Tenant - Please help.

poppysarah

Have you got the keys?

missclairey_2

poppysarah wrote: »

You'll have to wait and see if it's done - but if you're paying rent now I'd be wanting to move in ... or at least go and scrub the kitchen and bathroom...

That exactly what I want to do. I cannot move in till 16th really as I'm only 9 weeks pg and I cannot do all moving alone as there's lots of heavy items and i have noone to help me. I'm waiting for my ex hubby to come off a course to help

missclairey_2

poppysarah wrote: »

Have you got the keys?

supposed to get them today

missclairey_2

Lavendyr wrote: »

Unless there is specifically one written into your contract, I doubt it. Assured shorthold tenancies do not usually have 'cooling off periods'.


Do you have an inventory? Does it accurately describe the state of everything? If not, before you do anything, take photos (ideally with a date on) & write to the landlady describing the state of the property.

What should I write? I've never done any of this before which is why I asked her about documents and that was when she sent the first rude email. She never rang the existing tenant (who I know) and told her to ring me to explain everything and how things work. She should have stayed with the agents, but wanted to save money.


Unfortunately, that's life. I don't mean to condone her behaviour, but it is not a matter of 'she was rude so I don't want to work with her anymore' - you have signed a legally binding contract and her rudeness is not a breach of that contract.

STOP communicating with her by text and put everything in writing from now on (i.e. letters, delivered by recorded post). Texting your landlord (or vice versa) is not really a professional means of contact, and this is a professional relationship. Keep it all in writing & at arm's length. That's also the best way to deal with getting repairs sorted - that way, should you have to get the job done yourself & recoup the monies spent, you have a paper trail should you have to go to court to get your money back.

She was the one who started texting. What do you think i should put in the letter about repairs? Is an email ok?

I do sympathise as I know how rubbish it can be to have an unpleasant landlord, but you just have to put aside the rudeness and deal with her professionally.

People just are fair and polite anymore.
Wish I could be the same as it appears those type of people always come out on top.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP

clutton_2

i think you are being way over sensitive - possibly because of your pregnant condition.

i can see nothing rude in your LLs reply via text - she is right, you spoke to her one day, why are you chasing her up in 24 hours ? it does take time to organise repairs - be patient - you cant just click your fingers and expect folks to jump to it - where i live right now in this weather, i would be lucky to get a workman here in less than 10days with all the snow

since you are near your confinement day i suggest you use your time in cleaning the property and getting ready for your new baby - stay calm - your baby needs calmness not stress

Wicked_witch

I agree with clutton. You are obviously having a rotten time of it right now and perhaps that has made you more sensitive than usual? Although the text was a bit brusque, I think the landlord is just trying to keep the relationship professional and to make sure your expectations remain realistic. Try and take it in that way if you can.

I wish you all the best!

Ta1ch2

As a Landlord I can tell you that there is no cooling off period. You have entered into a contract to rent a property, not bought goods. I understand the delicate position you find yourself in and feel for you. There are unscrupulous characters out there that see rental as just a form of income. I like to think of it as providing a service for which both parties have responsibility. I would suggest that under the circumstances you have 2 options.
OPTION 1.If money is tight I would take a deep breath, write a reply to her answer. Keep it business like and polite, these sort use any excuse and further questions are like a 'red rag to a bull'. Tell her you will be picking up the keys on the date you have paid rent from. If possible give her access to the property so that repairs and decorating can be carried out. Be prepared however for no repair work to actually take place.
OPTION 2. If money is not that tight, ask yourself this question. Is the money more important than the hassle I am likely to get from such a landlady. If this is the case, still write the letter, explaining that you will take charge of the keys as arranged on the date rental starts. Keep the keys and in effect become the absent tenant. What you do from this point is down to you, but my advice would be to seek 'citizens advice' before embarking on anything else than returning the keys.
Yes take photographs and date them, to protect yourself against possible claims for damage etc.

Ta1ch2

As a Landlord I can tell you that there is no cooling off period. You have entered into a contract to rent a property, not bought goods. I understand the delicate position you find yourself in and feel for you. There are unscrupulous characters out there that see rental as just a form of income. I like to think of it as providing a service for which both parties have responsibility. I would suggest that under the circumstances you have 2 options.
OPTION 1.If money is tight I would take a deep breath, write a reply to her answer. Keep it business like and polite, these sort use any excuse and further questions are like a 'red rag to a bull'. Tell her you will be picking up the keys on the date you have paid rent from. If possible give her access to the property so that repairs and decorating can be carried out. Be prepared however for no repair work to actually take place.
OPTION 2. If money is not that tight, ask yourself this question. Is the money more important than the hassle I am likely to get from such a landlady. If this is the case, still write the letter, explaining that you will take charge of the keys as arranged on the date rental starts. Keep the keys and in effect become the absent tenant. What you do from this point is down to you, but my advice would be to seek 'citizens advice' before embarking on anything else than returning the keys.
Yes take photographs and date them, to protect yourself against possible claims for damage etc.
I hope this is of some help, although I expect it's not what you would like to hear.

sirhc_2

First. STOP communicating by text. Use valid email addresses or post only.

Second. Take photos of everything, an inventory of any building fabric defects should have been isued to you when you signed the contract and handed over your deposit.This report is used to determine if you are liable for any costs after your tenancy expires and you move out.

Third. Your deposit should be held by an independant third party or insured i.e. The Deposit Protection Sheme. If not Your landlord is BEAKING THE LAW. Any disputes about deposit repayment goes through them.

Fourth. If your landlord is being arsey now at the begining of your tenancy, then odds on they'll be even worse when your tenacy's up. Protect yourself. don't even put a nail in the wall to hang a picture up or they'll seek compensation for it afterward. Any improvements you undertake must be done with the written consent of the landlord, keep receipts and itemised list of works carried out....better yet, get the landlord to do it.

I've rented 4 times and left each and every property in better condition that when I moved in (carpets professionally cleaned etc) and yet 3 out of the 4 landlords i've had have thought up some bull s*^t excuse to take money out of my deposit (in one case I had to take him to court to get my cash back).
Word of advice.
As friendly and amicable as you'd like your relationship to be with your landlord remember they are NOT your friend and there are a good portion of them that already consider YOUR deposit as something they can absorb into their own pocket when you move out. Keep things professional!!!!
Go to citizens advice and they'll tell you your rights and the obligations both you and your landlord are under.
Stick to your guns honey.
Best of luck.

missclairey_2

clutton wrote: »

i think you are being way over sensitive - possibly because of your pregnant condition. - No i am not, I have spoke to Citizerns Advice and they've asked me to copy the text in a document to them so obviosly they agree with me. Pregnant or not I didn't need to be made to feel i'd done something wrong. This isn't the first rude text. She emailed me the forms to fill out and I didn't have a printer so she was moaning for me to go to a library and print them out but I'd been really ill with morning sickness and don't have a car. So i asked her to post them to me and she moaned about that too and made me pay the postage costs. As when she posted them I didn't understand some of the questions (i've never rented before) I called her to ask her to explain them, I left a voicemail as she wasn't avaliable and I later got a text from her saying she wasn't going to keep explaining everything to me and even rang her tentant who I know and asked her to tell me everything I needed to know as she was sick of me asking questions about the property. That isn't right. She should have stayed with an agent as she hasn't a clue how to talk to people.

i can see nothing rude in your LLs reply via text - she is right, you spoke to her one day, why are you chasing her up in 24 hours ? it does take time to organise repairs - be patient - you cant just click your fingers and expect folks to jump to it - where i live right now in this weather, i would be lucky to get a workman here in less than 10days with all the snow

I spoke to her one day yes but she didn't give me a time scale and i'm sorry but i have a right to ask and not be made to feel i've done wrong.
I simply asked for her to let me know when so she know when work would be done ie this weekend or new so i can sort stuff out.
I'm not clicking my fingers expecting folks to jump to it. She was quick enought to travel miles to want to collect her money so now that she has it starts being difficult. It's a same she's not as eagar to fix problems as she is to get her money. The old tenant has been in touch about giving me the keys as the LL hasn't give me them yet and she has told me she has being trying to get the repairs done for months. She even had to replace the downstairs herself and the LL wouldn't.
As I said i have a right to ask or how would know when to go and air. clean etc.
I didn't demand her to sort the problems, nor did i expect her to jump to anything I mearly asked her to let me know. I even bloody offered to go and get all the measurements and go the carpet shop and let her know quotes.


since you are near your confinement day i suggest you use your time in cleaning the property and getting ready for your new baby - stay calm - your baby needs calmness not stress

- This is what i'd like to do but because I don't know when she'll paint, replace carpet or sort a plumber I cannot do anything, can I? I need to arrange things also but until she says the repairs are being done such and such date or the plumber is coming out such and such date I cannot.




I must just be different as I would never talk or text someone sonething like that. Especially someone who was pregnant with a toddler and has tried to help me out by offering to go the carpet shop.

God-Bless all of you!