Advice needed - rented student house

MissMoneypenny

mikepatton wrote: »

He is in fact a landlord approved by the university. So I was thinking the first plan of action would be to get a parent to speak to him about his behaviour, perhaps preventing any further action. If that doesn't work, we will take it to the university.

I think I would do the university route first, then get a parent to speak to him if he doesn't obey the university. Some student landlords have got into a habit of bullying students and will stop when parents step in, as many threads on this board have shown.

It's certainly isn't legal for him to enter when he wants and that has to be made very clear to him.

One male landlord on this site was recalling how he walked in through the back door of his student house and saw a girl student tenant, having sex.

Keep you back door and front door locked at all times and, as someone has already suggested, change the locks and then replace the old locks when you move out.

MissMoneypenny

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Do you want your landlord to go to your parents and complain about, say, too many 'overnight guests' or telling them who is a smoker? If not don't open that line of communication.

I think that most of us parents have worked out that students have "overnight guests";)

Of course, we were saints:D

mikepatton

Thank you all for your helpful comments.

I think we are going to complain to the university about the breaking entry, as already said, it really isn't on. The other issues to me are relatively minor in comparison I feel.

Quizzical_Squirrel wrote: »

Are you sure the chain can't be unhooked from the outside, with a hand reaching in to unlatch the chain, rather than the door being kicked in?

The door now sits back a bit from the door frame, we have to push it forward to use the lock. So we are certain he took the chain off with force.

elfen

I'd go for the uni route, as they do have the power to tell him he can't be a uni certified LL anymore, and he loses part of his income.

dopester

mikepatton wrote: »

Fair point. We are going to write a formal letter to the landlord, warning him against further behaviour. We'll threaten him with legal action/complaining to the university if it happens again.

Keep the note he wrote you. I'd be checking with a solicitor about whether there is a case for damages over harassment and trespass.