Landlord being a pain, need help/advice please

dekaspace

Been living here since November, I told landlord upon moving in that was it ok to pay deposit and 2 weeks in advance not a month as student loan hadnt arrived, I also told him this on the original viewing and before I moved in and he agreed each time.

A few days later he sent a few emails saying that I needed to pay the following 2 weeks money soon as possible or I will be evicted and he will keep my possessions.(which is illegal) and that I seemed like a problem tenant! a few days later my loan arrived anyway and I paid him the rent and December and he claimed it never arrived and pestered me again saying I was making excuses.

Then in end of January and start of Feburary he kept bringing round people to view house for next student year with little notice(as little as 5 minutes and as much as 10 hours) and never even asked permisson and went through the communal wardrobe in hall, food cupboards and bedrooms without permission and as no one took it he sent a really snotty email claiming the house is a tip and I have Aspergers and am very OCD at cleaning to the point I am similar but not as bad as Monica from Friends and like to touch photos only by side have everything at the perfect angle and perfect position etc so that really hurt the landlord claimed he was getting private cleaners in if it wasnt clean after an planned inspection by him the next week.

Then my housemate had a all night party and landlord threatened us with eviction and to keep our deposit again ALSO the microwave stopped working and landlord wants us to buy a new one or keep money off our deposit, despite their being no inventory so he cant prove what was there when we moved in, there is no locks on the doors and have had drunk partygoers steal from me in front of my face before as they thought I was asleep, or one tried choking me before and landlord doesnt care.

He sent me an email this Wednesday saying the rent due on the 1st hasnt arrived and to make sure it was in soon as possible but as I am at parents for Eastere holidays didnt have internet access, got back today to find a second email asking why I am ignoring him! I replied back and said in the future if theres any problems to phone me as I dont always have internet access.

[Deleted User]

Did you get a reciept for the money paid? Did you pay by cheque which is traceable?

I think I am correct in saying that he needs to give you 24 hours notice before entering the property - someone else more knowledgeable will be able to clarify this.

You might get better responses to this post if you place it in the "House buying, renting and selling board".

Lokolo

Do you know if the deposit is held in a scheme?

gorgeouslatinrose

1. Check if your deposit is registered - call up all three schemes and they will be able to tell you ( look on goverment website for more info)
2. You do have the right to refuse viewings. Do this tempoarily, stating you have exams and it is inconvieniant. If he throws a fuss, he is not allowed to come in without your permission, but get further help on this.
3. You should be able to prove any transactions you have made to him through bank statements.
4. Post this on the Housing board today. There are plenty of people on there who will give better advice, and hopefully will be able to assist you.

melancholly

i think you need to separate out rubbish landlord issues with rubbish housemate issues! the housing board is definitely the way to go. your landlord is being unreasonable and should know better. he has no right to inspect the house while you are living there - you need to have it in the same condition as your moved it when you leave; what it's like in between isn't any of his business.

however, make sure that you pay rent on time every month - don't give him any legitimate excuse to blame you for anything; he shouldn't have to chase you for rent at all. make sure that you have all the cards to play and don't give him any ammunition.

your housemate who had a party with threatening friends is also being completely selfish, but that one isn't an issue to lay at the feet of your landlord.

Fire_Fox

dekaspace wrote: »

Then in end of January and start of Feburary he kept bringing round people to view house for next student year with little notice(as little as 5 minutes and as much as 10 hours) and never even asked permisson and went through the communal wardrobe in hall, food cupboards and bedrooms without permission and as no one took it he sent a really snotty email claiming the house is a tip and I have Aspergers and am very OCD at cleaning to the point I am similar but not as bad as Monica from Friends and like to touch photos only by side have everything at the perfect angle and perfect position etc so that really hurt the landlord claimed he was getting private cleaners in if it wasnt clean after an planned inspection by him the next week.

Then my housemate had a all night party and landlord threatened us with eviction and to keep our deposit again ALSO the microwave stopped working and landlord wants us to buy a new one or keep money off our deposit, despite their being no inventory so he cant prove what was there when we moved in, there is no locks on the doors and have had drunk partygoers steal from me in front of my face before as they thought I was asleep, or one tried choking me before and landlord doesnt care.

Is this a shared house (all the tenants signed one tenancy agreement) or are you each renting separate bedsits (individual tenancy agreements)? If it is a shared house the landlord cannot enter the property without 24 hours written notice, and even then the tenants can refuse. If you are each renting your own room with use of the common parts then the landlord is entitled to enter the common areas within reason, i.e. he can come in for show rounds and repairs but not to spy on you.

Issues between you and the other housemates are not the responsibility of the landlord to sort out, he is not your dad! Anything that is inconsiderate behaviour needs addressing at a house meeting, anything illegal you should contact the police. It is not as simple as the landlord fitting locks, the minute you do that each room will be a separate household which means you each need a TV license for example. Also it would affect the fire access and might mean the landlord has to install a fire escape (£££££££)! There was a link on the Renting board to a 'lock' that was designed by students for students, which you can install on your bedroom door without causing damage. :T

As regards your rent, you have signed a legally binding contract to ensure it is paid on time each month, no excuses of your bank messing up or student finance not coming through. Given that your landlord is an awkward sod, I would suggest you check your online banking regularly to ensure the standing order for your rent has gone out as expected - use a net cafe or library. The landlord is taking the correct course of action by contacting you in writing, that forms a paper trail which protects you both in case of a dispute.

Checking online banking weekly is a good habit to get into for later life - accidentally missing payments on your rent or council tax can quickly escalate to eviction or court summons! If you make late payments on any credit agreement (mortgage, loan, credit card, mobile phone) you will get a black mark on your credit file that lasts six years. I am not having a pop at you here, just trying to get you to learn from other's (including me! ) mistakes.

dekaspace

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Is this a shared house (all the tenants signed one tenancy agreement) or are you each renting separate bedsits (individual tenancy agreements)? If it is a shared house the landlord cannot enter the property without 24 hours written notice, and even then the tenants can refuse. If you are each renting your own room with use of the common parts then the landlord is entitled to enter the common areas within reason, i.e. he can come in for show rounds and repairs but not to spy on you.

Issues between you and the other housemates are not the responsibility of the landlord to sort out, he is not your dad! Anything that is inconsiderate behaviour needs addressing at a house meeting, anything illegal you should contact the police. It is not as simple as the landlord fitting locks, the minute you do that each room will be a separate household which means you each need a TV license for example. Also it would affect the fire access and might mean the landlord has to install a fire escape (£££££££)! There was a link on the Renting board to a 'lock' that was designed by students for students, which you can install on your bedroom door without causing damage. :T

As regards your rent, you have signed a legally binding contract to ensure it is paid on time each month, no excuses of your bank messing up or student finance not coming through. Given that your landlord is an awkward sod, I would suggest you check your online banking regularly to ensure the standing order for your rent has gone out as expected - use a net cafe or library. The landlord is taking the correct course of action by contacting you in writing, that forms a paper trail which protects you both in case of a dispute.

Checking online banking weekly is a good habit to get into for later life - accidentally missing payments on your rent or council tax can quickly escalate to eviction or court summons! If you make late payments on any credit agreement (mortgage, loan, credit card, mobile phone) you will get a black mark on your credit file that lasts six years. I am not having a pop at you here, just trying to get you to learn from other's (including me! ) mistakes.

I am 27 lol not a young student so know some of the rules of life, each time he has claimed late payment it has been taken out of my account on or before correct date I assume its more the times it was late there was bank holidays on the date due so it didnt show as paid till a day or so later on his account which is likely his or both our bank issues.

We have seperate tenancy agreements but share bathroom kitchen and living room, I dont have much of an issue with viewings but he just walks into bedrooms with a single knock if at all, one time a housemate was in his underwear and his girlfriend topless in bed as the LL came round around 9am and he had to cover up quickly when LL came in.

The thing about when the guy walked in my room and physically tried strangling me(but with no force) that is quite serious as the guy was drunk(and on cocaine as another guy came in and asked if he wanted another line of coke) and instead of the landlord thinking that was a problem he threatened to evict us all there and then which isnt that great to hear after some high person tried strangling me!

melancholly

dekaspace wrote: »

The thing about when the guy walked in my room and physically tried strangling me(but with no force) that is quite serious as the guy was drunk(and on cocaine as another guy came in and asked if he wanted another line of coke) and instead of the landlord thinking that was a problem he threatened to evict us all there and then which isnt that great to hear after some high person tried strangling me!

now that's awful - but it's not his problem..... he is not responsible for letting them into the house. it's perhaps insensitive, but he's not a security officer for the house.

*miaomiao*

Sorry you are having such a terrible time!

Your university will have an off-campus housing department within it's services (like the Student's Union) that will have some specialist advice for you and can guide you on the legality of this issue and sometimes send you for free legal aid if it gets complicated. Try ringing them on the telephone as you are at your parents - they shouldn't be on holiday. Leave a message if no one is in to answer - it's really important that you get some help.

Good luck!