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It’s a tricky area and I have to say I changed my thinking on this a dozen times while writing the column. But I agree that the loss of amenity suffered by owner-residents matches the reduction in rent suffered by landlords. In other words, everyone pays. The tenant, however, is in a different position – there is no long-term benefit to them and they are not getting what they agreed to pay for when they first rented the place.
I think the tenant is entitled to ask for a rent reduction and, in extreme circumstances, to be allowed to break their lease early But as you say, it should all be done openly and above board, rather than retrospectively. I also think the landlord is entitled to ask for a timetable for these repairs and compensation if they are allowed to drag on – there’s a difference between essential repairs and inefficient management.