sueham - Profile

Hi sorry if what i wrote was confussing.

We told the landlord about the roof leaking in september 2010. In all honestly yes he did employ a roofing company, but only after 4 months of constant emails, and telephone calls.

In the meantime we were constantly cancelling appointments.

We had employed a solicitor who did keep writing to the landlord and we were told we could offset the rent due against damages, as our lease did not have the clause which stated we could not offset. Over a period of 4 months when the roof was being repaired we suffered several more problems with leaks, losing stock and sales. Solicitor advised once again to with hold rent which we once again did. We then had claims against rent for damages and lost of sales totaling over

We run a wedding business and had a leaky roof which interfered with our business eg. bride trying on wedding gown, roof leaks just in front of her. landlord is liable for repair which he did do 2011 but by a rip off company who took 4 months to stop leaks after they had done a new roof!!!! they left outlet pipe off so all water from sinks baths, washing machines from 2 flats above came off the roof and all down casading down the roof, walls and outside where our toilet was. You took it your own hands if you needed the loo. After a time the roof started to leak again, which once again meant wet tiles, water running down walls, also had to cancel appointments. Contacted landlord who came down 6 weeks later to have a look. Brought his own roofer who stated the roof was not done right and needed to be re-done. Landlord did get a 20 year guarantee on the roof, but never contacted the roofing company over the new leaks. We gave up the shop as we had tried for a year to run a business with all these leaks. We still had 3 years to run on our lease. Landlord did take us to court on Statutory demand but i asked for it to be set aside which it was as the landlord owed us over

Not sure if i have posted in correct forum, but i would like advise. In Amercia they use a law called Constructive Eviction for commercial property when an on going problem with the landlord, such as leaking roofs, which cause damage to equiptment or stock. Just wondered does the UK recognise this concerning commercial property. At the moment can only find it being used for private lettings.