Renting: Should we agree to do the work?

gem898 · 24-07-2021 8:23pm #1

Hi folks, would appreciate advice on this situation.

We started renting a house in April this year through a letting agent. Before signing the lease, it was agreed with the landlord that the shed would be replaced as it was falling apart, holes in the floor, sides and ceiling.

We have been waiting since then for the shed to be replaced but this was being handled by the landlord not the letting agent so a fair bit of back and forth to try and get a date etc. The week before last the landlords builders came out to take apart the old shed and lay a concrete base. Then Thursday last week the shed arrived in three boxes. It's a steel shed. We noticed that the dimensions of the shed online are bigger than the concrete base and alerted the builder to this. They replied saying that those were the dimensions they were given.

The landlord has asked us directly without going through the letting agent if we can put the shed up ourselves or do we need the builders to put it up. My boyfriend seems happy to do it but I'm concerned that it could get put up wrong and/or one of us could get injured putting it up. Especially if the base is wrong.

This is the first mention of us having any hand in the replacement of the shed. Should we agree to build the shed or should we be persistent at getting skilled builders to do it instead?

P.S. I plan on calling the letting agent on Monday to discuss with her.

dennyk · 26-07-2021 11:09am

Do not try to put up the shed yourselves. You're not an insured builder, it's not your shed or your property, and you could be blamed for anything that goes wrong with it, including the base being wrong. The landlord needs to have it taken care of properly.

Deeec · 26-07-2021 11:17am

If the concrete foundation is the wrong size why would you even contemplate putting it up yourselves. Its the landlords responsibility to get it up.

Did the builders order the shed from the manufacturers after laying the base?

whisky_galore · 26-07-2021 11:25am

Asking you to put up a shed for him is absolute crazy talk. His shed, his problem.

gem898 · 26-07-2021 6:16pm

Thanks folks, that's what I was thinking.

I think the shed was ordered before the base. But I think the landlord ordered it and then sent the dimensions through to the builders.

We haven't had anything to do with it. We just noticed when looking up the shed online after it was delivered that the concrete base is short by about 310mm.

Builders holidays at the moment so can't see anything happening until next week at least.

wildwillow · 26-07-2021 6:24pm

Absolutely have nothing to do with erecting the shed. Not your job or problem.

[Deleted User] · 26-07-2021 6:45pm

Yeah let them discover the problem with the base. They’ll only use it to try pin on you if you get involved at all.

agoodpunt · 26-07-2021 6:49pm

Open a dispute with the RTB they will make the LL honour what was agreed dont do it yourself.

Jmc25 · 27-07-2021 8:55pm

Would agree - you'd be opening yourself up to an accusation of being the one to blame if it goes wrong. And if the base is the wrong size, it probably will go wrong, no matter what your DIY skills.

gem898 · 15-11-2021 2:16pm

Hi Everyone,

Bumping this one up again as it is still an ongoing issue.

We have now been waiting for 7 months for a new shed. 4 months since the shed was actually delivered. The original contractor who laid the concrete has already been paid to put up the shed. They have not been in contact with us since the 13th of September.

The letting agent has been working hard to find alternatives but the landlord is refusing any alternatives and they are not pushing for the contractor to complete the job.

It has become a real difficulty for us as we had to store the lawnmower in the living room until we purchased a waterproof container for that. We've had to cover the boxed up shed itself with plastic to protect it from the elements also.

We rented the property with the understanding that the dilapidated shed would be replaced in the first 3 months. We have been very understanding given supply issues and covid etc, but we're really getting fed up with it at this stage.

We have been great tenants. The house is cleaner now than when we rented it. The garden is in much better shape. Our rent is payed on time every month without fail. We've brought any maintenance issues to the attention of the landlord immediately.

We like the house, and we like the are and there is nothing similar for rent in the area at the moment.

Does anyone have any further suggestions on what we can do in this situation? Would we have a standing with the RTB if we were to choose to go down that route?

marieholmfan · 15-11-2021 2:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118169317#Comment_118169317

It's the landlord's shed ; it's the landlord's problem. get a tarp and put any stuff that you own that you keep in the shed under that tarp.

That's it.

I am extremely unsympathetic to landlords (provably on this site) but it's really not your problem in any way and you have zero standing to complain. What loss are you suffering from the poor quality shed?

gem898 · 15-11-2021 2:38pm

I understand where you're coming from. There is no shed there at the moment. The contractor dismanteled and took away the old shed. Leaving electric gardening gear open to the elements. We have been covering them and doing our best to prevent damp and rain damage but at our own cost.

We have nothing outside as we cannot store anything outside as there is no shed, no facilities to store anything outside.

We were promised access to a shed and in particular a replacement shed at the beginning of the tenancy. Is there not an expectation that that would be fulfilled in a reasonable timeframe?

Deeec · 15-11-2021 2:45pm

I think what needs to happen is that the Landlord has to let another contractor put the shed up - simple as that. Its unfortunate that he has already paid the other contractor but all he can do is chase them for the amount already paid to erect the shed. Its not your fault.

By the sounds of it its a small job and should be quick for a handy man to do. No way should you attempt to do it yourself. Speak to the letting agency again and say if its not done by x date you will get someone to do it and deduct the cost from rent due.( put this in writing ).

gem898 · 15-11-2021 3:12pm

The letting agent has tried that route. The landlord is refusing. We had another contractor lined up but they'd be doing it as a favour and wouldn't normally do that kind of a job so are charging a fair bit for it.

It's a type of shed that has tonnes of little pieces and will take a fair bit of time for two people to do. I think that's the problem. The base is wrong and needs to be rectified and the shed itself is time consuming to be put up.

keno-daytrader · 15-11-2021 3:32pm

These days you need to get everything in writing, in todays world peoples word means nothing anymore.

Sad but thats the way its gone.

Emma2019 · 15-11-2021 8:09pm

Is the lawnmower etc yours or the landlords? If it's the landlords just ask is he happy for you to store it outside without weather protection and if not, what's his alternative.

Renting: Should we agree to do the work?

Comments