Bullying Housemates. What can I do, if anything?

catieeb06

Ok, long story short. I work full-time and currently like with 3 female students.

Anyway, these 3 female students barely speak to me, other than saying "hello, goodnight etc"

So, on one of my rare days off, I was out in town on Tuesday doing some errands and got a phone call from the landlord. Basically, all 3 of them had been down to the landlord and laid bogus claims against me. And I have evidence of 99% of these being bogus.

The thing is, my contract ends on the 31st December so I know I don't have long left. But basically I have been driven to find a place to live earlier than I had planned to which now means I have to find another deposit and also the first months rent for the new place as I know I need to pay the remaining rent for December despite the fact that it will be empty and I won't be living here.

I'm just wondering if there is anything I can really do. I'm sort of resigned to the fact that it really is 3 against 1 but I can't let these people grind me down or win!

The atmosphere at home is anything less than friendly!

Thanks
Catie

CloudCuckooLand

What nature of things? If they are serious, and false, you can pursue the matter legally.

Do you have an individual contract/lease with the landlord, or is it joint?

If you have a contract/lease of your own, the landlord would have to give notice in the proper manner.

He cannot keep your deposit without good reason. Is the deposit protected?

If he wants you out quick, tell him you need your deposit immediately, otherwise he'll have to serve notice properly. Is it an AST lease? Unless he serves notice, you don't even have to move after December.

Obviously you might want to move anyway, but you can make him jump through hoops if you want.

Jowo_2

Do you have a joint tenancy or individual? Is there any notice period in it? If in England/Wales - is your deposit protected in a tenancy deposit scheme?

If both you and your landlord is happy to agree to an early surrender there's no problem. For example, if he's happy for you to leave by the end of November and no further rent is payable, get this in writing from him.

Is this something you want or the landlord is likely to accept?

Jowo_2

You potentially have more power than you think, despite the loss of confidence that bullying causes.

Did your landlord serve an S21 document at the start of the tenancy? If not, you could simply turn round and tell your flat mates and the landlord tomorrow that you've taken legal advice and have found out that you are permitted to occupy the property until the landlord gets a court order and that's what you fancy like doing.

First the landlord has to serve 2 months notice, then he has to apply for a court appointment which then can take a month or two to come through, then if you don't leave after 14 days of the judgement, the landlord has to get bailiffs to enter the property - they might take a month to book. That takes you up to April next year.

Tell them that because they've been unpleasant to you, your boyfriend is moving in with you to keep you company. With his 5 pet rats. And his brother. And the flatmates are all invited to a big housewarming party that all your friends are coming to on Saturday. In fact, you are going to post the details of the party on Facebook and invite the whole of the UK. Because when the place is trashed and they are jointly and severally liable for the damage, you expect your visa for Australia to come through around the same time as the invoice and the landlord can't pursue you overseas.

Actually I just wrote the last paragraph to try and cheer you up. It's not an instruction.

catieeb06

It's a single tenancy, no one is liable for any rent if any person moves out.

There is a 30 day notice period, which I served on Tuesday.

The rent is £325 a month and they have my deposit of £250 that is in a protected scheme and I have the paperwork on my cork board.

I'm just wondering, if I paid perhaps £75 and then surrendered my deposit over to them, would that work?

My OH is offering to lend the £500 that I need for deposit and to help pay the majority of this old contract but I would rather not have to borrow from him.

catieeb06

Jowo wrote: »

You potentially have more power than you think, despite the loss of confidence that bullying causes.

Did your landlord serve an S21 document at the start of the tenancy? If not, you could simply turn round and tell your flat mates and the landlord tomorrow that you've taken legal advice and have found out that you are permitted to occupy the property until the landlord gets a court order and that's what you fancy like doing.

First the landlord has to serve 2 months notice, then he has to apply for a court appointment which then can take a month or two to come through, then if you don't leave after 14 days of the judgement, the landlord has to get bailiffs to enter the property - they might take a month to book. That takes you up to April next year.

They've not served me any notice at all. It's my choice to leave as I don't wish to associate myself with such backstabbing people.

They are making small allegations against me, such as my OH comes in and disturbs them at 3am. That's total rubbish, there is no public transport at such time. And as he doesn't work he doesn't have the money to spend on taxi's.

Fire_Fox

Where has this dispute sprung from? Why has your landlord got involved, are any of the allegations a breach of your tenancy agreement? Can't you live between the house and your OH's house whilst you serve out your notice? Your deposit is really there as a damage deposit for your room, you are contracted to pay your rent which you should do as normal.

Jowo_2

Secure some accommodation when your tenancy is due to expire, then once sorted on this, get your OH to move in with you for the remaining period to give them something to actually moan about...That way you avoid paying two lots of rent and have a barrier against their behaviour.

Make sure you do all the stuff that flatmates hate when a fellow tenant's partner is around, such as loud sex noises, feeding each other food at the dinner table, taking baths together and petting on the sofa. Have all your mates over regularly for big parties.

Again, I just put that last paragraph there just to cheer you up.

catieeb06

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Where has this dispute sprung from? Why has your landlord got involved, are any of the allegations a breach of your tenancy agreement? Can't you live between the house and your OH's house whilst you serve out your notice? Your deposit is really there as a damage deposit for your room, you are contracted to pay your rent which you should do as normal.

I don't understand where the dispute has sprung from. It's completely out of the blue. They all have my mobile number so could arrange a time when I would actually be in the house.

The landlord got involved because instead of coming to me to discuss things, they all went down to the office on Tuesday morning.

And my OH lives with his grandparents and there really is no room for myself.

And no, none of the allegations are a breach of my tenancy, well, not that I am aware of.

BexInLondon

I know it's horrible but can you try and stay there until you actually have to leave? Would you be going away for Christmas anyway? You can stay in your room or be out most of the time. Treat it as a roof over your head, not a home.

Perhaps you could appeal to the landlord's better nature. Write a letter, detailing each allegation and your response to it. Say that your intention is not to embroil him in petty disputes, but to show that this is, in fact, a petty dispute. Explain that you find living there very difficult, and ask if there is any way the return of your deposit could be fast-tracked when you leave, i.e. could the landlord come and inspect your room a couple of days before you move out for any major issues, then again on move-out day? If the landlord is a nice person, and if you can convince them you are too, they might be willing to at least move a bit faster.

catieeb06

BexInLondon wrote: »

I know it's horrible but can you try and stay there until you actually have to leave? Would you be going away for Christmas anyway? You can stay in your room or be out most of the time. Treat it as a roof over your head, not a home.

Perhaps you could appeal to the landlord's better nature. Write a letter, detailing each allegation and your response to it. Say that your intention is not to embroil him in petty disputes, but to show that this is, in fact, a petty dispute. Explain that you find living there very difficult, and ask if there is any way the return of your deposit could be fast-tracked when you leave, i.e. could the landlord come and inspect your room a couple of days before you move out for any major issues, then again on move-out day? If the landlord is a nice person, and if you can convince them you are too, they might be willing to at least move a bit faster.

I have written a letter. And I will print and post it off later on today. It really is all so so petty.

And I work full time anyway so I literally do stay in my room or go to work. That's about it. Other than using the kitchen to cook my dinner.

With them all being student's I am guessing that they will be gone for xmas by about mid December however I really do think it's right that I move out ASAP cos I have to hire a man and a van and I want to be settled before Xmas. Cos let's face it, who wants to have to move on Xmas Eve or something like that?