Advice needed re tenancy agreement

[SianB]

I'm hoping someone may be able to offer some advice -

We signed a 12 month tenancy agreement on our house at the end of February. The day we moved in we pointed out a faulty window (it doesn't shut securely) The landlord has had 2 separtae people come and look at it, but 4 months on it isn't fixed. The house has a garden which the landlord assured us he would clear but again 4 months on its an overgrown mess and unuseable. Last night we came home to discover the roof had leaked in 3 separate places and my housemate actually slipped and injured himself on the water.
The house has been inspected by the council as apparently it had previously been classed as unsuitable for tenants - considerable renovations have taken place since then. The landlord is a nice chap but never seems to get anything done.
We have decided that are not happy with the house and want to move but are bound by a contract that states after 6 months we are able to give 2 months notice - this would mean we could move out at the end of October.
We are paying a significant amount of money for a house which can't be used as we would expect.
Based on the outstanding jobs and repairs needed to we have any grounds for getting out of the contract early?

Thanks
Sian

[bga]

Speak to the CAB - they will be able to give you some specific advice.

Your tenancy agreement should detail the landlords responsibilities. on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement certain repairs fall under this remit & breach of contract by the landlord could potentially allow you to get out of there. Again, the CAB will know.

[ProPlus]

Did you get all this in writing on the contract, if not then you could be stuck with the first two items, tho the window issue would be of great concern to myself as you are effectively uninsured if some breaks in as I believe it is the same as leaving the front door unlock and you getting burguled....... you are liable and not the insurance company. If it's in the contract then he is in breach and this can be brought up against him.

I had a issue this year where the landlord offered 2 months rent free, we got this wrote into the contract, then got seperate letters stating that his version of rent free meant we could store things there and not live, in essence we had paid a holding fee, totally illegal and was told such, the keys arrive next friday much to his disappointment.

How about threating with legal action of the injury if he doesn't sort out the problems, that should bring him down to earth and make him pull his finger out. Dont with hold rent though as the law is usually on his side and can scew things up, don't forget to get photographic/camcorder evidence, as this is always a winner in disputes.

Si