Landlord issues...

Hi all, im not sure im posting in the right section, but i have a query…

We moved into a flat (London) on the 9th of April, we were supposed to move in on the 1st but on 29th March the landlord told us that the fridge is broken. When we came to sign the contract on 1st, landlord told us the fridge will be fixed on the same day but it was not. The following day the landlord said theyll replace the fridge instead of repairing it, the fridge was not replaced till 9th.
We are getting help from the council to pay our rent, rent is £1430 a month. When we moved we paid £1000 and said we will pay the rest once council pays us by the end of the month, but because we could not move in till after 9 days, we are disputing the remaining amount.
The landlord is now demanding we pay the remaining £430 for the first week even though we could not live in the property without a fridge because we have a 3 year old who regularly drinks milk and requires a fridge. She is giving us a notice to leave by 22nd may even though we have paid her next months rent already. My question is, is she correct to do this? Should we be expected to pay for a the 9 days that we could not live there?
This is giving me anxiety and high bp resulting in me being unwell and my son is suffering.
Previously we asked the landlord whether they can remove one bed from the flat (its a 2 bed furnished flat) so that my son can use the room as his bedroom and he does not sleep on a double bed he has his own bed, to that request they told us not to rent with them (after we paid a holding deposit) because they won’t remove furniture and also wont refund our deposit. They did not try to discuss and come to a mutual decision with us.
Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks everyone
Xxx YB

Re: Landlord issues…

Have you tried contacting the Citizen’s Advice Bureau? They might be able to help..

Some info here but I’d speak to them in person as well if you haven’t already..

Read the contract word by word, and see if they are in any violation. If they are not, then just calm yourself down, and maybe pay the disputed amount. I know it’s a big amount, but not worth raising your BP over it.

Re: Landlord issues…

Yea do consult with the citizens advice bureau and do read your contract thoroughly. Was the fridge part of the inventory and does it make mention in the contract about repairing or replacing white goods?

Also, if they are providing furnished accommodation, they are not obligated to move anything (although landlords like this are scum).

Since they have given a notice date, there is not much you can do. It sounds like they don’t want to let to you. Do check that the notice complies with what is in the contract. They should however also give you back your deposit providing you met their terms of deposit return (if it was a returning deposit on the tenancy ending) and they should return any overpayment of rent.

Re: Landlord issues…

CAB is your best bet - estate agents have gone mental in the last couple of years.