Landlady wants cash!

Control

So I've decided to rent through a private landlord, as the estate agency's did not have an properties available in my area within my budget.
Prior to signing the tenancy agreement my landlady and I exchanged emails regarding forms of payment and we agreed on a standing order.
After the first couple months she has decided she wants cash.
This is proving to be very inconvenient for me (and my partner) and she insists that she needs cash as she is trying to get a mortgage to buy another property and she doesn't want too much money in her bank account.
Does this sound right to anyone?
Any advice?
Can I also add she was late to register our deposit and also she failed to admit that there were repairs to be done on the property which we had to constantly ask to be repaired.
I want to move out but it would be such a hassle at the moment.

Emmzi

she could easily open a second bank account. sounds dodgy as hell.

silvercar

Her reasoning sounds dodgy.

If you do pay cash, insist on a receipt.

pinkshoes

Personally I'd just ignore her and carry on paying as you are.

poppysarah

Yes wanting cash is a bad sign.


Tell her your bank won't let you withdraw that much cash regularly.

Tell her is she's worried about having too much cash in her bank account you can stop paying the rent instead. (Don't!)

Tell her to issue notice if she's unhappy with being paid as she is.

I would assume that she's up to no good and is perhaps not paying the mortgage on the property at the moment. I'm perhaps rather cynical though.

gld73

Her reason for wanting cash doesn't seem to make sense. One that would make sense is that she wants to keep it off the books and avoid paying tax!

elfen

Go to WHSmiths and pick up a rent book (I THINK they still do them) or a reciept book. If you pick up the former, fillm in the name and address and have her sign it in some place (think there's a space) Then tell her, if she wants cash, everytime you pay your rent you'll fill in the space with her present to sign, to protect yourself as much as her regarding amount of rent paid.

If you can only get receipts, make sure the correct amount is on there, and both you and her sign them so it's visible on the carbon. Give her a copy, and keep one for yourself (usually there are two to three sheets to allow this) and keep yours in the book to prove you've paid her.

Control

Thanks Everyone,
I have started writing up receipts but we've taken it from an online rent receipt form template.
I just wish there was some way to force her to go back to our agreed method of payment.
It is very inconvenient to be taking that kind of cash out.
She says she will not reconsider the instant payment.
I mean you cant go wrong with cash in the bank at midnight on the 30th/31st.
Besides avoiding tax, I think the only other reason is she wants to fill her bathtub with £ notes and have a roll in it.
LOL
I've phoned the council and a couple of advice lines and they say that she can demand payment in any method she wants.

robin_banks

Raise a 'Roger Moore' eyebrow and offer to come to an 'arrangement'.

BitterAndTwisted

I suspect your landlady is:

1) Not paying the mortgage
2) Trying to avoid paying tax on the rental income
3) Does not have permission from her mortgage lender to let
4) All of the above

chewmylegoff

personally i agree with the poster above who says ignore. does your tenancy agreement specify payment by standard order? even if it doesn't she's going to have a hard time doing anything if you continue to pay by standing order. what's she going to do? take you to court and sue you for damages caused by you paying the rent into her bank account rather than in cash? i don't think she'll get far with that.

as for the reason she has given why on earth would having "too much money" in a bank account be a stumbling block to getting a mortgage? that's lunacy. i know banks can be stupid, but they don't tend to view people with less money as safer lending prospects!

she is most probably trying to avoid tax. alternatively she might be trying to understate her income for the purposes of claiming means tested benefits. i can't think of a legitimate reason to keep money "off the books".

if she is insistant you could try telling her that given the inconvenience you will only agree if she drops the rent by a significant amount. might make her go away.