Is this slander?

kunekune

Slander is a civil rather than a criminal matter. So if he wanted to do something, it would be at his own expense. I wouldn't worry, even if the words used amounted to slander (and if true, they absolutely would not), the cost of proceeding against your girlfriend is prohibitive.

50plusabit

If your girlfriend is due to move out soon, she should write to the landlord stating, she does NOT give him permission to enter the property, and if he does it is tresspass. Also she does not wish to show prospective tenants around the property, and as is her right, she wishes no further entry of the property until she has left on ...whatever date.
She is perfectly within her rights to do so.

BlameTheGame

In most areas if you are claiming some sort of benefit then you are entitled to free central heating. Im sure your G/F claims child benefit. She could have negotiated a rent decrease with the landlord and in return he would get central heating in his property.

Win win.

Just in case she finds herself in a property with no central heating next time.

maninthestreet

Slander? I think you are confused. The landlord has threatened to break the law in gaining entry to the property. I would suggest your GF takes answerphone message to the CAB and asks for their advice.

Oldernotwiser

I don't think that your girlfriend should show tenants round without an agent or someone else present; it's not a safe thing for a woman on her own to do.

oldone_2

You have to be subtle here and get the prospective tenants to ask the questions you want to reply to.
This means directing the conversation in the right direction.

For example, ask the tenants "have you met the landlord", whatever the reply try and direct the conversation to the point where they ask "What is he like as a landlord", you can then answer truthfully.

When the prospective tenants have gone write as much of the conversation down as you remember it - just in case.

tbs624

Crispsandwich - this LL sounds appalling. Has your gf kept that answerphone message?

The LL is more than just an idiot - he is behaving in a criminal fashion. He *cannot* be allowed to intimidate tenants in this way - you or your gf should contact the private sector rentals team at the local Council. There should be a Tenancy Relations Officer (TRO) on the team who deals with tenant harassment. If he did use "illegal means" then your or your gf should call the police.

If the house also has inadequate heating they can arrange an assessment of the property under the HHSRS (Housing Health & Safety Rating System). Excess cold is one of 29 hazards listed, and is of particular relevance if there are elderly Ts or young children in the property.

If he is bringing a surveyor round he is probably re-mortgaging the property, but the implied covenant for a T to let a LL have access refers to viewing the property for the purposes of checking the property condition so that the LL can meet his repairing obligations. Even then, the LL has to be reasonable and it is reasonable for a T to say that they want to be present when anyone wants to enter the home for which they are paying rent. The LL should be even more "reasonable" when it comes to surveyors and prospective new Ts.

My suggestion is that your gf should keep notes on all of this, plus photos etc of the conditon of the property, photos of final meter readings etc when she moves out in case of any subsequent deposit dispute , so that she can present a full picture of this LLs "business methods".

tbs624

BlameTheGame wrote: »

In most areas if you are claiming some sort of benefit then you are entitled to free central heating. Im sure your G/F claims child benefit. She could have negotiated a rent decrease with the landlord and in return he would get central heating in his property.

Win win.

Just in case she finds herself in a property with no central heating next time.

Child Benefit is unfortunately not one of the benefits that counts for schemes such as the Warmfront grant- has to be Council Tax benefit, income support, JSA, HB, Disability Living Allowance,Attendance Allowance, Tax credits & income under c£15.5K etc

googler

beaujolais-nouveau wrote: »

I would, too, and I would do it. Use irony or satire, while smiling all the time. Say things like: "Oooh, you are braver than me, I can never get used to be being cold all the time." Or: "I am moving away because I like finding things where I left them."

...and greet the new tenants whilst wearing three sets of woollens, two pair of socks, scarves and wooly hats. That should be enough to hint that the flat isn't heated well enough. Leave the windows open until 5 mins before landlord and new tenants arrive. Cradle a hot cup of coffee in your hands as though it's the only heat source in the place.... don't say anything. There's nothing slanderous about dropping heavy hints by body language.

franklee

I'd be tempted to make copies of the landlord threatening to break in and hand them out to all viewers. Heck I'd want to put it on youtube send it to the council TRO, copy to Shelter too.