Landlord basher requests advice

As per title, I am looking for advice and yes I am a landlord basher so the irony of my post here is not lost on me. Perhaps when you read this you will understand. 

I’m 12 days into a new tenancy. I’m in Northern Ireland, which I realise makes a difference.

So far I have found mildew (damp mold) on all the ceilings upstairs (freshly painted on viewing so not noticeable).

The garage I am paying for needs a new shutter door (so can’t be used as a garage) is in a dangerous condition.

Loose, broken and uneven kitchen flooring (hidden by mat on viewing).

Live wires behind free standing fridge (remains of old fridge wiring which was never disconnected – just left lying).

I wanted to clean and pulled the fridge out – luckily I was not on my hands and knees with water cleaning when the wire hit something causing a large spark and loud noise.

The oven was so dirty I called the chemical boys out to clean it so hadn’t used it. Oven door has broken hinges so stays open (hitting the floor) or closed. The hob is gas and has missing pieces (burner and igniter button).

I asked for a gas safety record and was ignored so using my intuition, decided not to use it until I knew it was safe.

I must be running out of lives now, because on Saturday night there was a gas leak from the cylinder installation. Cylinders outside the kitchen window were leaking in a crowded area while there were barbecues going on in the surrounding gardens. The help number on the tanks was so old that the number was dead. In a panic (first experience with household gas) I phoned a number on the gas safety site. When the engineer came out he was horrified – dismantled it and told me to contact the landlord and get it fixed asap. He asked if safety records existed.

The landlord has been aware of all this (apart from the gas leak which she heard about yesterday) for over a week. She has, in true landlord fashion, blamed it all on the previous tenants (sorry can’t help myself) but the issues are years old and previous tenants were only here 6 months. I did explain that I would have expected that any property be checked before a new tenancy but no, the landlord seemed to think that was a ridiculous suggestion as it was time consuming.

My landlord has said just today that all will be fixed, well the electrics and gas anyway.

What would you guys do for your tenant in these circumstances?

I do want reduced rent – I feel that I have not got the house I am paying for, that my life (and others) has been put at risk and I am furious about that. No cooking facilities for the past 12 days, no garage, no hot water for the first 10 days, the mold, the dodgy electrics and there is no gas certificate – never has been in years of renting. That, I think is a deliberate disregard of tenant safety.

So what would you guys class as a fair reduction to offer?

Thanks

Dee (Landlord Basher)

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