Please help re flat deposit

John_Pierpoint

Hi Eagerlearner,

BBC radio 4 program "Law in Action" carried a rather depressing item.
It featured a judge responsible for several of the courts in London having something as near as a judge can get to a rant. His main message was that the clerks involved in running the system are under paid and under trained and the service in London anyway is very near breakdown. It is failing to get the right paperwork to the right court on time, thus producing faulty judgements that are challenged and have to be set aside. Thus producing more backlog and uncertainty.

I don't know how long the waiting list is in Brighton, but the message is keep a hawk eye on what is happening and remember you cannot depend on the post these days.

You can always "listen again" to the item if you want to; meanwhile here is the summary from the program's web site:

=========================================================
Civil Court Chaos

His Honour Judge Paul Collins CBE, senior county court judge
BBC Radio 4's Law In Action
Tuesday 13 February 1600 GMT
On Radio 4 and online

The most senior county court judge in London tells presenter Clive Coleman why he thinks that the civil justice system is in crisis.

His Honour Judge Paul Collins CBE talks of how funding shortages and high staff turnover have meant mistakes leading to incorrect judgments have become routine.

If you've sued or been sued in the county court, or have worked in the system, we'd like to know what your experiences were.

Click here to send us your stories
=========================================================

Best wishes John.

thanmuwa

<Delurk>
Not sure if you have seen this EL, it seems to be quite a useful website and hopefully reassuring from your point of view.

http://www.compactlaw.co.uk/free_legal_information/small_claims/smcf2.html

I also like the page on Enforcement, gives juicy ideas on how to extract money from someone who doesn't wish to pay what they owe.
Good luck with it all!
</Delurk>

MJMum

BTW, EL, if you have a long wait for court dates, you can apply to have your case heard at an alternative court - we moved a hearing from Horsham down to Brighton when it suited us a few years ago. Just a thought?

prudryden

MJMum wrote:

BTW, EL, if you have a long wait for court dates, you can apply to have your case heard at an alternative court - we moved a hearing from Horsham down to Brighton when it suited us a few years ago. Just a thought?

That's a good point. However, I believe only the defendant has that option.

scarpetta1982

hiya all, just though id come and see what progress has been made snce i first read!!

I REALLY hope you can get a conclusion soon. We are in the processes of tryng to find a new home too after my landlord served us notice, but with no available funds for a deposit, we are so stuck. i really hope that your new home search is fruitful.
There are lots of charities that offer affordable housing for couples or single people(that would otherwise have a very long wait for council housing), your local church should be able to help. unfortunately, as i have 3 kids i am the councils responsibility, and i'll probably end up in a homeless hostel
I'm just counting on the landlord returning my money to me in full!

I'd also go to your local council for a list of landlords, My local accomodation support team has a list of "bad" landlords and "good" landlords, unfortunately for my landlord, due to mine, and other tenants dealings with him, mine has made it onto the naughty list.
but your local council should have a list of available private rent properties from trusted landlords.

i hope you find somewhere soon. Take care and all the best

Scarps
x

EagerLearner

Hi all, just a quick update - sorry for the delay as have been working all week (which is good) but unable to come on here much (which is bad).

Off to see a new place tonight at 7pm, however they want us to sign an annual lease (hmmmm) and also pay half the annual buildings insurance (works out £90 to us, which should be their responsibility, they should pay it out of the rent they get).

We will see- it is close to Mr EL's work to that's the main point and £50 cheaper than our current flat (but has a patio - no garden or bath).

I will call the court after 10am today if I can as have to be at a clients after that.

Next week I will only have one day's work - will be a lean time! If anyone has ideas on how I can get just one more client in Brighton who needs a PA occasionally (not full time) - I am all ears - my local newsagent window ad hasn't worked just yet...

BoingBoing_2

EagerLearner wrote:

Next week I will only have one day's work - will be a lean time! If anyone has ideas on how I can get just one more client in Brighton who needs a PA occasionally (not full time) - I am all ears - my local newsagent window ad hasn't worked just yet...

Hi EL, just a thought, but have you tried advertising on the internet? It's easy to make a simple site (with the right software). I did a search for a similar thing a while back (just secretarial work from home) and found loads of ppl advertising on the web. I didn't go for it tho as my internet connection is pants lol.

Another suggestion is sending a letter or flyer to businesses in the area selling your service? I know that costs, but maybe worth it in the long run? Or email companies?

Good luck with everything x

Voyager2002

scarpetta1982 wrote:

We are in the processes of tryng to find a new home too after my landlord served us notice, but with no available funds for a deposit, we are so stuck. i really hope that your new home search is fruitful.
There are lots of charities that offer affordable housing for couples or single people(that would otherwise have a very long wait for council housing), your local church should be able to help. unfortunately, as i have 3 kids i am the councils responsibility, and i'll probably end up in a homeless hostel
I'm just counting on the landlord returning my money to me in full!

I have often heard about deposit guarantee schemes, whereby a council or voluntary agency holds money (thier own) as a deposit to satisfy a landlord. Sorry I don't have any specifics, but please ask about this. You are not the first person to be threatened with homelessness for want of a deposit, and the main agencies working in housing are aware of this problem and have some measures to help.

And BTW as a parent with children you would not be put in a homeless hostel. If you were VERY lucky you would move into a council property: otherwise they would put you in B and B but you would then be a priority for any social housing that did become available.

And I never heard of a local church being able to help -- I think my vicar would be clueless if someone asked him about housing! A more 'professional' church would have information about agencies, but the main way the churches help is by supporting their own housing associations.

hjb123

Hi,

Any news or more info yet Eagerlearner? Hows the flat hunting going?

John_Pierpoint

For the otherside of the coin: here is an example of a landlord who looks like being out of pocket, having been landed with an absentee scumbag tenant and a bunch of squatters.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=4324751

CU

John.