Landlord wants our help to convince mortgage lenders he lives here

caelestis

ukbilly wrote: »

We've refused. He called yesterday and rather than accept our answer and leave it at that, he said, "let me think about it" and presumably will call again.

Our response will not change.

I personally wouldnt get involved. Its too much grief and its not like hes a friend whos being 100% honest so you know what risks youre taking if you agree to help. With the possibility of arrears already, it would suggest that if you decline to assist and the bank change his mortgage to a buy to let he may get repossessed due to not making the payments as it will be much more money.
It may be inconvienent, but I would start looking for somewhere else to live. Id also be mindful that if hes struggling with money he may try to keep your deposit by falsely claiming youve damaged something etc Id take photos before you go.---- Its just something that would play on my mind as he already has a track record of dishonesty.

All the best!

PayDay

property.advert wrote: »

Seriously, the landlord is trying to save a minimum of 1% on his mortgage and perhaps much more. He is running a business and not declaring it.

Apart from the landlords who defraud their lenders and the tax office, some landlords that move overseas, try to keep some bills in their name so that they can illegally come back to Britain for free healthcare. For free healthcare, they have to proves they are resident in the UK and by having these utility bills, they can cheat the system if challenged.

PayDay

ukbilly wrote: »

We've refused. He called yesterday and rather than accept our answer and leave it at that, he said, "let me think about it" and presumably will call again.

Our response will not change.

Well done. Now find another property to rent. Return the lenders letters marked "not known at this address". When out of the property, report the landlord to the tax office.

silvercar

Do we know that the landlord never lived in the property before letting it out?

chucknorris

This LL probably doesn't even realise that if the property burns down the insurance company would not pay out, because it is percieved as a higher risk on rented property. My rented property insurance premiums are always higher than the premiums for my own home.

This is another reason why the mortgage lender could potentially lose out, not just from higher interest rate payments.

peachyprice

naijapower wrote: »

I only made my comment cos someone said it wasnt illegal to open another person's post. My mission was to establish that it was illegal.

Ah, this old chesnut :rolleyes:

ukbilly

caelestis wrote: »

Id also be mindful that if hes struggling with money he may try to keep your deposit by falsely claiming youve damaged something etc Id take photos before you go.

I don't think he has a hope of doing such a thing. When we moved in he hadn't produced an inventory and nor did the letting agents. Get this: the letting agents actually told US to produce our own inventory! Anyway, we did and took photos and got it independently witnessed. We then sent that signed inventory to the agent. When we come to checking out neither the landlord nor the agents will be able to produce any document that has their signature on it relating to the state of the property. Our witness will be the only party able to exercise any judgement as to whether the property has sustained any damage beyond reasonable wear and tear. It hasn't. In fact, it looks better now.

ukbilly

silvercar wrote: »

Do we know that the landlord never lived in the property before letting it out?

I'm almost 100% sure he hasn't. He also owns other flat in the area and my guess is that if his lenders are the same, they must surely know that something is up. He can't be living in both flats after all.

Our impression overall is that he wants to do as little as possible. I don't think he's having trouble making payments, he just wants to avoid additional charges. We've got until the end of February on this current contract and I suspect he doesn't have the energy to get involved in a proper dispute with us but we're looking at alternatives just in case.

PayDay

silvercar wrote: »

Do we know that the landlord never lived in the property before letting it out?

Doesn't make any difference as he still has to ask his mortgage lenders for their permission to let.

As the lender is still writing to the landlord at the property they lent the money on, it seems the landlord never received that permission.

PayDay

chucknorris wrote: »

This LL probably doesn't even realise that if the property burns down the insurance company would not pay out, because it is percieved as a higher risk on rented property. My rented property insurance premiums are always higher than the premiums for my own home.

This is another reason why the mortgage lender could potentially lose out, not just from higher interest rate payments.

That's why mortgage lenders protect their investment and can write to their borrowers demanding a copy of the buildings insurance.

Perhaps this is how the landlord was caught out? All he has was landlords insurance and didn't want to produce this when asked? If the mortgage lender received a newly dated residential building insurance, that would raise suspicions too.