can someone help please?

jpwhittle

we have recently let our house out so do not fullly understand the situation and was hoping someone could clarify a few points for us?

the thing is on monday my aunt and grandad managed to set their rented accomodation on fire. we think this is due to my cousin smoking in her bedroom and just hiding the cigarette still lit when grandad went into the room to tell her he was going out. the fire brigade have stated accidental cause most probably through a cigerette in their report (although said cousin is denying it blaming it on her brother who smoked in that room a week before)
today another relative has said that grandad and aunt wont have any problems as it is now down to the landlord to find them a new house. (they arent with the council due to owiing £400 in arears)
is there any truth behind this? ive looked in my contract and all i can find is that the tenant would not have to pay rent untill the house is habital again but nothing about me having to find another house for them.
im feeling sorry for the landlord at the moment and also wanting to clarify this in case i ever find myself in a similer situation.
any help would be greatfully apreciated and sorry for the rant.
thanks

SquatNow

Generally the landlord would be expected to provide alternate accomodation.

IIRC it's to stop landlord making the property uninhabitable (removing roof tiles etc) to get the tennants to leave... but it may only apply to certain types of rental.

lynzpower

I was certainly told that when one of the properties I used to live in was "uninhabitable" ( this was due to neglected electrics and a whole host of other horriffic issues I wont bore you with) the landlord had to find us another property to live in temprarily. however, this can be a hotel/ B&B, was the advice we were given.
I do wonder whether tho there might be a NOn smoking clause in the tenancy agreement. the issue MAY be ( i dont know im just putting it out there) that the insurers might not pay out if smoking is the cause However as the fire brigade did not say that smoking was definately the cause, you might be ok on this front.

barnaby-bear

lynzpower wrote: »

I was certainly told that when one of the properties I used to live in was "uninhabitable" ( this was due to neglected electrics and a whole host of other horriffic issues I wont bore you with) the landlord had to find us another property to live in temprarily. however, this can be a hotel/ B&B, was the advice we were given.
I do wonder whether tho there might be a NOn smoking clause in the tenancy agreement. the issue MAY be ( i dont know im just putting it out there) that the insurers might not pay out if smoking is the cause However as the fire brigade did not say that smoking was definately the cause, you might be ok on this front.

The LL can give two months notice now and only be liable to provide accommodation until that runs out if he is liable at all given tenant damage, so finding them another house might be for a very short time and I imagine he's not going to give the greatest reference... "Burned the place down" isn't exactly going to thrill most LLs and he could phrase it in fire possibly caused by cigarette vagueness to cover himself, that's what I'd do if someone burned my house down...

SquatNow

barnaby-bear wrote: »

The LL can give two months notice now and only be liable to provide accommodation until that runs out if he is liable at all given tenant damage, so finding them another house might be for a very short time and I imagine he's not going to give the greatest reference... "Burned the place down" isn't exactly going to thrill most LLs and he could phrase it in fire possibly caused by cigarette vagueness to cover himself, that's what I'd do if someone burned my house down...

Comes under "landlord can give 2 months notcie from a rent date at any time after the ASTs fixed period has expired".

The LL wouldn't have to house the tennant if the tennant caused willful damage... i.e. if they set the house on fire on purpose.

Assuming it was an accident the landlords "Landlord insurance" will cover housing the tennant while repairs are done.