Advice Re. Private Let Please

gravitytolls

Please don't misunderstand Tizhimi, I don't blame the LL in any way, in her position, having been lied to and misled, then to find that my tenant has been subletting without my knowledge or permission, I completely understand why she doesn't wish to allow my son to remain.

Anyhoo, further update.

Last night he returned home to find the doors and windows barred by the 'friend' who wished to rent with him, this on the instructions of the previous tenant. DS forced his way in, the previous tenant arrived, as per prior arrangement to call him when DS gets back. Police were called, DS charged with criminal damage due to damaged lock.

The police were sympathetic, DS wasn't under the influence, there were so many people there, DS his two pals, the ex friend/previous tenant, his two pals and the prospective flat share and her father. They took DS away, charged him, bailed him, told him not to return until next week, when they will accompany him and LL to remove his things ~ everything in the flat is his, as I supplied what they didn't have via freecycle and family/friend donations. In the meantime the girl and her father are sleeping on his bed and using his things.

He's contacted BT and had the phone line barred ~ he paid for the installation of the line and the monthly bill. He's kipping on a friends sofa and he's off to the council to see what can be done from here.

The previous tenants GF was screaming 'you've cost us a £1000 deposit', conveniently forgetting that he contributed almost £400 of that, which it seems none of them will see. He also paid via the previous tenant just one week ago, his months rent, which he will now lose and the two remaining 'lodgers' will benefit from for three weeks.

He is employed, he does pay his bills, he does not wish to be housed in a hostel, but he doesn't have a deposit, and cannot accommodate himself without help at the moment. Sadly we are simply not in a position to help ~ not to the extent of a deposit anyway.

As for the revenge suggestion, yes they scammed both DS and HB/CTB, but it would only escalate an already awful situation IMO, for such actions. Right now the priority is getting DS housed adequately and safely, dealing with criminal charges when the time comes, and moving on. It benefits no one to feel vengeful or allow anger and resentment to simmer ~ tough though I'm finding that advice at the mo.

Thanks guys for your support.

Fire_Fox

This is a very unfortunate situation, and my sympathies are with you. I'm struggling to understand how and why your son has ended up illegally subletting - this seems to be the root of the problem.

tizhimi

Wow that is some development and a half!

He'll just have to move back in with you or go a-knocking to the council for somewhere to stay until he has got enough money together.

Follow the money trail, is there any evidence that he paid a deposit to them? Was it via bank transfer or cheque? Please don't say it was cash!!

BitterAndTwisted

Fire_Fox wrote: »

This is a very unfortunate situation, and my sympathies are with you. I'm struggling to understand how and why your son has ended up illegally subletting - this seems to be the root of the problem.

OP's son paid a deposit and rent for what he thought was a flat-share except "friend" and GF signed the lease only and then claimed HB as if they weren't receiving son's contribution. Now lease has ended, landlady won't offer son tenancy agreement, "friend" and GF have moved out and want "their" whole deposit back, leaving son homeless and vulnerable with no rights whatsoever. And now has been ganged-up on, threatened and arrested to boot for not vacating when it suits everyone else. Someone needs to buy a flipping gun. Grrrrrrrrrrr!

Hippychick

The council will only house him as homeless if he is classed as a 'priority need' as you say he is on the autistic spectrum then you could claim vulnerability and as such he could be a priority need.

Get your son to visit the cab on Monday morning, they may be able to help him make a homeless application to the council.

Once your son is rehoused be it privately or with the council then he should then shop the girlfriend for claiming HB - she should be made to pay that back.

mynameisdave

The girlfriend of his ex-friend sounds like a lovely lady.

I hope when you have got all the priority issues sorted you do report them for the benefit fraud. It would be nice to see them get their just deserts

Good luck

gravitytolls

Thanks guys.

He's arranged a time with the police and his employer to collect his things tomorrow evening. Employer is using the works truck to transport the bed, FF etc., all of which were supplied by my son, and the two remaining illegal 'lodgers' are using. BT can't cancel the line until tomorrow, as it has to be a working day, 24 working hours to stop it's use ~ DS paid for the line to be fitted and for the bill, on the understanding that no one made outgoing calls to mobiles, he set up a DD for unlimited landlines, so didn't object to the others using it for this. Yes, there have abeen a few issues over this. I'm hoping that as the police know he hasn't retruned to the house, that if the bill has been run up, they will supply him with a crime number to prevent him being charged for the calls.

He called out of hours emergency housing helpline, who told him it 'looks very bad, as he's been arrested for criminal damage', I can't see what difference this should make to him being homeless or any help he should be entitled to?

He's not necessarily after hostel accommodation/social housing ~ he's been paying rent and is happy to continue, but he does need a hand in becoming accommodated, and I'm hoping the council will be able to help him with LL's who don't require huge deposits, or have a deposit scheme to prevent their own system being clogged up.

Anyhoo, I daresay further updates will be available tomorrow.

Re. the 'friends', I'm pretty narked, not least because it turns out one of teh reasons they wanted to move to the three bed house with huge garden is because they've decided to become a 'weed' farm, presumably with intention of becoming the local suppliers. Nice.

silvercar

You rson would only have had the status of a lodger of the main tenant. He therefore has very few rights and the main tenant can evict without notice.

The landlord has the right not to accept rent and require vacant possession of the property before giving a deposit back to the tenant. In fact, she could charge rent to the tenant until all personal property is removed.

This arrest for criminal damage to the property will cause a difficulty. I'm not sure of the council obligation to house someone who caused criminal damage to their last property. Though I suspect charges may be dropped given the circumstances.

Where does this leave your son? homeless for a start with a bit of a problem regarding his previous address. If you can help at all, it could be worth you housing him on a sofa for a few days then he could present to the council as having been made homeless because you have asked him to leave due to overcrowding/ new kid arriving. As a single lad made homeless, he won't be a priority and will probably only get a hostel or B&B.

before_hollywood

why doesnt he consider being a lodger in someones house?g
rent a room scheme caps tax free earnings for landlords at £350 a month, most people charge the £350 and charge 1 months rent as refundable deposit

go with him to check places/landlords out

spareroom.co.uk is a good one

before_hollywood

gravitytolls wrote: »

Re. the 'friends', I'm pretty narked, not least because it turns out one of teh reasons they wanted to move to the three bed house with huge garden is because they've decided to become a 'weed' farm, presumably with intention of becoming the local suppliers. Nice.

he is better off without these scumbags then :eek: