Advice wanted urgently!!

ThinkingOfLinking

I moved into a house with a load of people I had never met before; the girl whose room I was taking got me there under false pretences like telling me nobody smokes when in fact they do, and it affects my athsma.

Things and mail are going missing (police say it is a civil case not criminal) and would the agency (landlord gency) pay for me to get a lock on my bedroom or would I have to shell out? People burst into my room too despite me telling them not to.

Also the kids in the house are trying to force me to pay for bills accrued before I moved in. I said expressly I would be paying from the day I moved in and not before. The bills are nothing to do with the agency; what do I do?

PasturesNew

What sort of house is this?
How many people?
What sort of people?

It seems odd to me that you don't have a lock on your door, so clarification helps us get our head around your rights in that specific situation.

poppysarah

Move. Quickly.
Next time you need to check out a place better. Did it not smell of smoke?

IveSeenTheLight

Have you signed an agreement? If so you need to follow the agreement unless you can get an agreement with the LL / LA to leave.

The girl's room you took. Was she a friend? You must have known here before she arranged for you to take her place. Why did she leave? was it the same reasons.

Don't pay for anything that has accrued before you moved in. Previous bills would be responsible by the girl. You should have taken meter readings when you moved in.

Sounds like you have gotten off in the wrong footing in your new home. I would suggest for you to speak with your fellow tenants to resolve, but given your health issues, it's best for you to politely negotiate a release as soon as possible. No point thinking about locks when you should be thinking about leaving.

How much is your rent, could you move to a better apartment until they get a replacement for you? Expensive but may be worth it for your health and sanity?

obsessed_saver

Sounds like a nightmare! If I were you, I'd pack up my things and leave. Sort out breaking the agreement and what not later.

robpw2

yes i you can come to an greement with folks to leave early but you will still be liable for rent if you have signed something with agent

ThinkingOfLinking

poppysarah wrote: »

Move. Quickly.
Next time you need to check out a place better. Did it not smell of smoke?

No, they are uni kids who were away for the summer. I was told they were back in September but they came back early.

ThinkingOfLinking

IveSeenTheLight wrote: »

Have you signed an agreement? If so you need to follow the agreement unless you can get an agreement with the LL / LA to leave.

The girl's room you took. Was she a friend? You must have known here before she arranged for you to take her place. Why did she leave? was it the same reasons.

Don't pay for anything that has accrued before you moved in. Previous bills would be responsible by the girl. You should have taken meter readings when you moved in.

Sounds like you have gotten off in the wrong footing in your new home. I would suggest for you to speak with your fellow tenants to resolve, but given your health issues, it's best for you to politely negotiate a release as soon as possible. No point thinking about locks when you should be thinking about leaving.

How much is your rent, could you move to a better apartment until they get a replacement for you? Expensive but may be worth it for your health and sanity?

I can barely afford my rent as it is, £48 a week; I am only earning about £100 and I cannot get housing benefits. I did not know the girl as I advertised on Gumtree. I spent all my savings on moving house. I have to stay a year.

redcar_2

I don't wish to make life worse but sharing a house and bills with people who may not be as frugal as you sound you are going to need to be will be even more of a nightmare once it gets cold and you are worrying about heating costs. You may as well write them a blank check.

If students are back early to their rented house then you can probably expect parties from now until October - and probably beyond (sorry to be pessimistic but thats what many are like and your lot sound typical).

Have you meter readings from when you joined the house? If not at least get some now.

Are you a student? If not then you may be liable for all of the 75% council tax bill that is due on the property...

If you are a student can you explain to the university you position and see if they can offer any help.

All in all though I'd advise moving now if you at all can. What have you signed - you need to answer this if you want more specific advice as others have pointed out?

Have you any other options at all?

bookduck

Flickering_Ember wrote: »

...I did not know the girl as I advertised on Gumtree. I spent all my savings on moving house. I have to stay a year.

I bet on the contact here is a clause something along the lines if you wish to move early then the tenant has to find a new person who is acceptable to the landlord - think that is what she did with you.

£48 in london? (gumtree) is very good. I charge £100 for the smallest t room in zone 2 and people say that is cheap.

ThinkingOfLinking

I am in Liverpool. I had to leave London as I could not afford it!!