Can't Contact Landlord

QuirkyChemistry

Hi,

I would appreciate some advice please. I have been trying to contact my landlord for a few weeks now with no success. I did go on holiday for a week in the middle so my contact attempts have not been as urgent as they could have been. Tomorrow, however, is the end of the contract. Myself and one other are staying on and three people are moving out to be replaced by three others. It is a student house. We don't have deposits but I would still expect LL to come down and check over the house.

His landline now says that it is not accepting incoming calls (different to before), his mobile is switched off and he is not replying to emails. He has cashed our rent cheques for the beginning of June.

I'm just slightly worried that we cannot contact him. We have never had problems before. I also wanted to ask him to do some maintenance.

Thank you for reading. Any advice is appreciated.

vicstick86

Send him a letter, his contact details should be on your contract.

In my experience all student let landlords are crooks.

Mine never came round, then I got sent a cheque for 50 quid (I paid 250 deposit) about two months later, with the inventory written on the back......!!!!

amberowl28

I would send a recorded delivery letter to landlord's address. Do they know agreed to the change in tenants? Do you just have those two number's, no e-mail or letting agent to contact? Keep trying on the phone.

QuirkyChemistry

There is no letting agency. The LL is aware that the tenants are changing as he met the new tenants and got the new contract signed. He has been OK in the past and sorted out problems quickly. The address I have for him seems to be a business premises (on a quick Google). Thank you for your help so far.

mlz1413

Agree you should write to the contact address.

Who told you that 3 other students would move in and how are they getting keys etc?

Are utilties all part of the rent? If not ensure the leavers pay for utilities before they go or you have address to forward bills to.

I'm also unsure why you are worrying about 3 moving out and the house not being checked by the LL, is there damage that you feel will need paying for?

QuirkyChemistry

We sorted out that the 3 new people would move in. We already know them from the course and they will be getting keys from us tomorrow.

There is no damage but I would still have thought that the LL would want to check it over as he doesn't know that! I also wanted to ask him to carry out some maintenance work.

Utilities are completely separate and that has already been sorted out and paid for by the people moving out.

Jowo_2

Since its out of character, perhaps your landlord is sick or has a family emergency.

Is your deposit protected in a Tenancy Deposit scheme?

You could sort the repairs out yourself and deduct them from the next rent but you have to follow the procedure and you could p*ss off the landlord. Have a look at that entire section as it gives other tips and advice. Advice assumes property is in England.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repairs_and_bad_conditions/repairs_in_private_lets/tenants_doing_repairs

bap98189

Send a letter to his address. If that doesn't get a response, stop paying the rent and I am quite sure he will contact you very quickly.

princeofpounds

1) don't worry. Although LL issues may cause you problems in the longer term the law provides a way to deal with this.

2) if your co-tenants send notice to the LL address (proof of delivery useful) then the tenancy will be terminated on expiry, reply or no.

3) the question then is what is the status of you and the new lot? You are basically squatters, but you cannot evicted except by a court so don't worry you will have notice if you need to leave. If you and your new lot then make a rental payment and it is accepted a new tenancy is created under the standard terms of the housing act. That will mean at least 6 months security of tenure if you pay rent.

4) as for deposits, they should have been protected so your old housemates should apply to the relevant scheme

Jowo_2

princeofpounds wrote: »

1) don't worry. Although LL issues may cause you problems in the longer term the law provides a way to deal with this.

2) if your co-tenants send notice to the LL address (proof of delivery useful) then the tenancy will be terminated on expiry, reply or no.

3) the question then is what is the status of you and the new lot? You are basically squatters, but you cannot evicted except by a court so don't worry you will have notice if you need to leave. If you and your new lot then make a rental payment and it is accepted a new tenancy is created under the standard terms of the housing act. That will mean at least 6 months security of tenure if you pay rent.

4) as for deposits, they should have been protected so your old housemates should apply to the relevant scheme

If the tenancies were fixed term, there is no legal requirement to give notice, tenants can leave on the final day of the tenancy.

When a fixed term agreement expires, and the existing tenants stay on , it automatically becomes a periodic tenancy which runs on indefinately under the existing terms and conditions until the tenants or landlord give the correct notice. Squatters break in without the knowledge or consent of the property owner - adverse possession!

princeofpounds

Squatters do not break in - at least in theory that's why they always claim to have found a broken window.

You are right that no notice needs to be given technically but I recommend it for the paper trail- makes it much easier to reclaim deposit and create new tenancy for new occupants. Otherwise it is the old tenants subletting and I doubt they want that liability.

But when the old tenancy finishes those remaining are not tenants until the new tenancy us created nor permitted occupiers. So they are squatters, which requires no breaking and entering.