive current (artificial) rental market higher....
4) rent hikes can be whatever percentage landlord wants, apparently as long as it doesn't exceed 'market rent. There is an index of these for various areas somewhere. I get the feeling they are calculated from estate agents....

But the upshot would be that if asked to vacate, the landlord would have to give first refusal to her? I would imagine even if that happened, the estate agent will have persuaded the landlord to extract full 'market value'. And we all know how fair that 'value' is....

ooorla

If you were to take the LL up on the first refusal offer after the renovations were done, would it be at the current rent rate, or can it be put up again?

Wondering because the house I'm renting is in a similar position, having been asked to leave for major refurb the end of March (we are there 3 years). We had a rent increase last April, which should be good til April 2017, if we had continued the tenancy. Is it considered an outright end of contract and if we go back there again, can the LL put it up higher?

anothernight

Dubgal72 wrote: »

3) In the same - accidentally - copied email, agent was telling landlord what the agency could get for similar rented properties in the area i.e. encouraging landlord to drive current (artificial) rental market higher....

How dare a letting agent try to give the landlord a good return for his investment, within the bounds of the law! It's not like that's his job or anything!

MarkAnthony

anothernight wrote: »

How dare a letting agent try to give the landlord a good return for his investment, within the bounds of the law! It's not like that's his job or anything!

How is a threat on the back of a request for improvements (with more than a whiff of playing the system) within the bounds of the law?

Rights, indeed, go both ways. So do responsibilities. One of the responsibilities of a decent landlord and their agents is to deal in good faith. Now you're free to point to where you believe the agent/LL are acting in good faith and I appreciate we've only one side of the story, but taken at face value there are an awful lot of, seemingly, very naive people in this thread.

anothernight

MarkAnthony wrote: »

How is a threat on the back of a request for improvements (with more than a whiff of playing the system) within the bounds of the law?

Rights, indeed, go both ways. So do responsibilities. One of the responsibilities of a decent landlord and their agents is to deal in good faith. Now you're free to point to where you believe the agent/LL are acting in good faith and I appreciate we've only one side of the story, but taken at face value there are an awful lot of, seemingly, very naive people in this thread.

If that part of the email was "accidentally copied", as the OP says, it wasn't meant to be seen by his friend, which means that it's not part of a threat at all.

Note that I didn't comment on any of the other points, just the one about the going market rate. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a landlord renting out his property at the market rate. There's even less wrong with a letting agent showing the landlord was the market rate is. Indeed, that's part of his or her job.

Aye Bosun

Nomis21 wrote: »

Why don't you agree with the Landlord just to leave the property while improvements are taking place?

I would not think any 'improvements' would take more than a month to complete.

At the end of the day the landlord is within his legal rights to renovate the house and ask the tenant to leave. No one here knows if the landlord had plans to do this in the near future or not and is just being spitful.
Either way, it's still legal.
I would be putting in writing in accordance with the RTA that you want first refusal on the property when it goes back up on the market..that is your right as a tenant, as is ending the tenancy for the reasons he has stated his right.

esforum

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

In a letters market, it's easier and (in the short term)cheaper to show someone the door than fix small problems. That's what the OP's friend is finding out.

A, New PRTB agreement which costs money.
B, Looking for new tenents, which costs money.
C, House possible empty for 1 if not more months, loss of rent.

and thats presuming all the repairs arent carried out which they still must be to rent to a new person alltough the washing machine door sounds a little petty.

Some tenents are under the impression that because its rent and not a mortgage, they are actually hiring their own private slave as well. I am not saying thats the case here, just an observation from a landlord to compare to your obversation as a tenent.

esforum

esforum wrote: »

A, New PRTB agreement which costs money.
B, Looking for new tenents, which costs money.
C, House possible empty for 1 if not more months, loss of rent.

.

A is the only thing there that is for sure, that's if the LL registers the new tenant or just leaves the origingal registration which is what a lot do.

Looking for tenants doesn't cost money aside from the 45 euro for the ad.

The chances of an significant empty period is very slim nowadays, the place will probably be rented with a few days of the other person moving out.

The issues one person has with a house another tenant may put up with (or not even care about) thus the LL may not do anything really just re-let as is. The list that poster put up would be mostly things I wouldn't bother the LL about. I never use the heating timer, I don't really bother too much with hot water (electric shower and cold water does me fine otherwise rather than spending money on gas to heat water) so the tap wouldn't bother me, the washing machine definitely would not be something I'd care too much about etc ours has a small leak for over a year and I haven't bothered getting it sorted.

Not saying any of this is right but its the way it will be looked on by some LLs.

oppenheimer1

anothernight wrote: »

How dare a letting agent try to give the landlord a good return for his investment, within the bounds of the law! It's not like that's his job or anything!

It's not his job to call reasonable requests for maintenance cheeky either.

The agent shows a lack of professionalism by getting involved with emotive terms as well as emailing the wrong individual. That said, letting agents and lack of professionalism are synonymous with one another.

anothernight

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

It's not his job to call reasonable requests for maintenance cheeky either.

The agent shows a lack of professionalism by getting involved with emotive terms as well as emailing the wrong individual. That said, letting agents and lack of professionalism are synonymous with one another.

Oh, I completely agree with you on those points. That's why I only commented on one part of the post!

Dubgal72

Thanks all, crisis averted for now. My friend just texted me to say rent increase due May, some improvements to be carried out before then and the rest after.

Marcusm

anothernight wrote: »

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a landlord renting out his property at the market rate. There's even less wrong with a letting agent showing the landlord was the market rate is. Indeed, that's part of his or her job.

My interpretation of the presented facts is that the letting agent was a muppet who failed to advise the landlord to ensure that the rent was reviewed to market value before the implementation of AK47's "rent certainty" stupidity and is trying to retroactively get the increase (and hide his incompetence) by evicting the tenant. I speak as a landlord and tenant with no particular agenda.

anothernight

Marcusm wrote: »

My interpretation of the presented facts is that the letting agent was a muppet who failed to advise the landlord to ensure that the rent was reviewed to market value before the implementation of AK47's "rent certainty" stupidity and is trying to retroactively get the increase (and hide his incompetence) by evicting the tenant. I speak as a landlord and tenant with no particular agenda.

Speaking from both sides too, and also with no agenda.
I agree the letting agent was a muppet. But again, on the single point I quoted, and on that point alone, I see nothing wrong with it. But only that point. And not the rest of the post.

Graces7

OP so glad it has been sorted at least for now. It is a worry for many of us and many of us tend now not to ask re maintenance . nox; Ok so there are things you are not worried about but if you are adhering to " the law" there are requirements and minimum standards according to " the law"...

The_Conductor

ooorla wrote: »

If you were to take the LL up on the first refusal offer after the renovations were done, would it be at the current rent rate, or can it be put up again?

Wondering because the house I'm renting is in a similar position, having been asked to leave for major refurb the end of March (we are there 3 years). We had a rent increase last April, which should be good til April 2017, if we had continued the tenancy. Is it considered an outright end of contract and if we go back there again, can the LL put it up higher?

The tenancy is being vacated (and contrary to several comments in this thread- the tenancy is ending- the tenant is *not* being evicted- their tenancy is ending- eviction is an entirely different process).

If the landlord carries out renovations/improvements/repairs (as proposed) and puts the property back on the rental market (plausible)- while the OP's friend would have first refusal on it- it would be classified as a new tenancy- at open market rates- which is determined by what the landlord might reasonably expect another prospective tenant to pay.

I.e. if the landlord improves the rentability of the property- and makes it a far more desireable prospect for tenants- obviously its fair market rent will increase by a significant chunk........

However- if the tenant decides to simply pony up the requested rent increase (which may be in keeping with market rates for the area- as determined by what other people are actually paying- and not that crap table on the PRTB website)- as they are already in the 3rd year of their tenancy- keep in mind the landlord can simply end the tenancy after 4 years- without any reason (serving the requisite notice obviously).

As for the agent- its in their interest that the rent is increased as much as possible- regardless of any improvements the landlord may undertake- as they get a set percentage of the rental income (depending on the market this can be up to 20% in some cases- but is typically 10%).

Also- the OP hasn't given us any indication of what the improvements are- perhaps they're plausible, perhaps not- we don't know.

Instances like this- are occasionally referred to the local environmental health officer- who may in fact serve notice on the property- if it is in breach of legislative requirements- which would mean both the tenant leaving- and a restriction on the landlord letting the property- until it has been inspected and passes by the local authority officer.

Its not an entirely situation for anyone- at this stage- if I were the tenant- I'd liaise with the landlord to see what compromise we could come to- as obviously finding alternate accommodation may be nigh impossible (plus- its entirely plausible that even a high rent rise- may still be in keeping with market conditions- as we have no idea of how the previous rent stacked up against similar local properties- or indeed, when the last rent rise occurred.

Graces7

Graces7 wrote: »

OP so glad it has been sorted at least for now. It is a worry for many of us and many of us tend now not to ask re maintenance . nox; Ok so there are things you are not worried about but if you are adhering to " the law" there are requirements and minimum standards according to " the law"...

I understand that certain standards should be met and the LL should fix all these issues. I was just pointing out that they may find a tenant more willing to put up with things/not bothered about things than another particularly if the tenant they have is very picky.

It just happened that them few smell things mentioned wouldn't overly bother me, I've got my LL to fix things that have bothered me and there was no issue I wouldn't just put up with anything.

esforum

Jane Cold Garage wrote: »

A is the only thing there that is for sure, that's if the LL registers the new tenant or just leaves the origingal registration which is what a lot do.

Looking for tenants doesn't cost money aside from the 45 euro for the ad.

The chances of an significant empty period is very slim nowadays, the place will probably be rented with a few days of the other person moving out.

The issues one person has with a house another tenant may put up with (or not even care about) thus the LL may not do anything really just re-let as is. The list that poster put up would be mostly things I wouldn't bother the LL about. I never use the heating timer, I don't really bother too much with hot water (electric shower and cold water does me fine otherwise rather than spending money on gas to heat water) so the tap wouldn't bother me, the washing machine definitely would not be something I'd care too much about etc ours has a small leak for over a year and I haven't bothered getting it sorted.

Not saying any of this is right but its the way it will be looked on by some LLs.

small or minor, money lost is money lost. The LL is using an agent so that bumps up the financial costs somewhat. Not all LL's are business men with dozens of properties. I need my house rented every day.

as for tenents and issues, I shall PM you when my current tenent moves cause the issues highlighted here are deadly serious compared to what I get contacted about.

Graces7

Jane Cold Garage wrote: »

I understand that certain standards should be met and the LL should fix all these issues. I was just pointing out that they may find a tenant more willing to put up with things/not bothered about things than another particularly if the tenant they have is very picky.

It just happened that them few smell things mentioned wouldn't overly bother me, I've got my LL to fix things that have bothered me and there was no issue I wound just put up with anything.

OK! Was thinking re this and really surely we should expect what we would accept if we owned the house? ( interesting typos..) All the more so as we are paying for this. What you think of as small can be very irksome indeed. At present I am not making waves here; landlord is in a fix in many ways and on the rare occasions i see him gets upset and starts re selling this house or moving his family in.. Just talk but I would rather not listen! The washing machine died recently and I just do not want the hassle there will be replacing it. And if I listed the "small things" needing fixing it would be a long list.. I cannot work out how to change the light bulbs as the ceilings as every high and I am not good on ladders even if I had one.. I use lamps instead now... I told him months ago the outside walls need drylining and he went deaf... Many of us are very insecure these days..

Lantus

I have friends who have happily resided in property's while kitchens were replaced, carpets changed, walls painted etc. There are not many jobs that require all your tenants to move out.

While I'm sure they are doing major work I'd just keep an eye out that they don't just relet the property at an increased rate after you vacate. Actions like that would constitute an eviction.

The_Conductor

Graces7 wrote: »

I cannot work out how to change the light bulbs as the ceilings as every high and I am not good on ladders even if I had one.. I use lamps instead now... I told him months ago the outside walls need drylining and he went deaf... Many of us are very insecure these days..

Grace- with all due respect- its not normal for a landlord to change lightbulbs for you- and with respect of drylining the exterior- its now mandatory to provide a tenant with a BER at the commencement of a tenancy- which will give you an indication of the state the property is in (though they are easily manipulable). A landlord is *not* going to dryline walls- aside from anything else- it is major work, it is not restorative in nature- and it is not tax deductible- its a sunk cost. Any rental income the landlord might have for the next few years could easily be eaten up by a drylining job...........

If you're unsafe on a ladder- get a handy man in for an hour- and do a blitz on the place- change any lightbulbs etc etc- I appreciate that you're rural, elderly and on a low income- however, sometimes thinking outside the box on these things really is the way to go. Pop a little note on the parish bulletin board- handyman needed for a few small jobs, nothing major- please call Grace on (phone no.) and you'll probably get one or two people fairly local who'll do a few small jobs for you as and when you need them to.

Once upon a time- the local GAA and Scouts kids- used relish these type little jobs- bygone days.........

Arbiter of Good Taste

Jane Cold Garage wrote: »

A is the only thing there that is for sure, that's if the LL registers the new tenant or just leaves the origingal registration which is what a lot do.

Looking for tenants doesn't cost money aside from the 45 euro for the ad.

The chances of an significant empty period is very slim nowadays, the place will probably be rented with a few days of the other person moving out.

The issues one person has with a house another tenant may put up with (or not even care about) thus the LL may not do anything really just re-let as is. The list that poster put up would be mostly things I wouldn't bother the LL about. I never use the heating timer, I don't really bother too much with hot water (electric shower and cold water does me fine otherwise rather than spending money on gas to heat water) so the tap wouldn't bother me, the washing machine definitely would not be something I'd care too much about etc ours has a small leak for over a year and I haven't bothered getting it sorted.

Not saying any of this is right but its the way it will be looked on by some LLs.

If I thought that my tenant didn't inform me about a leak that they knew about, I would be looking to get them out PDQ and get in someone more responsible.

Arbiter of Good Taste

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

If I thought that my tenant didn't inform me about a leak that they knew about, I would be looking to get them out PDQ and get in someone more responsible.

I've informed my LL about previous leaks in the heating system and he wasn't interested.

Me: "there is a very small leak from a pipe in the hotpress

LL: "is there much leaking"

Me: "very little, Ive a cloth wrapped around it"

LL: "sure keep an eye on it, I'll sort it the next time the plumber calls for something else"

Got fixed nearly a year later.

I actually did mention the washing machine recently too even though the door is leaking for more than a year. The conversation was as above bar no towel around it just, there isn't much coming out is there and my answer was not too much I dry it up after. He has no interest in fixing it and it doesnt really bother me I only use the washing machine where I rent an odd time anyway.

Arbiter of Good Taste

Jane Cold Garage wrote: »

I've informed my LL about previous leaks in the heating system and he wasn't interested.

Me: "there is a very small leak from a pipe in the hotpress

LL: "is there much leaking"

Me: "very little, Ive a cloth wrapped around it"

LL: "sure keep an eye on it, I'll sort it the next time the plumber calls for something else"

Got fixed nearly a year later.

I actually did mention the washing machine recently too even though the door is leaking for more than a year. The conversation was as above bar no towel around it just, there isn't much coming out is there and my answer was not too much I dry it up after. He has no interest in fixing it and it doesnt really bother me I only use the washing machine where I rent an odd time anyway.

That's completely different to saying you didn't bother to get it sorted

Arbiter of Good Taste

Arbiter of Good Taste wrote: »

That's completely different to saying you didn't bother to get it sorted

Well I didn't bother saying anything about the washing machine until about two weeks ago and it's been leaking for well over a year as I knew he wouldn't be too bothered and I wasn't really bothered either as its a minor leak. Only said it as he was over at the house, I'd say he had forgotten about it before he left.

That said he is good for fixing things that really need fixing and if I pushed any bit at all he would sort the small things too in fairness.

Graces7

The_Conductor wrote: »

Grace- with all due respect- its not normal for a landlord to change lightbulbs for you- and with respect of drylining the exterior- its now mandatory to provide a tenant with a BER at the commencement of a tenancy- which will give you an indication of the state the property is in (though they are easily manipulable). A landlord is *not* going to dryline walls- aside from anything else- it is major work, it is not restorative in nature- and it is not tax deductible- its a sunk cost. Any rental income the landlord might have for the next few years could easily be eaten up by a drylining job...........

If you're unsafe on a ladder- get a handy man in for an hour- and do a blitz on the place- change any lightbulbs etc etc- I appreciate that you're rural, elderly and on a low income- however, sometimes thinking outside the box on these things really is the way to go. Pop a little note on the parish bulletin board- handyman needed for a few small jobs, nothing major- please call Grace on (phone no.) and you'll probably get one or two people fairly local who'll do a few small jobs for you as and when you need them to.

Once upon a time- the local GAA and Scouts kids- used relish these type little jobs- bygone days.........

Tell you what? You live your renting life your way and I will live mine my way! I did not say I expected landlord to do anything... By the way please do not quote my post if you reply; ask srameen why! People who are asked to pit others on ignore by the management should not be eavesdropping Meant the interior walls by the way..I have my ways of getting essentials done way outside the box in a deep rural area where there is no parish bulletin board and no handyman and where landlords are real people who care about their tenants safety and will set small things right when the time is right. All sorted here our way last evening..... We do not go by "mandatory" here but by neighbourly humanity..I help folk and then in time folk help me BUT when the design of a house and complicated fittings make changing bulbs a technical matter yes the ll should do it..every time .... Over and out from me on this.

athtrasna

Mod note

Graces7, the forum charter asks all posters to remain civil when posting. Please be mindful of that. Thanks