HELP!! Landlord, Police, Financial Investigations!

caz2460

I have been renting my 2 bedroomed house since March of this year. Yesterday morning I had plain clothes police officers banging at my front door with their warrant cards asking me questions about my landlord, wanting to see a copy of my tenancy agreement, payments i'd made to him etc etc. They also took a statement from me, basically details of his description etc.

Obviously after they had taken all the details, I was in a state of shock. The officers came back later that day to give me bak my tenancy agreement, and for me to sign my statement, while there I asked questions regarding what the heck was going on.

They could not give me full information, but it turns out that my Landlord was in custody, Financial inevstigators are going to be taking him to the crown court to restrict all 35 of his properties, and said it would be in my best interests to start looking for another property ASAP.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any idea what is going on, where do I stand. I am still in a state of shock, and also so so angry, I have done alot to the property, decorating etc, and just about getting everything sorted, and this happens. I'm really worried, as I live with my young daughter, who has had enough upheaval as it is, only to be having to go through it all again.

TIA

FraudBuster

Some reading from Shelter:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repossession/repossession_by_a_landlords_lender

DVardysShadow

FraudBuster wrote: »

Some reading from Shelter:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/repossession/repossession_by_a_landlords_lender

Well meant, but not necessarily relevant.

There is no repo at this point, there is a police 'investigation', where they are trying to pin something on the Landlord by fair means or foul. One thing you can be sure of is that the Police are largely ignorant of the law, especially the laws of tenancy. And the Police have no interests at heart other than their own to get a conviction and crow about it - they are probably not that greatly bothered about the tenants - except possibly to case problems for the Landlord through his tenants.

Who knows, the Landlord could turn out to be innocent and if Caz gave up her tenancy before term on Police 'advice', the Landlord could have a good case against Caz - and the Police would deny all responsibility.

Caz, do nothing until you have some real facts. You won't get real facts from the Police on this matter.

caz2460

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Well meant, but not necessarily relevant.

There is no repo at this point, there is a police 'investigation', where they are trying to pin something on the Landlord by fair means or foul. One thing you can be sure of is that the Police are largely ignorant of the law, especially the laws of tenancy. And the Police have no interests at heart other than their own to get a conviction and crow about it - they are probably not that greatly bothered about the tenants - except possibly to case problems for the Landlord through his tenants.

Who knows, the Landlord could turn out to be innocent and if Caz gave up her tenancy before term on Police 'advice', the Landlord could have a good case against Caz - and the Police would deny all responsibility.

Caz, do nothing until you have some real facts. You won't get real facts from the Police on this matter.

I'm just worried, as obviously the police won't tell me alot of information, but from what I can gather it is some kind of big fraud. Apparently they have been investigating for a while, and they are looking to seize his assetts. I have an appointment with the local council in the morning, as I'm worried if I do nothing, I could just be told one day in the future that I have to get out.

Thrugelmir

caz2460 wrote: »

I'm just worried, as obviously the police won't tell me alot of information, but from what I can gather it is some kind of big fraud. Apparently they have been investigating for a while, and they are looking to seize his assetts. I have an appointment with the local council in the morning, as I'm worried if I do nothing, I could just be told one day in the future that I have to get out.

Better to make your own plans for the future.

Debt_Free_Chick

The Police will tell you very little - they can't. All the Police do to is to investigate allegations of a potential crime. It's the CPS who decide whether or not to go ahead with a prosecution. Even then, details of the LL's alleged crime will not be revealed in full, for fear of prejudicing any future trial.

We can only speculate as to the LL's alleged wrongdoing, but it might end up in the property being repossessed so - as suggested - it's best that you look for alternative accommodation.

However, none of this gives you a right to end the AST, other than on its existing terms. So ... when does your fixed term end? And do you have a break clause?

mizzbiz

You don't live in or around Camden do you?

Could be anything - tax evasion, benefit Fraud, money laundering, the lot.

princeofpounds

A) don't panic. You can only be removed by a court order under any circumstances. If the house is repossessed or seized then you will (should) get a letter from the court bailiffs with an eviction date. Usually it is minimum 2 weeks away and often much more.

stop paying rent. If your LL is cleared and out it will be due but right now there will be other priorities and you don't want to pay for services that could end at short notice. Plus if bond not protected it's probably gone now.

c) look for alternatives but for now you are still a tenant and should not sign to go anywhere without a court order or ending the contract yourself.

No-one is going to chuck you out overnight.

caz2460

Thankyou for all your replies. I am taking my tenency agreement into the council today, so that they can go through it, the police officer has given me his direct number so that the council can contact him. I have minor problems with the landlord anyway, still waiting for repairs to be done etc, so maybe this is a blessing. Just dont want to leave everything and then have 2 weeks notice to evict the house and end up in a hostel with my daughter.

clutton_2

please dont panic Caz - you will have plenty of time to find somewhere else if this man is taken to court or his Mortgage Lender decides to repossess the house. It takes months and months to get things into court for criminal prosecutions.

i think you are very wise to go to the Council to seek advice. If you are now going to ask for council accommodatoin you must not leave your current home voluntarily - as they will then classify you as having made your self voluntarily homeless and they will not rehouse you - you must wait until the landlords Lender issues possesion proceedings against the property and you must then wait till you get a letter from the court telling you to leave. This will take a long time.

try to stay calm, nothing is going to actually happen for ages.

silvercar

caz2460 wrote: »

I have been renting my 2 bedroomed house since March of this year. Yesterday morning I had plain clothes police officers banging at my front door with their warrant cards asking me questions about my landlord, wanting to see a copy of my tenancy agreement, payments i'd made to him etc etc. They also took a statement from me, basically details of his description etc.
Obviously after they had taken all the details, I was in a state of shock. The officers came back later that day to give me bak my tenancy agreement, and for me to sign my statement, while there I asked questions regarding what the heck was going on.

They could not give me full information, but it turns out that my Landlord was in custody, Financial inevstigators are going to be taking him to the crown court to restrict all 35 of his properties, and said it would be in my best interests to start looking for another property ASAP.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any idea what is going on, where do I stand. I am still in a state of shock, and also so so angry, I have done alot to the property, decorating etc, and just about getting everything sorted, and this happens. I'm really worried, as I live with my young daughter, who has had enough upheaval as it is, only to be having to go through it all again.

TIA

If he is in custody, why do they need a description?

If financial investigators do place restrictions on him, that would be (a) to stop him leaving the country and (b) to stop him selling properties and shifting money around. It wouldn't be to repossess his properties. The police don't want to be landlords, the inland revenue could take over and tell you to pay rent to them or the lenders could repossess and do the same.

Annoying as it is, I don't see that you will be evicted in the very near future. Which means you still need to pay rent. Is there a letting agent? Otherwise I don't know how you get repairs organised.