Landlord wants to repair house and move us out!

N79

Tune2001 wrote: »

For them or for us too?

If you ignored their notice and it was correctly served (S8G6 of the housing act) and the works met the required severity / criticality (in the opinion of the court) etc then you would have to pay their costs in evicting you.

In reality this is highly unlikely. If you want to move elsewhere then could you negotiate an early surrender?

sooz

N79 wrote: »

In reality this is highly unlikely. If you want to move elsewhere then could you negotiate an early surrender?

.....with no compensation, for either you or the LL. They'd get to do the repairs they want, & you get to move out somewhere else (as you say you do), without moving into alternative accomodation first. Why do you think you need compensation for this?

Tune2001

Sooz>>Because of the inconvenience of having to move out before the end of the contract and having to pay more rent in the months of May, June and July.

huntersc

You can't be kicked out and have every right to stay. If it were me I would move to another of their flats as long as they offered it rent free and covered the cost of moving, removal men etc.

sooz

Tune2001 wrote: »

Sooz>>Because of the inconvenience of having to move out before the end of the contract and having to pay more rent in the months of May, June and July.

If you have to move twice, into & out of alternative accomodation provided by your LL, then yes, I agree, this is an inconvenience, & he should cover your moving costs. You don't have to pay more rent in May, June & July - this depends on where you chose to move to, & what you agree with the LL. He has offered you a place at the same rent as your binding contract. If this is not suitable, then negotiate.

However, in a later post you said you wanted to move elsewhere anyway.

If you want to do this, then either stay put until your fixed term ends, & make the LL wait. Or agree with him an early surrender, & move out just the once, to a new place. Then there is no inconvenience to either the LL, or to you. You are simply moving out earlier, with no penalty as you would have agreed a surrender.

If he starts work on the other two flats, & you stay put, you might well be inconvenienced by the noise & dirt of builders in the other flats. However, if he doesn't need to access your flats to do the work, there is no compensation due. If someone else owned the other flats & wanted to do work, they would not compensate you for the disruption.

Tune2001

OK thanks guys. I am going to write a letter to the LA asking for them to give me what they are asking in writing and I will tell them that
a) If the *nicer* flat is acceptable (possible) I will move into it until the work on the current flat is complete but I will pay no more than the current rent/wk and I will expect suitable compensation for moving costs/hassle and an agreeable new rent/wk for when I move back
b) If the *nicer* flat is REALLY nice then I will ask them to provide it on a 12 month contract for the same rent I am paying now + compo (unlikely).

c) If the flat they want me to move into is no good (likely) then I will find a new one myself, ask them to terminate the current contract and also ask for suitable compensation for hassle caused. It's already taking up my valuable time going round seeing the places they want me to move to!

Cheers all :-)

Tune2001

Sooz>>I don't want to move somewhere else. I like it just fine where I am, which is why I would like to sort it out so that I move to another of their flats temporarily until the work here is finished. So far tho, all they have done is show me a horrible flat in a worse area and expect me to pay the same as I am now, and they are going to show me another flat at the weekend that they say is better but they want me to pay more rent for!

If they are unable to find me suitable temporary accomodation then I will have to find somewhere myself and sign a new contract, all of this 3 months earlier than I would have expected.

clutton_2

if you have signed a 12 month agreement, the LL has to keep that same rent for the whole period, even if you are moved elsewhere - he must think the works are urgent if he wants you to move out

It is only reasonable that he pays for your move to the other place, and back again. he can increase the rent if he has improved the property.

what "compo" will you want if he does pay all your moving expenses ?

poppysarah

I'd give shelter a ring before you send them a letter - make sure you've had professional advice from soneone.

Tune2001

Clutton>>Paying the moving expenses is fine. I would also expect a little bit of something extra though for the inconvenience probably through not increasing the rent too much/keeping it the same on my return. Wouldn't you?