Landlord harrassment

nicolec4613

I have been in my house 4 weeks. I am a single mother with a 3 yr old daughter.

My landlord has been going into my house without permission for no apparent reason, he has even telephoned me saying he is stood in my house. From comment he has made he has been reading my opened mail which was left on the side.

A few days ago, he rang to say my rent had not been recieved, but my bank has confirmed that the payment has left my account. He has been abusive to me and threating to change the locks unless I gave him more money by the next morning. I have no more money to give him as the money has gone form my account.

I no longer wish to stay at this house as I fear for my safety.

I have found another property to go to and was thinking of just leaving and leaving him a letter to say he has broken his part of the tenency. I have been in contact with the police due to the level of threat recieved, and they adviced me regarding the changing of locks.

Can anyone give me any further advice?

Incisor

Citizens Advice Bureau. ASAP. Make a diary of what has been happening - obviously don't leave it in the house. Unless the tenancy agreement gives him right of entry, he shouldn't be there.

But do not move out or cancel the tenancy without getting advice, otherwise you will end up breaking the contract and liable for rent for the next 6 months.

bookduck

looks like you have a computer, for around £10 you can get yourself a camera that records to disk and point it at your front door for when you are away and mail reading purposes.

If you are lucky it will have movement detection s/w bundled with it too. If you want to splurge, the logitech ones were good an cost around £20 last time I looked.

A microphone is also good as you may hear him/her make phone calls and visiting rooms. Just do not put it near the fan output of your computer Mega Sound Recorder is freeware and apparently can be set so it is voice activated, so only the sounds are recorded, the only problem with this is there is no timeline, but used in conjunction with video....

Trollfever

And more info here:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/BuyingAndSellingYourHome/RentingAHome/DG_10020862

tbs624

Nicole - ring Shelter's free helpline 0808 800 4444.(open 8am until 8pm , 7 days a week)

Also call your local Council tomorrow morning- they have a Private Sector Rentals Team. Tell that that it is urgent - there will be a Tenancy Relations Officer (may have slightly different title depending on council) whose job it is to deal with tenant harassment: tenant harassment is a criminal offence. Your LL is absolutely not entitled to let himself into the property at any time, without your consent.

.As Incisor says, don't simply leave as he can pursue you for unpaid rent up until the end of the contract. What you need to do is write to the LL recorded delivery confirming that you have checked with your bank that the rent payment has left your account.Ask your bank to confirm this to the LL - if necessary type up the letter yourself and get them to stamp it with their bank stamp, and countersign it.

Can you get someone to help you to change the cylinders on the door locks for the time being ?(but do not change the locks themselves by cutting into the door)

If he returns to threaten you or to try to enter the property, call the police and say that you have an intruder who is threatening you.

Get some help tomorrow morning - you do not have to put up with this sort of thing from a LL.

house184

Good advice from TBS in my opinion.

The reason that you need to contact the Tenancy relations officer is that they deal with prosecutions under the Protection from Eviciton Act 1977 rather than the police. They can however be sadly reluctant to get off their backsides to help and especially prosecute so some nagging may be required.

Millburn_farm

Nicole *hugs*

As a Landlord myself I'd say phone the police, as he is harrassing you, and the council; again his harrasment; and as I understand it; opening your mail is also a prosicutable offence

I understand the law to say that I (landlord) need to give my tenant fair & written warning of my needing entry to my property (unless I believe that something dire gives me some rights; i.e substancial risk to my property)

As a landlord in Scotland I am registered, and it's my understanding that harrassment like you seem to be undergoing would mean my loosing my abilty to register and thus rent property, so please, please talk to your council and the police.

Christine

meester

just change the locks, 100% legal for you to do that. He won't be able to get in then. Also send him a letter advising him that he must get written permission from you if he wants to enter your house again, otherwise you will call the police.