I moved into my flat October 2012. It is a privately owned property but I rent it through the current council RAP scheme for temporary and emergency housing. However; since the date of moving in, I have had no running hot water. The landlord was first informed via the agents on the Friday the week I moved into the property. The landlord came out, stopped the water supply to the tank, removed the lagging and left. Two weeks later after consistent text messages to the landlord he finally returned and turned on the water system. His worker placed lagging around the tank (incorrectly I hasten to add!) and left. The tank still leaked and again more calls were made NOVEMBER 18th massive sewarage leak outside the back door of the flat and was left that way for 4 days, even after three phone calls to the agent to get it cleared up. DECEMBER 5th : I had an inspection via agents and showed the agents representative the tank. She made a note. I also mentioned that the heater in the bedroom at the time was broken. DECEMBER 8th: An electrician was sent out to repair the heating in the bedroom. I mentioned the one in the living room had also broken, but was told he was not authorised to repair it. I showed him the water tank which was still leaking. He called the agents whilst stood by the water tank and explained that it wasn't working. He was told it was being dealt with. He also asked if he could repair the living room heater. He was told no. STILL NO RUNNING HOT WATER! DECEMBER 11th my support worker contacted the agents who had told her that they had no record of the leak and the matter had been resolved. (ERRR NO!) STILL NO RUNNING HOT WATER! DECEMBER 23rd I switched off the water to the hot water tank as it was badly leaking. JANUARY 13: I emailed the agents enclosing photographs of the lintle that is above my door in a very poor state, and mentioned that the water tank still leaks and I still had no heating in the living room. My temperature in my flat was 12c andlord came round two days later, looked at the tank and left. YES! He looked at it.. tapped it with a screwdriver and left... It's almost laughable isn't it? STILL NO RUNNING HOT WATER! JANUARY 23rd Called estate agents. NOTHING! JANUARY 29th: I went to Environmental Health and explained to them that the water tank had still not been repaired. They had said they knew of my landlord and would contact him and the agents. FEBRUARY 3rd: Landlord came around with his worker and put some plumbers putty around the outlet pipe and left. FEBRUARY 25th; I go to local council and make a complaint to the RAP housing team. They said they would call the agents. FEBRUARY 25th Landlord turns up with his little winch monkey and replaces the lagging. He put it on the wrong way around and fitted poorly so it is not efficient in keeping the heat in. So I still can't use it. Since that day I have emailed the council over 20 times. The landlord had told them they HAD NEVER HAD ANY CONTACT FROM ME! They also said there was nothing wrong with the hot water or heating, I was using it wrong! (funny, EH and the council been in touch, email from me and they have never been told about it?). My flat is currently 9C. 46F (apparently I am at risk of a heart attack or stroke if the temperature is below 12c.. I should be officially dead!) The energy efficient team came round the other week and said I could possibly be granted gas heating. But when I don't know. In the meantime I am still freezing. They returned on Feb 27th and recorded a temperature of 12.8c Today I had a call from the head of the housing of the local council who assured me that the agent would be in touch about coming out to assess and possibly repair the hot water and heating tomorrow.. But guess what? not a call from anyone! Being in this fridge of a flat, I cannot sleep, keep warm and worse I can't have people around as it is so cold. So I feel I am living a lonely existence. My mental health is suffering and I have a chest infection. The current temperature in the living room is 7c tonight. What are my rights? 1) Can I insist the council rehouse me? 2) Can I sue the agents? Many thanks in advance. I do have a video and photos but I can't load them up here. Sorry.

Hi I have done application for renting a flat in Witney. I have paid reference checking fees initially and after my references are passed, Estate Agent has asked me to pay half rent as a holding deposite. Which I have paid then he comfirm me moving date 1/11/2011 and time 9:00 am via email. So I had handover notice to my current landlord and let him know that I am moving out. Trouble: Day before my Estate Agent has called me to tell that "I will not have flat on 1/11/2011 as landlord informed that the old tenants wants to stay there". I have really tough situation now, as my present flat is no longer available to me because I handover notice. I have to move out on 1/11/2011. I explained Estate agent it is not possible for me to move back from this deal. But he said that new contract is not signed yet and all our conversation done by emails only so I can't have new flat. I have also asked him do temporary arrangement for one month so I can have enough time to find new flat. But estate agent is not agreeing on this as well. Finally, I had started to follow his online complain procedure which is available on Estate agency's website. I have sent him complain email and still waiting for his reply. I need advice asap on this matter from group members about this unfair attitute of estate agent. I can't even sleep as I don't know where can I stay after 1/11/2011. Thanks Dhaval