Welcome to Project 179, which in all respects refers to my previous address.

This site aims to become a repository, if not a complete account of my time living at the address, but mainly dealing with my landlord a.k.a. Eric Mbaziira, his brother David Mbazzira and the father.

I moved into this property back April 2002 and spend the first 8 months in the small box room paying 400.00 per month, until the other tenant of the property moved into the small room, which I was assured would happen within a week or two.  Finally this happened back in December 2002 when he moved into his own place and I could finally move into the room I was supposed to move into all this months before.

Total cost of overpayment £200.00 x 8 Months = £1,600.00

When I moved into the property, Eric had received the property as part of a relocation deal with the company he was working for (British Gas / Centrica) and he advised that the property was going to get an extension and upgraded.  It would appear from looking back at this, that is was part of his grand illusions.

As the years went on things slowly went downhill at the property, for instance back in Winter of 2003, a number of loose slates fell from the building and it took almost 6 weeks before they were replaced.

In February 2005 the property was broken into via the kitchen back door, and yet I have still not received payment for the emergeny boarding up and the call out to have the glass replaced, a total cost of £175.09

It did not end here, as the property is not under Eric's name but his brothers, the claim for the insurance had to be sent to a property up in Birmingham, it took in all approximately 8 weeks to get most of the items back.  Not every was returned, a number of DVD's were never returned and even though the insurance company advises they were sent to the brothers address in Birmingham.  Total cost  of Missing DVD's £118.90

Cost of break-in £293.99

In the summer of 2005, the Landlord decided to remodel the bathroom, to which I can say was a disastrous result.  From that date on in July 2005, the heating to my room was disconnected due to weeping at the valves and when I left this was still not rectified.  I advised Eric of this and he advised he was not aware of this.  Rent Reduction forced upon Eric of 100.00 per month.

Rent Reduction Until End of Jan 2007 £100.00 x 19 Months - £1,900.00

The work carried out in the bathroom, included fitting a new shower hose, a shower screen and new lino to the bathroom floor.  The interesting thing is that due to the contours and moulding of the bath the screen was never going to stay in place, and three months later the seal came off due to the moulding and a show rail had to be put up by myself.

Total Cost of Items replaced £15.49

In March 2006, the Dyson Vacuum cleaner gave up the ghost and was replaced by a VAX Vacuum cleaner and a small Vacuum Cleaner, at a total cost of £149.99.  This was paid for by myself and this cost is still outstanding, however at the same time, the washing machine failed, and I was recompensed after approximately 4 months for 299.95 over two payments by Eric.

Cost of replacement Goods £149.99

In May 2006, after numerous false starts and work not being carried out, I contacted Environmental Health (Mr L Spierpoint) who came round and spent approximately two hours going through all the rooms of the property and listing the faults.  I was advised that he would be in touch with myself and also send a copy of the landlord as he was still picking up mail.

Interestingly 3 weeks later a group of workmen called round to the property, this was before the council had even in touch with Eric.  Unfortunately they were not the best of workmen and the following happened:-

No Dust Sheets
Items Not Moved
Items Damaged
Workmen Smoking in the property.

During the work carried out, they decided not to lay any dustsheets down in the property or cover any items.  This lead to the loss of the following items:-

1 x Leather Jacket £195.00 (Covered in plaster and white paint)
1 x FCUK Jeans £49.95 (Covered in paint splatters)
1 x YSL Grey Suit £295.00 (Approx 2 months old, covered in plaster)

When the builders were asked to replace this, they advised they did not have insurance and to contact the landlord. when the landlord was duly informed, his response was not his fault.

To make matters worse, they also moved and jarred the large television in the lounge which resulted in a claim on my house contents insurance of £100.00

The total loss for this period of time is £640.94

Total Cost £4,600.41 + £800.00 Security Deposit = £5,400.41

This page was last updated : 16/04/2007 14:54:22