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Rights while work ongoing on rental property
Hello,
Can anyone advise me on what rights as a tenant I have while some serious building work is going on in my building. The whole front of the building has been blocked by scaffolding and a tarpaulin, meaning that the lovely sunny flat I have been renting for more than 4 years is now dark and dismal. There is no other source of natural light, all windows are affected. The scaffolding also means that workmen are right outside my window giving me very little privacy.
This is apparently due to continue until June and frankly I don't want to live in such conditions. Can I ask to break my contract or demand rent reduction?
Thanks.
Notification of this work should have been given beforehand, if you didn't complain or say something at the time, I would doubt if you can do anything now.
If you have been living happily for 4 years do you really want to jeopardise that for a few months work which will most probably be beneficial to you when complete?
However, If you get on well with the owner, you can try saying that you need to have lights on during the day do ask for reduced rent because of extra electricity costs.
You should check your contract. You should find there's a "tough s**t" clause in there which basically states that if work needs to be done but the place is still habitable, you're entitled to no special concessions whatsoever.
