Musomum

Hi, my son has the same issue with old evidence of water ingress through light fittings, now showing mould spots, still not resolved. I agree with AnthonyB. You are getting the runaround. The letting agents have to give you the name and address of the landlord if you request it formally. That just means asking for it in an email btw. They have 21 days to comply. It's my understanding that it is 21 days not 21 working days. Don't accept being told that the LA is the landlord or acts for the landlord so it's a 'care of' address or their offices. You have a right to know where the landlord is. It doesn't have to be their home address understandably, but an actual address (their place of work for example). Your tenancy agreement should have a service address for the landlord in England or Wales. This can be the agent. But ask anyway. Useful read but long: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/312/contents/made Also: Written requests for landlord's name and address The tenant can make a written request for the landlord's name and address from the: landlord's agent person who demands, or last received, the rent This information must be provided in writing within 21 days.[5] Address means the landlord's place of residence or place of business or, in the case of a company, its registered office. If the landlord is a company, the tenant can make a written request for the names and addresses of the company's directors and the company secretary. The request can be made to the: landlord (the company) landlord's agent person who demands, or last received, the rent This information must be provided in writing within 21 days of the written request.[6] There is a penalty for a failure, without reasonable excuse, to provide the information as set out above. The landlord, agent or rent collector, as appropriate, can be prosecuted by the local authority and a fine of up to £2,500 can be imposed in the magistrates court.[7]

Thank you Neil

Hi, I've posted a question re flat front doors but now this thread is confusing me with regard to what I refer to as a 'yale' lock on a door which I strongly believe isn't fire rated at all - although I note it does have a chain. Are you saying that typical locks are not fitted to flat front doors (as in Yale or similar)? My door has only a mortice lock, with no latch and the door doesn't close because there isn't a means for it to shut itself without actually locking yourself in the flat or locking the flat door from communal side. If a yale isn't suitable or fire rated, what should be there instead? How does the door close and get opened from the inside? Sorry if I'm being dense, but I've never come across a flat door like this one. The other flat doors have two locks - one yale, one mortice.

Hello again, I've discovered additional information. There are Perco? chains in hinges for both the front door and inner door NEITHER of which actually shut onto a latch. So once upon a time they both partially followed some kind of fire door regs I suppose? Also discovered that the partition wall next to the main flat front door is floor-to-ceiling wired safety glass covered with timber panel over the glass on one side. So, not a solid wall. In the attached picture the glass extends above the door to the ceiling. Is this a breach of fire regs as well? I also contacted the block management company and they said that the flat doors were not due for inspection until 2025! This also doesn't seem right. They said I could ask for a surveyor to go out but they would charge for that. They couldn't/wouldn't be clear on the extent of their 'duties' with regard to flat doors in the block. Expert comments gratefully received as this is a very peculiar set up and nothing like the rest of the block. Thanks.

Thank you AnthonyB for these comprehensive links - I'm very grateful. The 'small block' apparently doesn't apply scope-wise wise as the block in question has about 18 flats but the second link definitely does. I've read through what I can and it does seem pretty obvious to me, that some form of self-closing fire door should be in place. And certainly, the bizarre lock situation is also confirmed as against guidelines. There is also an inner door before reaching the main part/living area of flat. That door also doesn't close. I can't work out from the guidelines if this inner door should also be fire rated or at the very least be self-closing. I note reference to flats on more than one level and with entrance halls. There is a flight of stairs within the flat after the main flat front door and square hall. However, the living space of the flat is on one level (3rd floor).This may be pertinent with regard to smoke alarms as there is only one in the whole flat. I'm unsure as to whether it is mains or battery, but from what I understand it should be mains or have at least 5 years battery life. Thanks

Hi, apologies if I've already posted this topic, but my draft appears to have been wiped somehow. 1970s PB block of flats with two entrances to the outside street and rear. Approx 3 Flats on each floor to a communal landing and one exit staircase, no balconies nor second stairs or fire escapes. 3 storey but height difference due to unusual site. Flat roof. Managed block for owners but some flats are rented out. Plenty of fire notices on ground floor communal entrance which is a key lock (same lock for rear as well). However, what is a major concern for a rental is that the flat in question appears to flout all regs. I can't find specific absolute definitive up to date advice as most people send me to LACORS but say it is old. Hopefully someone expert here can help. 1. The flat door doesn't have a Yale or similar nor even a latch. To close the door you have to lock it from inside the flat otherwise the door swings open, doesn't even shut. This is not only a security issue but also a potential fire trap re escaping and spreading. Not to mention strange for a front door. All other flats have yales. However we weren't sure at the time whether this was just weird or actually broke rules/legislation, especially as it is a rental. 2. There is an inner door which also doesn't have a latch or even a plate - just a handle. We think this may have been the original flat front door, but somehow the flat got expanded so the door seems redundant. 3. The main flat front door is made of brown wood with safety glass (wired old style) and what look like wooden panelled partition next to it which may be glazing as well covered with wood, not sure. It reminds me of a door/partition to another office from the 70s or a door in a corridor of a school from back then. It isn't your usual front door. So - 1. is it the law that individual flat front doors in PB blocks pre 1990s must have fire-rated doors and glass? FD30S? 2. Do Landlords have to do FRA on flats they are renting out? And does a FRA include means of escape, and risk of fire spreading to the communal parts and therefore to the other two flats on the 3rd floor? Any comments are much appreciated as well as pointers to specific (easy to understand) legislation covering this. Musomum