Evicted, locks changed, no notice...

Touche

Got back from work tonight and found my locks had been changed!

I'm 6 days late with the rent. This is because my phone fell/shattered and I need to call the landlady to get her new bank details (she wanted the direct debit changing last month, got me to go round to hers and fill in the form with her new details, but the bank rejected it for "security reasons"... she took it to the bank herself as I was going on holiday). I have a backup of my phone which I was going to restore when I got it back from repair and was going to call her. At the moment I don't have her phone number or address... (I know, not the greatest organisation skills).

I assume that's why I've had the locks changed. Being late with rent and not contactable?!

On Wednesday of this week I knew someone had been into the flat as the post had moved onto the kitchen table and the locks on the front door had been locked differently to how I leave it usually. But there was no note left for me.

So I was stuck... in a city 150 miles from my friends/family with £10 in my pocket and no phone.

I went to the police station... they said it was 'a civil matter and couldn't offer any help'.

Luckily I had a tank of petrol... I've just driven back 3 hours to my parents house.

So where do I go from here? I really need my possessions! I really need to find a place to live! I really need some help!

tbs624

Touche wrote: »

Got back from work tonight and found my locks had been changed!

I'm 6 days late with the rent. This is because my phone fell/shattered and I need to call the landlady to get her new bank details (she wanted the direct debit changing last month, got me to go round to hers and fill in the form with her new details, but the bank rejected it for "security reasons"... she took it to the bank herself as I was going on holiday). I have a backup of my phone which I was going to restore when I got it back from repair and was going to call her. At the moment I don't have her phone number or address... (I know, not the greatest organisation skills).

I assume that's why I've had the locks changed. Being late with rent and not contactable?!

On Wednesday of this week I knew someone had been into the flat as the post had moved onto the kitchen table and the locks on the front door had been locked differently to how I leave it usually. But there was no note left for me.

So I was stuck... in a city 150 miles from my friends/family with £10 in my pocket and no phone.

I went to the police station... they said it was 'a civil matter and couldn't offer any help'.

Luckily I had a tank of petrol... I've just driven back 3 hours to my parents house.

So where do I go from here? I really need my possessions! I really need to find a place to live! I really need some help!

Your phone excuse sounds a tad weak to me - there are things called public phone boxes available. Anyway,
contact the local Council's Private Sector Tenancy Relations Officer ( in the town where the property is) - despite what you were told by the police, illegal eviction/tenant harassment are criminal offences.Even if your rent is late and the LL has not been able to contact you s/he has to follow proper procedure to regain possession of the property. Shelter 0808 800 4444 can also give you advice & support.

You can obtain the LLs address via the Land Registry, if necessary, for a small fee.

scottishblondie

Not a great situation! First off, I'm not a housing expert like many other posters here, but I don't want to leave you without saying anything.

If you were only 6 days in arrears she is in no way allowed to just evict you like that. I don't think she's allowed to do that ever TBH. Under the terms of an AST to evict you she would have to give notice, serve the appropriate documents, and eventually take you to court (if you were refusing to leave).

You need to get hold of the contact details for your landlady ASAP, and contact Shelter first thing in the morning to get proper advice on how to proceed. In the meantime have a look at the rights given in an assured shorthold tenancy regarding protection from eviction here.

tbs624

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11337109&postcount=42

Touche

tbs624 wrote: »

Your phone excuse sounds a tad weak to me - there are things called public phone boxes available...

I've just thought of 192 Maybe it's weak and clearly my fault, but it's the situation I found/find myself in sadly.

Touche

tbs624 wrote: »

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11337109&postcount=42

yeah? so?

I'm originally from London and work on a training rotation in the West Midlands. What on earth has my job got to do with being evicted and having all my possessions locked in a flat in Wolverhampton?!

tbs624

Touche wrote: »

yeah? so?

I'm originally from London and work on a training rotation in the West Midlands. What on earth has my job got to do with being evicted and having all my possessions locked in a flat in Wolverhampton?!

Your LL is in the wrong if s/he hasn't followed procedure, as my first post says.

However, you are apparently an "educated" person, with a responsible job and a good salary, yet you apparently cannot organise regular payments to your LL nor properly manage your life if your mobile phone is in for repair?

Touche

tbs624 wrote: »

Your LL is in the wrong if s/he hasn't followed procedure, as my first post says.

However, you are apparently an "educated" person, with a responsible job and a good salary, yet you apparently cannot organise regular payments to your LL nor properly manage your life if your mobile phone is in for repair?

The regular payments were going on just fine (been there for 8 months) until SHE wanted the bank account I paid into changed. It is paid on the 17th of each month. Last month she called me on the 13th and asked me to come to her house after work (I was doing an on call shift and finished at 9pm) and fill in some paperwork for her. I was leaving to go on holiday on the 15th for 3 weeks. I went to her house and did as she asked at very very short notice. My bank bounced the standing order form for security reasons (I have a letter from them to that effect) BUT this meant the original account was still paid and received fine. She contacted me by txt to ask me why I had 'cancelled' the new standing order and still paid the original account while I was on holiday.

If you're really struggling to believe me I can take a photo of my degree certificates (which happen to be in a folder at my parents house) and my current work contract (I think I have a copy here too) and PM them to you tomorrow.

My phone's screen was shattered. I couldn't navigate it properly. Her number was on it. I don't have her number written down anywhere else. I know that's not great organisation (I said that in the original post) but it's the situation I managed to get myself into.

Thanks for the help. I'm shattered. G'night.

dopester

tbs624 wrote: »

Your LL is in the wrong if s/he hasn't followed procedure, as my first post says.

However, you are apparently an "educated" person, with a responsible job and a good salary, yet you apparently cannot organise regular payments to your LL nor properly manage your life if your mobile phone is in for repair?

Things happen. If for some reason the payment for your mortgage didn't reach the bank, would you like to be repossessed without notice, and locks changed, on your return home?

Accepting the circumstances laid out by the OP as honest, and with them being a Doctor as well, I'm feeling pure fury on the OP's behalf. If they are now forced to travel really long distances to area of work/study by the landlord's actions (I'm assuming they are unlawful actions, (but there are a couple exceptions to the rules as outlined in one of the links below). My research:

It is deemed a criminal offence if your landlord:

• Changes the locks while you are out;
• Physically throws you out;
• Threatens or forces you to leave;
• Bars you from certain parts of your home.

http://www.thesite.org/homelawandmoney/home/tenancyrights/illegaleviction

+ read this for options/advice/suggestions/suggested actions/compensation:
http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/housing/housing/Private_tenants_advice/harassment-illegal-eviction.aspx

amcluesent

> with £10 in my pocket<

And you're on £50K?? Debit/credit card? Something not stacking up here!

Debt_Free_Chick

Touche wrote: »

My bank bounced the standing order form for security reasons (I have a letter from them to that effect) BUT this meant the original account was still paid and received fine.

So you DID pay the rent, but it simply went to the wrong account?

Have you called the LL and spoken to her?